Vetiver (Khus) Cultivation in India and its Oil Extraction Process

Table of Contents

• What is Vetiver? - An Overview
• Which are the Popular Vetiver Varieties in India?
• What is the Vetiver Cultivation Process?

• • Soil & Climate
  • Propagation
  • Land Preparation
  • Planting
  • Fertilizer Management
  • Intercultural Operations
  • Harvesting

• What is the Process of Vetiver Oil Extraction?
• Conclusion

What is Vetiver? - An Overview

Vetiver or khus plant is both economically and ecologically important in India. Vetiver scientific name is Chrysopogon zizanioides, and it belongs to the family Poaceae (grass family). Vetiver farming is gaining popularity in India due to its high-value vetiver roots, which are used for its essential oil. Another critical factor in its popularity is that its oil cannot be substituted for reconstituted oil or synthesised. It is used as a base note in flavour and fragrance, with usage ranging from 20-50% and 60-70% respectively, indicating significant market potential. Its oil is used in the manufacture of soaps, cosmetics, perfumery, agarbathis, soft drinks, pan masala, etc. Also, vetiver is considered a medicinal plant with its many medicinal uses, such as vetiver is beneficial in treating the symptoms of disorders such as arthritis, rheumatism, and aching stiff muscles. It has a relaxing effect on the nervous system, relieving tension and stress.

India contributes about 20-25 tons to the world's total vetiver oil production. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh are the major vetiver oil-producing states, with an annual output of about 20 tons of oil. Vetiver oil from North India is considered the best in the world market.

Which are the Popular Vetiver Varieties in India?

• Gulabi
• Dharaini
• Kesar
• Sugandha

What is the Vetiver Cultivation Process?

The vetiver cultivation process depends upon several factors including soil, climate, propagation, land preparation, planting, etc. Let’s understand the step-by-step cultivation process below:

Soil & Climate

Vetiver can grow in almost all types of soils but well drained, sandy loam and red laterite soils of pH 6 to 8 are considered ideal for its optimum growth as the roots produced in such soils are thick and contain more essential oil. It grows best in areas with a temperature of 30°C to 40°C and well-distributed rainfall 100-200 cm.

Propagation

Slips are the best planting material for the vetiver propagation. However, it can also be propagated by tillers, though tillers usually take longer. Cut the plants at 25 to 30 cm above ground level and dig them out for slip preparation. The culms are divided into slips with 2-3 tillers. These slips are jabbed into the ground like seedlings. The growth of vetiver is slow at the initial stage, but the plants develop quickly once roots are established.

Land Preparation

Ensure that the field is free from perennial weeds and shrubs. After clearing the field, the land is deep tilled. Final land preparation is done after the onset of pre-monsoon showers.

Planting

April to August is the ideal planting season for vetiver. The fibrous roots of the plant are being removed, leaving 5 to 8 cm from the base of the root, after which the plant is divided into slips. These are planted in lines at 45 x 30 cm spacing. Follow flatbed planting with ridging (after 30 days of planting) for higher root and essential oil yields. Planting is done in holes 5 to 8 cm deep. One hectare requires about 75,000 slips when planted at the given spacing. If it’s the rain-free period, the field should be irrigated immediately after planting.

Fertilizer Management

Apply the fertilizer before final ploughing. A fertilizer dose of 100 kg N, 40 kg P₂O₅ and 40 kg K₂O per hectare is recommended.

Intercultural Operations

A vetiver plant requires 2 to 3 weedings at intervals of about a month during the initial period of vetiver growth. From the following year, one weeding can be done before harvest.

Shoot cutting is also essential, which is done twice during the crop cycle. First shoot cutting is done at 30 cm in the planting year, while the second time, cutting is done at 15 to 20 cm before harvesting to facilitate root digging.

In the plant's initial years, when growth is slow, the best use of the open space is intercropping. Green gram, black gram, toria, coriander, etc., can be intercropped with vetiver. Cowpea and Dhaincha seeds can be sown in the row spaces and incorporated after 50-60 days of growth as green manure. To control scale insects, spraying metasystox at 0.04% will be effective.

Harvesting

Harvesting is usually done during the dry season (December to February) by digging up the bush and its roots with digging machinery. It is done between 15 and 18 months to achieve a fully developed root system and high-quality oil. Harvesting earlier than 15 months after planting results in immature roots yielding oil of poor quality with a green, earthy odour.

What is the Process of Vetiver Oil Extraction?

The vetiver oil extraction starts with washing the harvested roots to remove the soil and its impurities without damaging the root fibres. Then, the cleaned roots are spread on drying grounds for 1 to 2 days to improve the aroma and quality of the oil. These dried roots can be stored for up to 60 to 70 days without losing oil content. These are further cut into 2.5-5 cm lengths to increase soil recovery. Under good management, farmers can obtain 30-45 q/ha of dry roots, which can yield 12-20 kg of oil per hectare at an average oil content of 0.4%.

Steam distillation is the most common method for extracting vetiver oil. Before distillation, the roots are soaked for 18 to 20 hours to soften them, thereby further facilitating the release of oil. This method usually takes 20-24 hours to collect both lighter and heavier oil fractions. To prevent lighter oil from escaping, a marking cloth is used. In Kannauj, a high-quality bluish oil called “Ruhe Khus” is produced in traditional copper vessels, which fetch the highest prices in the perfumery market. The leftover roots are used to make mats, Aasa (for sitting), pen-stand, etc.

Conclusion

With strong market demand, vetiver offers significant income potential for farmers. The vetiver crop requires minimal maintenance and yields good returns from its aromatic roots. This business has considerable future potential in India, so by following proper cultivation and post-harvest practices, farmers can achieve higher yields and better income. Overall, vetiver farming is a profitable modern farming method.