Vetiver may be the most practical solution for controlling soil erosion on a huge scale in many regions, especially the tropics and subtropics! Vetiver roots grow vertically for at least three metres, not only do they bind the soil, but they do not compete with neighbouring crops for water and nutrients.

It is rather strange that the original Tamil word, 'vettiver' (meaning a coarse grass), in which the English common name, 'vetiver', and the generic name, Vetiveria, are derived, is not as popularly used as the other South Asian (North India in particular) words, namely Khas, Khas Khas, Khus, and Khus Khus.