Vegetative barrier is a strip planted with a grass or shrub that runs across the slope. It slows down water flowing down the slope and catches the sediment that has been eroded uphill. Over time, soil may build up behind the strip.

Vettiver Plantation

• Slope of the land is <1% planting of vettiver, kollukattaipull, supapul, velimasal, gliricidia and lemon grass in across the slope as vegetative barriers.


• Vettiver can be planted in 15-20 cm interval in a paired row system. According to sloppiness vegetative barriers could be planted at 30-50 metre distance.

Salient features :

• It yields good benefits in the dryland soils
• During heavy rainfall, barriers checks the run-off water which carrying potential soil from the land.
• It checks soil erosion and conserve moisture through reduction in velocity of water flow.
• Reduction in run off velocity increased the infiltration rate, only clear water alone will flow out of land.
• Vegetative barriers are cheap and easy to establish.
• Once they are growing, they are easy to maintain.