The document summarizes the attributes and uses of vetiver. It discusses how vetiver is used in traditional Indian products like slippers, mats, and curtains due to its aromatic and cooling properties. Vetiver thrives in a wide range of soil and environmental conditions with sandy loam soil and temperatures from -15 to 55 degrees Celsius preferred. It is tolerant to drought, flooding, salinity, and heavy metals. Vetiver is processed by harvesting the roots and drying them to be used in products that take advantage of its smoky and earthy aromas.

1. INTRODUCTION
It was another hot mid-day in 2009. The infamous loo was blowing in ATTRIBUTES TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
from the Thar desert across Delhi’s Rajpath. And a young girl walked
past the black gates of THE NATIONAL MUSEUM in the blazing sun. And 1. IN HOUSE USES
walked into the the coolness provided by one of mankind’s ealiest • Vetiver padding used in desert
inventions. Across the imposing front doors of the National Museum of coolers and mats for cooling
India, from the ceiling to the floor was this huge curtain of khus fibre rooms emitting a cool and
constantly kept moist by buckets of water being thrown on it. I donot refreshning aroma.
know how many of you have had the good luck to smell the wonderful • Acts as fire resistent amterial
aroma of a khus curtain on a hot north indian day – it remains with • Acts as insect repellents
me, so many years later.
2. LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS
This wood, vétiver, or more accurately, this root, with its legendary
earthy, smoky aromas sometimes only comes through in the base • Slippers
notes, humbly emerging after the striking freshness of the top notes. • Foot mats
• Hand bags
Apart from these traditional shoes, another recent trend is an upshot • Natural room freshners
of back-to-nature consciousness: slippers and sandals made with a • Table mats
variety of fibre as banana, arecanut, and ramacham or vetiver, more • Organic screen
widely known as the fragrant khus-khus. • Laundary bag.
This trend spurred-off a few years back when kora grass slippers, now
popularly known as the chattai chappal, became a rage, having caught
the fancy of an entire college-going generation.
Submitted by : Monisha pattnaik 2011JDS6009 IIT DELHI

2. ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
FACTOR REQUIREMENTS
Soil type Sandy loam is preferred. Clay loam is acceptable, but clay not.
Slightly sloping land avoids waterlogging in case of over watering. Flat site is acceptable,
Topography but watering must be monitored to avoid waterlogging, that will stunt the growth of
young plantlets. Mature vetiver, however, thrives under waterlogged conditions.
Absorbs dissolved nutrients like N and P. Is tolerant to sodicity, magnesium, aluminium
Nutrition
and manganese
pH Accepts soil pH from 3.3 to 12.5 (in another publication it's 4.3-8.0[3])
soil conditions tolerant to salinity
Absorbs dissolved heavy metals from polluted water. Is tolerant to As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg,
Heavy metals
Se and Zn.
Light Shading affects vetiver growth (C4 plant), but partly shading is acceptable.
tolerant to temperatures from -15 °C to +55°C, depending on growing region. 25°C is the
optimal soil temperature for root growth. Root dormancy occurs under a temperature of
5°C. Shoot growth is affected earlier, at 13°C is only very little shoot growth, but root
Temperature
growth is continued at a rate of 12.6 cm/day. Under frosty conditions, shoots become
dormant and purple, or even die, but the underground growing points survive and can
re-grow quickly if the conditions become better.
tolerant to drought (because of its deep roots), flood, submergence; annual precipitation
Water
of 6.4 - 41.0 dm is tolerated, but it has to be at least 225 mm
Submitted by : Monisha pattnaik 2011JDS6009 IIT DELHI

3. HOW IT IS PROCESSED
Submitted by : Monisha pattnaik 2011JDS6009 IIT DELHI