VETIVER GRASS SYSTEM FOR STRIP CROPPING
Paul N. Truong1, Paul A. Dalton2 and Clive D.
Typical strip cropping layout on the
floodplain of the Darling Downs.
A site at Jondaryan protected by 9
Vetiver hedges (totalling 6 000 m)
at 90m intervals (equivalent to 5 strips).
A newly established
hedge.
Knowles-Jackson3
1Resource Management Institute, Department of Natural Resources,
Indooroopilly, Queensland.
2 Agricultural Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba,
Queensland.
3 Land Conservation, Department of Natural Resources, Oakey, Queensland.
Strip cropping layout is designed to spread flood water and
reduce soil erosion on low gradient floodplains subject to
deep overland flows. This practice is widely used on the
Darling Downs and NW slopes of New South Wales.
A sequence of crop, stubble and fallow strips of uniform
width are arranged perpendicular to the flood flow direction.
The aim is to spread flood waters laterally to reduce flow
depth, velocity and consequently erosivity of flow.
Dense growth retards Deep and extensive root
water flow and traps system binds the soil and
sediments. enhances drought tolerance.
An alternative to conventional strip cropping layout is the
incorporation of Vetiver hedges with the following advantages:
Î greater flexibility to maximise opportunity cropping
Î more easily managed land
Î more effective spreading of water
Î in dry years
Î in crops producing little stubble
( for example cotton, sunflower)
Î upto 30% increase in cropped land
Hedge hydraulic characteristics Stiff blades provide effective
needed for layout design were barrier to water flow.
determined by flume tests.
Crop protected by Flood of Nov. 95 Little sign of erosion Young sorghum crop Sorghum crop undamaged
Vetiver hedge. (600mm depth). in fallow strip. protected from flood flow. by flood.