VETIVER SYSTEM FOR RURAL LANDSCAPING AND

COUNTRYSIDE BEAUTIFYING
Hu Wenyou 1 , Xu Liyu 1 , Huang Biao 1 , Xia Hanping 2 , Xu Hairun 3

（1 Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, wyhu@issas.ac.cn; 2 South China Botanical
Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 3 Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry.）

Abstract
Early in 1988, the miracle grass vetiver was introduced to China for erosion control
and agriculture sustainable development. Later, it was extended to infrastructure
stabilization and environmental protection. In the initial stage the development and
extension of Vetiver System (VS) were mainly contributed to universities and research
institutes. However, since 1999 numerous private companies have been established and
played important roles in national economy development using VS.
In the recent decades following national economy reform and open, Chinese
government and people have become increasingly interested in rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying, which is beneficial to tourism development.
Vetiver can not only control soil erosion, fix slopes and banks, and reduce
environmental pollution, but also strengthen landscape effects of outline of these natural
items. As a result, it enables the countryside more beautiful, which attracts more urban
people to travel in rural areas. There are many advantages for VS for rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying:
Vetiver grows very quickly and can configurate many desirable figures.
As dense hedge, vetiver can strengthen natural scenic outlines and make countryside
more beautiful.
Vetiver can be pruned several times in a year to form desirable model and formation.
Since vetiver can grow on soil and in water as well, therefore it can make land and
water surface more attractive.
Vetiver can generate different colors from green in the spring to red, brown and yellow
when or after flowering in autumn, allowing countryside more colorful.
Delightful ecological environment forms the most important item in beautiful
countryside creation. It includes soil erosion control, flood and landslide reduction,
pollution control, while most of these can be improved through proper VS interfering.
Vetiver is easy to integrate into other plants, including different crops, grasses, trees,
flowers, etc., making a beautiful landscape as a whole.
Keywords: Rural landscaping; Beautiful countryside; Science popularization; Rural
tourism; Vetiver System.

Early in 1988, the miracle grass vetiver was introduced to China for agriculture
sustainable development (Zhang 1989). Since the establishment of China Vetiver Network
in 1996, supported by The Vetiver Network International (TVNI), Vetiver System (VS) has
disseminated throughout the country for erosion control, slope stabilization and
environmental protection (Ao, et al., 1998; Xu, 2002, 2005a, 2005b; Liu, 2002; Xu et al.,
2000; Lu and Fu, 2008; Zhao et al., 2008; Xu, 2003; Feng and Ke, 2003; Fang and Zhang,
2003; Xia et al., 1998; Xia, 2004).
Vetiver can not only fix slopes, banks, reduce environmental pollution, but also
strengthen art effects of outline of these natural items, enabling the countryside more

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beautiful and attracting more urban people traveling to the rural area.
Following rapid economy development in China, almost all of cities in the country
have enlarged dramatically while urban people prefer to spend their holidays in
countryside, enjoying rural sightseeing, including natural items such as mountains and hills,
patches of crop land, rivers, ponds and ditches, water surface, etc. Following national
economy reform several decades ago, urban people have more and more interests in
visiting countryside rather than staying home. Therefore, it is necessary to use vetiver and
other pertinent plants to beautify countryside.

1. THE DEMAND FOR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE IN CHINA

With rapid economy development, the quality of people’s life improved significantly.
The countryside is requested to be more beautiful.
1.1 The direction from the central government
The 18th CPC National Congress was held in 2012, which requested Chinese people
to do their best to create beautiful China, and to realize Chinese nation’s sustainable
development, calling on the protection of environment at the same time to develop
economy. Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping indicated that even if the urbanization is
realized there will still be 400-500 million people living in the countryside or engaging in
agriculture production. Therefore, to create beautiful China, the rural ecological
improvement, environmental protection and comprehensive management should be
strengthened and forms the basic criteria of the creation of beautiful countryside in order
that the villages become more beautiful, rural enterprises can develop more smoothly, and
rural tourism can be developed more rapidly which can bring villagers more benefit
without or with little environmental problem. In this way, the differentiation between cities
and countryside can be reduced.
Meanwhile, local authorities also designed their own plan. For example, it is proposed
that there will be 1300 beautiful villages as demonstration in Nanjing, Jiangsu province by
2022.
1.2 The demand from urban people
In 1978 China’s GDP was 364.52 billion Yuan RMB, but in 2021 it reached 114,370
billion Yuan, increasing about 313 times in the recent 43 years. Following great economy
development, more and more people moved to cities from countryside to find job. On the
other hand, urban people wish to spend holidays at countryside, enjoying natural scenery,
which includes rural production, rural life, and rural landscape, although there is probably
little attention on the design of rural landscape in the past years. In the countryside people
can enjoy village sight, rural climate, field scene, agricultural production work, villager’s
life, rural custom and culture, and buy fresh agricultural products. Of numerous items,
green mountains and clean water were enjoyed most by urban people.
With the rapid growth of urban people population, the recreation space has become
increasingly limited in most of the cities. People wish to have more places for recreation
purpose. Following the increasing income and longer holiday time in the recent decades,
in addition to the great improvement of roads and transportation, urban people are more
capable in travelling to countryside.
1.3 The demand from villagers
As the rapid economy development, the villagers’ culture and education condition
have been improved. They realized that countryside has priority in developing tourism,
with their beautiful natural landscape, special local culture, and outstanding rural custom
including rural arts, foods, and celebration behaviors, etc. Many young villagers wish to

