Vs And Gully Stabilization

VETIVER SYSTEM FOR GULLY EROSION CONTROL IN BEAUDESERT

MAVIS ROSTEDT Beaudesert LandCare, MEIN NIEMEYER Beaudesert Shire Council and PAUL TRUONG, Veticon Consulting Undulating Undulating topography, topography, erodible erodible soil, soil, highly highly variable variable rainfall rainfall and and overgrazing overgrazing contribute contribute to to the the severe severe gully gully erosion erosion problem problem in in the the Beaudesert Beaudesert Shire. Shire. This This results results not not only only in in the the loss loss of of productive productive agricultural agricultural land land but but also also sedimentation sedimentation of of rivers rivers and and streams, streams, and and damage damage to to infrastructures. infrastructures. With With funding funding support support from from the the National National Heritage Heritage Trust, Trust, the the Beaudesert Beaudesert LandCare LandCare Group Group has has demonstrated demonstrated the the effectiveness effectiveness of of vetiver vetiver grass grass in in stabilising stabilising an an actively actively eroding eroding gully gully head. head. Results Results to to date date are are very very promising, promising, indicating indicating that that Vetiver Vetiver System System can can play play an an important important role role in in combating combating the the gully gully erosion erosion problem problem throughout throughout the the Beaudesert Beaudesert Shire. Shire. Characteristics and Adaptability Range of Vetiver Grass

Shoots

Roots

Weediness Gully erosion in grazing land Origin Tolerance

Palatability Dense growth retards water flow and traps sediment

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Deep gully floor with almost vertical drop at the head and sides

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Stiff and erect stems, when planted close together Vetiver forms a porous barrier acting as a very effective water spreader and filter trapping sediment in runoff water (Left) Very deep and penetrating root system, acting as reinforcement of the soil against erosion (Right) Vetiver is non evasive, it flowers but sets no seeds, it has no above ground or underground runners. It is very sensitive to RoundUp. It has never become a weed in over 150 countries in the last 100 years. Vetiver is a naturalised plant, it came from India originally and introduced to Queensland in the 1920s. Soil Acidity, Alkalinity, Salinity, Sodicity, Drought, Flood, Fire, Extreme heat, Frost, Over grazing and Heavy Metals Dairy cow, cattle, horse, rabbits, goat, sheep, kangaroo and wallaby Vetiver rows

Nutritional Value

Under good management natural rehabilitation can occur but very slowly

Deep and extensive root system binds the soil and enhances drought tolerance

N = 1.5 % P = 0.17% K = 2.2%

Gully head stabilisation demonstration trial

Hard structure only provided short term measure until the next big flow

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Planting through the jute matting at Vertical Interval of 0.50m

Three months after planting

Vetiver rows

Severe gully head erosion was carried out to reduce gully 2 Earthwork head from vertical drop to 3:1 gradient

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Two months after planting

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Five months after planting

Proposed vetiver treatment