Electrophysiological responses of the rice striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis to volatiles of the trap plant vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.)

Vetiver grass （Vetiveria zizanioides L.） was previously found to effectively attract female adults of Chilo suppressalis （Walker）, an important pest of rice. To determine the volatile compounds involved in this attraction, electroantennography （EAG） responses to seven synthetic volatiles released from vetiver plants were examined. Our results indicated that the responses of C. suppressalis adult antennae to the different compounds varied widely. The compounds elicited strong EAG responses in female antennae were subsequently selected for further EAG response tests, namely, caryophyllene, β-ocimene, linalool and a-pinene. EAG responses to a combination of these four compounds did not differ significantly from the individual compounds. However, pair combination tests indicated that 0.01μg μL-1linalool and 50 μg μL-1 α-pinene, 50 μgμL-1 caryophyllene and 0.01μg μL-1 linalool, 0.01 μg μL-1 13-ocimene and 0.01 μg μL-1 linalool, and 0.01μg μL-1 β-ocimene and 50 μg μL-1 caryophyllene elicited significantly greater EAG responses in 3-day female moths compared to the 1-day female. These compound combinations and the corresponding ratios are probably playing an important role in attracting female adults of C. suppressalis to the vetiver grass.

Quantifying Tillage and Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria nigritana Stapf) Strips Spacing Effects on Runoff, Soil Loss and Maize Yield in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Soil erosion induced by inappropriate tillage remains a serious problem on many agricultural fields in the humid tropics. Studies were conducted between 2004 and 2006, on an Alfisol in Ogbomoso in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the effectiveness of Vetiver Grass(Vetiveria nigritana) Strips(VGS) under different tillage systems. The experiment was split-plot laid out in a randomized complete block design with two replications on 6% slope with 18 runoff plots. Main plot treatments were tillage systems; Manual Clearing(MC), Ploughing(P) and Ploughing plus Harrowing(PH). Subplot treatments were VGS spaced at intervals of 5 m(eight strips) and 10 m(four strips) with the control(no-vetiver). Runoffs and soil losses were collected after each major storm. Chemical analyses of eroded sediments and runoff were determined. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at p<0.05. The results showed that tillage had no significant reduction in runoffs and soil losses, but they were reduced with MC compared with P and PH. Mean total runoff on 5 and 10 m VGS plots were significantly(p<0.05) lower than that of the control by 74.4% and 45.0%, respectively. Corresponding soils loss on 5 and 10 m VGS plots were 27.1% and 53.5%, respectively. Mean NO3-N levels in runoff water were lower under PH plots than those under MC plots by 79.0% and 66.5%, respectively in 2004 and 2006 growing seasons. VGS spaced at 5 m significantly(p<0.05) reduced NO3-N loss than the control by 108.8% in 2004. Nutrients loads of eroded sediments were consistently higher for the control(no-vetiver) plots and least for 5 m VGS plot. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents of eroded sediments were 90%-92.4%, 83%-83.6% and 97%-97.8%, respectively, and were lower on 5 m than other treatments. Maize grain yield was significantly(p<0.05) affected by both tillage and VGS spacing only in 2005 growing season. P plot produced higher grain yield than MC and PH by 79.9% and 99.1%, respectively. Also, grain yield on VGS plot was significantly(p<0.05) higher on 5 and 10 m VGS plots than the control by 82.2% and 85.4%, respectively. The significant beneficial effect of PH in producing higher yields was dwarfed by the potential danger of soil erosion in the absence of a soil erosion control measure. The results showed that a balance needed to be struck between mechanical clearance and protective measure against soil erosion.

Phytoremediation Potential of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides) in Two Mixed Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils from the Zoundweogo and Boulkiemde Regions of Burkina Faso (West Africa)

In the agricultural regions of Burkina Faso, urban solid waste fertilizers were usually applied. This activity is likely to contaminate the soils and expose populations to serious diseases. This study aims to assess rate of heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr) contamination in both agricultural lixisol and vertisol and to evaluate the removal efficiency of heavy metals using Vetiver grass on different two mixed heavy metal contaminated soils. A pot experiment was conducted to compare the metal accumulation and overall efficiency of metal uptake by different plant parts (roots and shoots) on both tropical soils. After 3 and 6 months growing on laboratory conditions, Vetiver grass plants were harvested and heavy metal concentrations in shoot and root parts determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy. The results indicate that at 3 and 6 moths, the shoot and root concentrations of heavy metals in Vetiver grass harvested in lixisol were higher than vertisol. For different plant parts, all metal concentrations were higher in root than in shoot, except Cu and Pb. At the 3 and 6 months, the BCF values > 1 for Cd, Cu and Zn in both soils showed Vetiver grass as an effective phyto-stabilizer for these metals. However, the TF values > 1 for Cd (lixisol), Mn, Zn Ni and Cr (vertisol) indicated the efficiency of Vetiver for phytoextraction. The results of this study showed that Vetiver is more effective in lixisol, but it can be used for remediation of both studied tropical soils from agricultural region of Burkina Faso. Nevertheless, considering the special limitations of the experimental conditions, further field monitoring is necessary to demonstrate the phytoremediation efficiency of Vetiver in agricultural soils under the climatic conditions of Burkina Faso.

Characteristics of unsaturated soil slope covered with capillary barrier system and deep-rooted grass under different rainfall patterns Check for updates

Rainfall-induced slope failures commonly occur in residual soil slopes.Slope failures are triggered by the reduction in soil strength.This is attributed to the decrease in soil suction due to rainwater infiltration.Slope covers like capillary barrier system and vegetative cover are effective methods that can be used to prevent rainfall-induced slope failures.The capillary barrier system is able to limit the rainwater infiltration,and vegetation can contribute to the increase in soil strength.Vetiver grass is widely planted in tropical and subtropical areas of the world for soil and water conservation.This study investigates the characteristics of unsaturated soil slope covered with capillary barrier system and Vetiver grass in comparison with the original slope through numerical analyses and field measurements.The analyses were carried out under the advanced,normal,and delayed rainfall patterns.The results of the analyses indicated that the capillary barrier system played a more significant role than the Vetiver grass in maintaining slope stability,although both the capillary barrier system and Vetiver grass contributed to the slope stability.In addition,both numerical analyses and field measurements showed that under the delayed and normal rainfall patterns,when antecedent rainwater infiltration could increase the soil moisture,the capillary barrier system performed much better compared to Vetiver grass in maintaining soil matric suctions and slope stability.