_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: sukamalsarkarc@yahoo.com; Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology 26(2): 1-12, 2018; Article no.CJAST.39328 ISSN: 2457-1024 (Past name: British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, Past ISSN: 2231-0843, NLM ID: 101664541) Standardizing Row Spacing of Vetiver for River Bank Stabilization of Lower Ganges Kasturi Ghosh 1 , Sukamal Sarkar 1* , Koushik Brahmachari 1 and Sudipta Porel 2 1 Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur -741252, India. 2 Department of Panchayats and Rural Development, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata -700106, India. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Authors KG and SS designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors KB and SS managed the analyses of the study. Authors KB and SP managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/CJAST/2018/39328 Editor(s): (1) Abida Farooqi, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Quiad-i-Azam University, Pakistan. Reviewers: (1) Kizza Charles Luswata, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda. (2) Wen Nie, Quanzhou Institute of Equipment Manufacturing, Haixi Institutes Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/23344 Received 19 th November 2017 Accepted 13 th February 2018 Published 26 th February 2018 ABSTRACT Aims: To find out the feasibility of Vetiver grass in different row-spacing with special reference to soil erosion control, impact on soil fertility and water conservation at the erosion-prone barren banks of the Bhagirathi River in Nadia district of West Bengal. Methodology: The experimental treatments comprised of five different spacing arrangements (90, 75, 60, 45 and 30 cm) for Vetiver rows. For recording biometric observations plant height, number of tillers/plant and root length vetiver plants were taken accordingly (January 2017 to May 2017). Physico-chemical changes of experimental soil, water holding capacity, surface-runoff and soil conservation efficiency of each month were measured during the brief period of experimentation. Results: The study revealed that Vetiver has significant role in stabilization of erosion-prone river bank. Growing of Vetiver with indigenous nutrient supply of soil resulted in depletion soil fertility status initially. Planting of Vetiver with closer row spacing (30 cm) proved to be significant for quick stabilization of river bank, but as a long-term measure, wider row spacing (75 cm) is advocated for optimum growth and biomass production of this perennial grass. Original Research Article