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exploit these advantages to the full in order to attract more tourists, enabling tourism to be
the most attractive enterprise.

2. BASIC ELEMENTS FOR RURAL LANDSCAPING AND COUNTRYSIDE

BEAUTIFYING WITH VETIVER SYSTEM
2.1 The function of VS in the creation of beautiful countryside
As a beautiful countryside, soil erosion should be controlled, pollutant should be
limited to a reasonable range, roads and ditches should be well protected, while all of these,
or at least most of them, can be achieved through rational application of VS, a cheap and
very affective technology. However, in order to play the most effective role of VS in
beautiful country creation, vetiver planting should be well designed with aesthetic point of
view.
There are many advantages for VS to beautify rural landscape and countryside scenery.
 Vetiver grows very quickly and can form thick points or lines in a short time,
which can configurate many desirable figures.
 As dense hedge, vetiver can strengthen natural scenic outlines and make
countryside more beautiful.
 Vetiver can be pruned several times in a year to form desirable model and
formation (Fig.1).
 Since vetiver can grow on both soil and water as well, therefore it enables land and
water surface more beautiful. Water surface with floating vetiver clumps usually
fascinates many visitors, while pond edges decorated with vetiver hedges can
attract more peoples’ attention.
 Vetiver can generate different colors from green in the spring to brown or red when
flowering in autumn, allowing countryside more colorful.
 Delightful ecological environment forms the most important item in beautiful
countryside creation. It includes soil erosion control, flood and landslide reduction,
pollution control, while most of these can be improved through proper VS
interfering.
 Vetiver is easy to integrate into other plants, including different crops, trees,
flowers, grasses, etc., making a beautiful landscape as a whole (Fig.2).

Fig.1 Beautiful pruned vetiver (by Paul) Fig.2 Vetiver hedges accompanied flowers (by Paul)

2.2 Basic elements for the design of VS using for rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying
During modern art design practice and landscaping work, points, lines, and faces form
the basic elements, which structure all of different patterns of scene. The three elements
can create numerous patterns independently or in combinations.
2.2.1 Points

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 The points are the simplest figure used for landscape design. Geometrically, point is
not an existing object, but only indicates a location. However, during landscaping or
formative design, it has different shapes with certain area. Although points usually occupy
a small area, it attracts peoples’ vision. When you enter a village, a small patch of vetiver
beside a road or a house may draw visitors’ attention. In this condition, vetiver should be
closely planted in order to form a distinctive place or point. This Point may be appeared at
the entrance of a village, a center square, a landscape wall, or near a spring. Following
economy development people are more desirable to the environment and aesthetic. Vetiver
planting as points should be at priority position.
The point may have different shapes and areas, based on local landform, soil, and
landscape (Fig.3; Some figures came from TVNI website, except for specified). Although
points may be very small compared with other figures, it may attract visitors’ eyes,
especially when it appears at an important position. For examples, when vetiver is planted
beside water or on water surface in clumps, it may form outstanding scenic, highly
welcome by visitors (Fig.4 and Fig.5). Again, when a few clumps of vetiver appear at a
village or park entrance, accompanied by some local wild flowers, it forms a special
vetiver screen (Fig.6). If the vetiver screen becomes wider at park entrance it will “hide”
inside sights and enable the inside landscape mysterious.
Besides, pots planted with vetiver clumps (Fig.1) can be easily moved from one place
to another and form different patterns according to the desire of landscape design. It can
also be exhibited at sitting room, meeting room or offices.

