Abstract: A no-burn process for fostering growth of a mature perennial grass crop in a field. The process includes: (a) providing seed-containing heads on the grass crop; (b) removing seed from the seed-containing heads to leave a standing remnant of the grass crop in the field, the standing remnant having a top surface which is elevated above the ground; (c) leaving the standing remnant unburned; (d) applying a layer of nitrogen beneath the top surface of the unburned standing remnant within about three months of removing the seed from the seed-containing heads; and (e) depositing a substantially uniform layer of light reflecting material beneath the top surface of the unburned standing remnant throughout the field within about three months of removing the seed from the seed-containing heads.