Vetiver, Vertiver ?

[Nawtier]

Whatever the grass is called for good erosion control.

Does anyone know the name in Thai please ?

And anyone know where you normally get it from in various districts and how much it costs ?

Thanks

[Khonwan]

Ya faek หญ้า แฝก

I don’t know where you can buy it or for how much.

Rgds

Khonwan

[Nawtier]

Thanks

[finner]

Any time we've needed it (like for a fish pond I dug), the government supplies it free. Don't know how it's done, the old girl takes care of it but she's in the boonies today. What I do know though is, as you grow it, you can sell it back to the government for 1 Baht for one piece, whatever that is, when you have too much. It really grows!

Ask around. It's called Ya Fet

Finner

Edited October 4, 2010 by finner

[ozzydom]

You dont say which area you are in so its hard to be specific,but if you ask any local Thai farmer or your local agricultural dept they will point you in the right direction locally.

Most water storage ponds utilise it and is always a good source.

[teletiger]

Slightly off topic ......2 years ago a patch of long thick grass popped up beside our leaky 22k lt water tank. One day the cows got into the enclosure and started munching on it. Threw the cows out, but that patch became really attractive to the cows, so much so that we had to put an electric fence around it. Months went by, this stuff grew really tall and flowered. It was bullrushes. I've never seen bullrushes in Thailand and for sure not around us. A few weeks later, we went on a trip, the cows got into the enclosure, and ate the bloody lot. I thought that they might grow back, but they never did.

Regards.

[Nawtier]

Does this Ya fet stuff really take off ? Does it become a weed...uncontrollable ?

Missus looked at me stooopid today when I mentioned to get it for some erosion control on our river bank.......

Anything else recommended for this job...better or same but different.

[WatersEdge]

Napier Grass Pennisetum purpureum is my choice

far beyond Vetiver Grass Vetiveria zizanoides

I have Vetiver on the farm from before my time,

and am systematically trying to kill it with Roundup (Glyphosate).

I also have Miscanthus gigantus, which is similar in desired characteristics to Vetiver

Holding loose soil against erosion.

but is better animal feed when small.

It will shoot straight up in a month or so to over 3 meters high,

eventually becoming in impassable tangle of cane

Animals don't find much to like about the very poor feed value in Vetiver.

Napier propagates easily from sprigs broken off an existing clump,

multiplies 10X per month with good water and fertilizer.

The sprigs come prepackaged

as though they are intended to be easily broken off for transplant

Napier produces much more plant matter that is good ruminant feed when cut or grazed at 0.60 m.

Will grow to 2.5 m coarse as young bamboo.

If the coarse growth is chopped down,

it will immediately sprout back with good tender growth.

Survives dry season even if goats graze it down to bare dirt,

sprouting back immediately at first rain.

Is a very poor seeder if the seed is any good at all.

I've not seen evidence of it seeding, as everything I have I know that I planted.

It will put down deep roots,

although admittedly not as deep as Vetiver,

particularly if dry conditions encourage it to reach down for available moisture.

I have it scattered strategically all over the farm,

all descended from 7 sprigs in a plastic grocery bag

from TV farm forum member goatfarmer two years ago.

[Nawtier]

Got a Thai name for Napier ?

Is it better only because of its food value ? ....We do not need it for food, only very good stabilising of a river bank.

Would prefer Vetiver by the sounds if its roots are deeper and stronger.....but dont want it taking over the entire valley.

[Nawtier]

Got any pics of these 2 ??

Napier Grass

Miscanthus gigantus