Fig.3 Different shapes of points (by Liyu) Fig.4 Points consisting of vetiver (beside water)

Fig.5 Points consisting of vetiver (on water surface) Fig.6 Vetiver screen at park entrance (by Liyu）

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 2.2.2 Lines
Lines are the most important figure for landscape design. Vetiver lines pictured by
hedges make natural items (ponds, ditches, roads, and so on) good-looking. The lines
include straight lines and curves, etc. (Fig.7). The former represents rigid, outspoken, and
indomitable, indicating high speed and strength of man; however, the latter implies elegant,
full of life, and soft, like woman. Generally speaking, curves are easy to match natural
landscapes. In the nature many curves appear, such as waves, hills, ponds, fleecy clouds.
In addition, the lines can be shown as thin (hedge) or thick (belt), continuous or
broken, horizontal or vertical, etc. Multiple lines give people different images. Vetiver
hedges beside roads may lead visitors’ directions. Horizontal line symbolizes calm sea,
while vertical lines imply movement or dangers. Compared with solid lines, the broken
lines may be more good-looking and
beautiful.
Vetiver lines or hedges/belts for rural
landscape and countryside beautifying can
be appeared at:
 Beside a road as straight lines or
small path as curve lines.
 Beside ditches for irrigation or
drainage.
 Vetiver for slope stabilization and
erosion control (Fig.8 and Fig.9).
Fig.7 Different lines (by Liyu)
 Vetiver hedges against wind erosion (straight or curve).
 Parallel horizontal vetiver hedges for terrace protection.
 Around lakes or ponds for erosion control, water environmental protection, and
outline strengthening.
 Lines around farmers’ houses.
 Lines around field plots (straight or curve, such as for rice borers control).
 Some scene consisting of parallel contour lines became famous national scenic
spot (Fig.10and Fig.11).

Fig. 8 Vetiver hedges (line) Fig.9 Vetiver hedges (parallel lines)

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 Fig.10 Natural scenic consists of terraces Fig. 11 Vetiver terraces & tea bushes (by Liyu)

2.2.3 Faces and the relation between points, lines and faces
When a line moves towards another dimension, a face is appeared (Fig.12). Several or
many lines may be seen as a face. In addition many points may also form a face (Fig.13).
Typical example is the VS for quarry re-vegetation or slope stabilization (Fig.14 and Fig.15).
A clump of floated vetivers on a pond surface forms a point. The pond looks like a face.
However, if you see a pond at far distance, the pond will be a point.

Fig.12 Line moving to become a face (by Liyu) Fig. 13 A face formed by many points (by Yiming)

Fig. 14 Many vetiver hedges forming a face (by Liyu) Fig.15 Slope face formed by vetiver hedges (by Liyu)

3. PRINCIPLES FOR RURAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN WITH VETIVER SYSTEM

For rural landscape design a lot of factors can be considered, of which the following
principles should be taken into account:
 First of all, environment should be considered, i.e. the design should be
beneficial to the environment, such as soil erosion control, water or soil
pollution relief, etc.
 The involvement of VS should be beneficial to sustainable agricultural
development.

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  The design should make the countryside more beautiful and fascinate more
visitors.
 The local natural condition should be fully considered, including landforms,
roads and ditches, hills, lakes and ponds, soil, land use patterns, water and
existing vegetation, and village houses, routes of visitors, etc.
 The existing problems concerning the environment, such soil erosion, water
pollution, road protection should be addressed, etc.
 Science popularization on VS should also be an important aspect in order that
visitors can understand VS and extend it to their friends and children after
travel. To achieve this, photo gallery and introduction on VS can be exhibited,
and handicrafts in situ can be organized at tourism seasons.
 Generally speaking, people like to see vivid water surface, such as lakes,
ponds, rivers, and small streams. More attentions should be paid to them
during landscape design. At the juncture of the water and land, vetiver hedges
may be arranged to strengthen the esthetic effect of edges, in addition to
reduce water pollution.
In addition, some factors also influence rural landscape and visitors’ preference (Table
1). At least some of them can be improved by VS. For example, the waterscape can be
beautified by vetiver on water surface or at the edges between water and land. Local
houses, field ridges and ditches can also be protected and embellished by vetiver.

