Res. Agr. Eng., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/124/2025-RAE

Vetiver grass for road slope protection through soil erosion and runoff reduction in a haor area of the Sunamganj districtOriginal Paper

Tahmina Akter ORCID...1, Saumik Acharya1, Sayed Jaber Al-Hossain ORCID...2, Golam Kibria Robbani ORCID...2
1 Department of Irrigation and Water Management, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
2 Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh


Erosion control on slopes and embankments is a global concern, with vetiver planting emerging as an effective solution. This study investigated vetiver grass as a potential alternative for reducing runoff and soil erosion in protecting road embankments. In a small-scale model on a 1 V : 2 H slope, simulated rainfall was applied through a perforated sheet. The runoff was collected, and the eroded soil samples were dried using the sand bath method. The runoff and soil loss were compared with and without vetiver grass. The results showed that the vetiver grass significantly reduced the soil erosion, preventing about 87% more soil loss than the bare soil. During 60 min of simulated rainfall, the bare soil plot lost 27.056 kg.m–2 per unit area, whereas the vetiver-covered plot lost only 3.606 kg.m–2. This soil retention is due to vetiver's strong, deep root system and its hedge-like structure that effectively holds the soil. Additionally, the runoff was reduced by 14% in the plots covered with vetiver. For the 60 min of cumulative rainfall, the total runoff in the bare soil micro-plot was 81.15 cm, compared to 70.35 cm in the vetiver micro-plot. Therefore, vetivers are expected to be a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for runoff and erosion control within the lowland haor context.

Keywords: erosive force; flood risk; soil quality; soil stability; vegetation

Received: August 2, 2025; Accepted: February 10, 2026; Prepublished online: July 27, 2026 

Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Abe K., Iwamoto M. (1986): An evaluation of tree-root effect on slope stability by tree-root strength. Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society, 68: 505-510.
    2. Aziz S., Islam M.S., Ahmed M. (2020): A model study to quantify soil erosion by artificially simulated rainfall and observe effectiveness of bio-engineering to reduce landslide risk in Chittagong Hill Tracts. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences & Technology for Sustainable Development (ICEEST 2020), Jan 25-27, 2020, Dhaka, Bangladesh: 154-156.
    3. Aziz S., Islam M.S. (2023): Erosion and runoff reduction potential of vetiver grass for hill slopes: A physical model study. International Journal of Sediment Research, 38: 49-65. Go to original source...
    4. Babalola O., Oshunsanya S.O., Are K. (2007): Effects of vetiver grass (Vetiveria nigritana) strips, vetiver grass mulch and an organomineral fertilizer on soil, water and nutrient losses and maize (Zea mays, L) yields. Soil and Tillage Research, 96: 6-18. Go to original source...
    5. Badhon F.F., Islam M.S., Islam M.A. (2021): Contribution of vetiver root on the improvement of slope stability. Indian Geotechnical Journal, 51: 829-840. Go to original source...
    6. Burroughs E.R. Jr., Thomas B.R. (1977): Declining root strength in Douglas-fir after felling as a factor in slope stability. Ogden, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 27.
    7. Donjadee S., Tingsanchali T. (2013): Reduction of runoff and soil loss over steep slopes by using vetiver hedgerow systems. Paddy and Water Environment, 11: 573-581. Go to original source...
    8. D'Souza D.N., Choudhary A.K., Basak P., Shukla S.K. (2019): Assessment of vetiver grass root reinforcement in strengthening the soil. In: Thyagaraj T. (ed.): Ground Improvement Techniques and Geosynthetics. Singapore, Springer: 135-142. Go to original source...
    9. Ejor T.E., Oku E.E. (2024): Variability in the physical properties of an eroded cultivated steep land under farmers' practice and vetiver technology (bio-engineering structure). International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 11: 324-334. Go to original source...
    10. Hamidifar H., Keshavarzi A., Truong P. (2018): Enhancement of river bank shear strength parameters using vetiver grass root system. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 11: 611. Go to original source...
    11. Islam M.P., Bhuiyan M.K.H., Hossain M.Z. (2008): Vetiver grass a potential source for rural development in Bangladesh. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Ejournal, 10: 1-18.
    12. Islam M.S., Arifuzzaman, Shahin H.Md., Nasrin S. (2013): Effectiveness of vetiver root in embankment slope protection: Bangladesh perspective. International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 7: 136-148. Go to original source...
    13. Islam M.A., Islam M.S., Chowdhury M.E., Badhon F.F. (2021): Influence of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) on infiltration and erosion control of hill slopes under simulated extreme rainfall condition in Bangladesh. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 14: 119. Go to original source...
    14. Kumar S., Bahadur Roy L. (2021): Rainfall triggered soil slope stabilized with vetiver plant. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 25: 703-714.
    15. Machado L., Holanda F.S.R., da Silva V.S., Maranduba A.I.A., Lino J.B. (2015): Contribuição do sistema radicular do capim-vetiver para estabilização do talude do Rio São Francisco. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 36: 2453-2464. Go to original source...
    16. Nasrin S. (2013): Erosion control and slope stabilization of embankments using vetiver system [M.Sc. Thesis.] Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
    17. Nilaweera N.S. (1994): Effects of tree roots on slope stability: the case of Khao Luang Mountain Area, southern Thailand [Ph.D. Thesis.] Bangkok, Asian Institute of Technology: 184.
    18. Noorunnahar M., Hossain M.A. (2019): Trend analysis of rainfall data in divisional meteorological stations of Bangladesh. Annals of Bangladesh Agriculture, 23: 49-61. Go to original source...
    19. Truong P., Loch R. (2004): Vetiver system for erosion and sediment control. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference, Paper No. 247, Brisbane, Australia: 1-6.
    20. Truong P., Van T.T., Pinners E. (2008): Vetiver System Applications Technical Reference Manual. 2nd ed. The Vetiver Network International.
    21. Turmanina V.I. (1965): The strength of tree roots. Bulletin of the Moscow Society of Naturalists, Biological Section, 70: 36-45.
    22. Vanoh R. (2020): Vetiver System Training Manual for Fiji 2020. Vetiver Network International, Ministry of Waterways and Environment, Suva, Fiji.
    23. Wu T.H. (1976): Investigation of landslides on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Columbus, Ohio, Department of Civil Engineering, Ohio State University. Geotechnical Engineering Report No. 5.

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0.), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return