Growth Habit for NTR
If No-Till Renovation is such a good idea, why is it that nobody thought of this before?
The reason is that before Champion, there did not exist a grass with the necessary growth habit to make No-Till Renovation successful long-term. Morris Brown had spent many years experimenting with techniques for converting greens without reconstructing and without fumigation, but it was not until he discovered the grass which he later dubbed “The Champion” that the No-Till Renovation Process became a success.
What is the ideal growth habit for No-Till Renovation?
Small Size. A larger grass must root more deeply than a smaller grass in order to perform adequately. Because of its small genetic size, Champion can perform well even with only 2”-3” of total root depth. A smaller grass also handles low heights of cut better than a larger one, which give it a competitive advantage at low greens height, which is a key component of the No-Till Process.
Stoloniferous. A grass that grows more deeply in the soil becomes choked-off when the soil becomes too moisture retentive. The stoloniferous growth habit of Champion allows it to thrive in moisture-retaining soils. Additionally, the grass with the most stoloniferous growth habit is also the one which will win the battle of dominance on the putting surface at low heights of cut. Champion has a competitive advantage over most other grasses on a properly-maintained putting surface.
Mat Formation. The formation of a dense mat allows Champion to grow like a carpet on the surface of the green. Not only does this provide the make for the very best ball roll, it also serves to restrict the infiltration rate of water into the soil. This is a key mechanism which allows Champion to thrive on greens which were previously too wet for bentgrass or other bermudagrasses.
Genetic Vigor. A successful No-Till conversion requires a vigorous grass which will establish quickly and establish itself on the putting surface.
Early Spring Greenup. In the competitive environment of a putting green, it is a distinct advantage to have a grass which greens up sooner in order to stay ahead of the invading/competing grasses in the environment. Properly-maintained Champion will green-up very quickly in spring, due to both a stoloniferous growth habit and natural genetic vigor.
