The Root zone layer as specified by the USGA specification its

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The Root zone layer as specified by the USGA
specification its attributes and short
comings.A Proposal to improve this with
particular reference to Bent grass.
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What are the attributes of a good putting green?

• Smooth putting surface.
• Well drained.
• Perched water table.
• Well aerated.
• It is important to note that these attributes
  hold true only when the specs are in place.

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What are the short comings?

• Low cation exchange capacity.
• No real water holding capacity.
• Organic material always a problem.
• Sand is a very sterile medium.
• Low natural microbial activity although this is
  challenged by several researchers.
• Not a great growing medium for Bent grass?

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Low cation exchange capacity.

• Starts off with less than 1 meq / 100g.
• Treat as Hydroponic system?
• Salinity problems due to low buffering
  capability.
• Nutrient balances become difficult.
• Calcium problems at high pHs.
• Rely on natural organic matter build up which
  defeats the spec.

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Organic material always a problem.

• Thatching associated problems.
• Deviation from spec in porosity. Increase in
  micro porosity (from spec 15-25) and decrease
  macro porosity (from spec 15-30).
• Water holding capacity increases in top layers.
  (Perched water table)
• Infiltration decreases.
• Oxygen levels decrease.

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THE TWO EDGED SWORD IN ROOT MIXES FOR GOLF GREENS.

• As can be seen from the previous slide all the
  problems are caused by organic material in the
  process of decay that accumulates over time and
  basically clogs up the system.
• This is why it is removed as efficiently and
  quickly as possible.
• Organic matter is however a vital component of
  growing crops including grass.

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Sand is a sterile medium / Low microbial activity
/ Poor medium for Bent grass.

• In its natural habitat Bent grass (Agrostis
  stolonifera) can not survive without Mycorrhizae.
• Mycorrhizae require several specific assisting
  microbes.
• Sand does not test positive for these.

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What is Mycorrhizae?

• It is a group of Fungi that live in a mutualistic
  or symbiotic relationship with a host plant by
  colonizing its roots.
• This fungus adds kilometers of hyphae or fungal
  strands that work as roots for the host plant.
• The host plant provides the Mycorrhizae with
  carbohydrates and Mycorrhizae in turn provides
  the host plants with nutrients, water and
  protection against pathogen invasion.

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Other benefits to Bent grass.

• Poa annua (Winter grass) happen to be Mycorrhizae
  negative or neutral. Some discrepancy in the
  literature exists here.
• Strengthen the Mycorrhizae association with Bent
  and achieve effective control from complete
  Winter grass invasion.

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THE IMPORTANT CARBON FACTOR.

• The stable carbon in Microbial Carbon can not be
  degraded by microbes as is the case with carbon
  from peat.
• The stable carbon actually acts as a safe biota
  for microbes including Mycorrhizae and the
  assisting bacterial colonies.

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MICROBIAL CARBON RESOLVES MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS.

• USING A STABLE FORM OF CARBON WILL -
• Improve Cation exchange capacity which will
  improve buffer capacity in decrease salinity
  risk.
• Improve water holding capacity without
  interfering with drainage.
• Establish a safe biota for the important soil
  microbiology.

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Pencross Bent grass planted with Peat on left and
Microbial Carbon on right at 10 (v/v) addition
in both instances. (16 days after sowing)
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The root system of the Microbial carbon treatment.
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What conditions stimulate rapid Mycorrhizal
association?

• Healthy Mycorrhizae spores in abundance.
• Stable Carbon.
• Mycorrhizae Helper Bacteria.
• MICROBIAL CARBON CONTAINS ALL OF THESE
  COMPONENTS.