Table 1 Key factors influencing rural landscape and scenic

Category
No. Key factors
Poor General Preference
1 Plant types Few Several Abundant
2 Plant color 1 2 3 or more
3 Scene cleanliness Mess General Tidy
4 Crop uniformity Mess General Tidy
5 Ridge and ditch line Not natural or smooth Natural or smooth Natural & smooth
6 Slope Flat 5-20 degree 20-35 degree
7 Flower-fruit plants Not attractive Attractive Very attractive
8 Crop types 1 kind 2 kinds 3 or more
9 Houses Poor Attractive V ery attractive
11 Waterscape Common or little Attractive Very attractive
12 Plaque definition Common Attractive Very attractive
13 Plant growth Common Well Pretty well
Referred from Chen et al. 2016.

4. COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATIONS OF VS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

As early as in 1950’s, John Greenfield used vetiver to protect sugarcane field (Xu,
2016). Then its application has been extended to slope stabilization of upland, railway and
highway and environmental protection. Now, VS is being used for rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying. This new application is proposed to meet needs of rapid economy
development of developing countries like China, since there is urgent demand for the
creation of beautiful countryside and the development of rural tourism.
In many aspects, there is no or little contradiction between different vetiver
applications (Table 2). The followings are some examples:

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 Table 2 Different vetiver uses and their function in rural landscaping and countryside
beautifying
Function on rural landscaping and countryside beautifying
Vetiver applications Little influence Good Excellent
 Little
Terrace protection 
Ditch protection 
Road protection 

1)
Water protection
2）
Water protection 
Waste water treatment 
Refuse dump re-vegetation 
Rice borers control 
Clumps by road, entrance, or square 
Handicraft 
Vetiver hut, pavilion or wall 
Water protection 1) vetiver around/beside river, lake, or ponds (at the edges between water and land).
Water protection 2): vetiver floated on water surface for water purifying.
Refereed from Ji 2002.

The rural roads and ditches should be well-protected, otherwise frequent repairs or
re-construction will be inevitable, which will need considerable funds and labors. If VS
were used, rather than stone or concrete (Fig.16), the roads and ditches would not only be
fixed but also in good-looking.
Terraces should be protected with vetiver rather than by crop stems (as in the Dabie
Mountains, Fig.17), which can not stand long time. On the other hand, when vetiver is used
to protect terraces, roads, and ditches, it will enable the countryside more beautiful and
attract more tourists since the outlines of nature consist of hills, roads, rivers or ponds,
which will be delineated vividly by vetiver hedges and the picture will be more attractive.
When vetiver is used to protect water, either on water surface or at the edges between
water and land, it will form an unforgettable sight.
In addition to living vetiver plants, vetiver cuttings are fond of applying for
horticulture items such as thatched huts, pavilions or sheds for recreation purpose (Fig.18,
Guangzhou International Horticultural Exposition, 2002). When vetiver handicrafts are
produced and sold in situ, more tourists will be attracted (Fig19). It will certainly bring
villagers more incomes.

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Fig. 16 Damaged roads protected by stones (by Liyu) Fig. 17 Terrace fixed using maize stems (by Liyu)

Fig. 18 Horticultural Exposition (by Hanping) Fig. 19 Vetver handicrafts to attract visitors (by Liyu)

5. CONCLUSIONS
Vetiver has a lot of applications in the countryside and for sustainable agriculture, not
only for soil erosion control, the stabilization of roads, ditches, ponds, and rivers but also
for environmental protection. Now facing reality of rapid economy development and the
great demand on the countryside tourism, VS can be used for rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying in order that the countryside become more beautiful and villages
can attract more tourists. The great potential comes from the needs of numerous villagers
and urban people as well.
However, some aspects need to be further studied for better rural landscaping and
countryside beautifying with VS, such as:
 Comprehensive consideration on the design on points, lines, and faces, points
design in particular, formed by vetiver plants. Some demonstrations need to be
designed and established.
 The design, proper management and pruning for beautiful vetiver formation.
 The technology of vetiver planting in combination with crops, flowers or other
grasses for beautifying countryside.
 Contents, approaches, techniques and related details on science and technology
popularization of VS, in order that it can be extended more faster through the
creation of beautiful countryside. For example, well designed VS photo exhibition
or vivid childrens’VS performance can be included for this purpose.
 Better design and arrangement of vetiver handicraft production and selling
position in situ during tourism season in order to absorb more tourists.
 The comprehensive consideration on the design and demonstration of vetiver
village which shows the different applications of VS for rural landscaping and

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 countryside beautifying.

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