CRITIQUE OF VETIVER ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATED SLOPE STABILIZATION IN THE HIMALAYA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjoest.v7i3.295Keywords:
Nepal, bioengineering, geotechnical design, landslide management, root reinforcementAbstract
This review critically examines the role of Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) in Himalayan slope stabilization and the emergence of what the authors term Vetiver Engineering the monocultural, geotechnically unsupported deployment of Vetiver as a standalone slope stabilization solution. Drawing upon a systematic synthesis of geotechnical, ecological, hydrological, and policy literature, this paper evaluates where Vetiver is mechanistically effective, where it is structurally inadequate, and why its uncritical proliferation in Nepal and adjacent Himalayan regions represents a critical gap between evidence and practice. Vetiver provides measurable benefits for surface erosion control and shallow root reinforcement in cohesive soils, but it cannot substitute for geotechnical drainage, structural reinforcement, or discontinuity-controlled failure analysis in complex Himalayan terrain. Integrated bioengineering approaches combining geotechnical screening, hydrological control, structural reinforcement, and mixed species vegetation are demonstrated to deliver more resilient, cost-effective, and ecologically sustainable outcomes. The paper synthesizes engineering perspectives, root mechanics, regional case evidence, material durability data, comparative performance analyses, and critiques of Vetiver Engineering institutional drivers. It proposes a stepwise integrated design framework, standardized monitoring protocols, and a policy reform agenda. The conclusion calls for evidence-based procurement reform, interdisciplinary research, and regional knowledge-sharing to guide Himalayan slope management in an era of increasing climate driven rainfall intensity and seismicity.
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