${alpha}-V_2O_5$ nanorods were grown by means of electron beam irradiation and thermal oxidation methods and the visible emission properties of the nanorods grown by both methods were investigated. The growth and crystallinity of the nanorods were greatly enhanced by the insertion of a buffer layer. The emission spectra of the nanorods grown by thermal oxidation and electron beam irradiation showed a peak centered at 710~720 nm, which is believed to be due to oxygen vacancies introduced during the growth process. Also, the emission peak centered at 530 nm observed in the $V_2O_5$ nanorods grown by electron beam irradiation was considered to be due to the band edge transition as a result of the enhanced crystallinity.