Impact of Vetiveria Zizanioides (vetiver grass) live barriers on maize production in Honduras

The authors investigated the use of grass strips as a soil conservation method in maize production on steeplands in Central America. Soil tended to accumulate above the strips and to scour immediately below the strips. Over a three-year test period, the authors noted no significant difference in yields between control and test plots except in the drought year of 1997 when maize planted above the grass barriers benefitted from the water stored in the accumulated soil. The authors concluded that the grass barriers by themselves did not provide enough benefit to encourage widespread adoption. They did suggest, however, that replacing the grass with a harvestable crop could improve the benefits of the technology.