USO DE VETIVERÍA ZIZANOIDES PARA DISMINUIR LA EROSIÓN EN GUATEMALA

Abstract

It is presented a research work performed in a plantation of Vetiveria in ground slopes to diminish the erosion provokated by the rains. For this purpose, the material used in the plots with cultures and without them has been characterized by determining the pore size and surface area, using gas adsorption (Nitrogen), thermogravimetric and infiltration. It was observed that the weight losses after heating at 1000ºC are lower in the plot with culture. The specific surface area of the soil range between 11.68-15.5m2/g. With the plantation, the differences are least between natural samples and those thermally treated at 500ºC. Besides this, the soil in natural state has an average pore size between 17.39-160nm. However, with the plantation the larger part of the pores are between 20-100nm and after heating, the pores density increases in this range. This fact produces that the soil be practically impermeable. Similarly, the accumulated specific surface area was higher in the desorption phase and the values found when the sample was heated at 500ºC were lower. These sharp differences with the thermal treatment will disappear with the culture. Finally, the infiltration rate was lower at the first minutes because the rain was retained in the leaves.