Crop Residue Decomposer

A crop residue decomposer is a microbial product you apply to stover, straw, and stubble after harvest so it breaks down faster in the field. CRD is a nine-strain blend of Bacillus, Trichoderma, and Aspergillus that colonizes the residue and digests the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose that make it slow to rot.

Four bacteria: Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Five fungi: Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma asperellum, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus niger.

Yes. CRD breaks residue down biologically in the field, so the carbon and nutrients stay in the soil instead of going up in smoke. It is an option for growers in areas where residue burning is restricted or being phased out.

No. CRD is a microbial inoculant and is not registered for pesticidal use with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is intended to speed residue breakdown, not to control pests or disease.

The bacteria and fungi in CRD colonize the residue and produce the enzymes that break down its structural fibers. As the residue digests, the nutrients held in it release to the soil, the residue mat thins, and the remaining material becomes stable organic matter. Freshly chopped residue, moisture, and soil contact all speed the process.

20 to 40 grams per acre (50 to 100 grams per hectare), mixed with water or a compatible liquid fertilizer. Use 20 grams on lighter residue and 40 grams on corn stover, straw, and other heavy loads.

Yes. High-carbon residue immobilizes soil nitrogen while it breaks down. CRD speeds the carbon cycle so the residue digests before the next crop needs that nitrogen, which leaves more of it available during early growth.

Do not tank-mix CRD with systemic herbicides or fungicides, and keep 7 days between them and a CRD application. Contact products need a 3-day buffer. If a chemical goes on inside those windows, a second CRD application may be needed.

Corn stover and grain stubble, wheat, barley, and rice straw, soybean and pulse residue, cotton stalks and sorghum stubble after shredding, cover crop termination residue, and residue in no-till and reduced-till systems. The rate is the same across crops; use the higher rate on heavy loads.

Right after harvest, ideally as part of a chop-and-incorporate pass, so the microbes get the longest working window before planting. A spring application ahead of seedbed preparation also works. Apply when residue is moist or ahead of rain, with soil temperatures above 45°F.

Yes. CRD is compatible with many liquid fertilizers and is commonly added to a fall fertilizer pass. Dilute the fertilizer to its final spray concentration first, then add CRD. A nitrogen source such as UAN in the tank speeds breakdown of high-carbon residue.

Yes. Spray it directly onto evenly spread residue and time the application ahead of rainfall or irrigation so the microbes wash into contact with the residue. Incorporation is faster, but it is not required.

Boom sprayer, backpack sprayer, aerial application, or through an irrigation or fertigation system. Use at least 10 gallons per acre of spray volume by ground or 3 to 5 gallons per acre by air. Shake the powder with a small amount of water in a closed container until it disperses, then add it to the tank and keep gentle agitation running.

100 billion CFU per gram of bacteria and 5 billion CFU per gram of fungi in a dry powder. Custom concentrations are available on request.

15 lb pails, 25 lb pails, and 210 lb drums.

6 months at room temperature and 18 months refrigerated. Store it cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight, and reseal the container after each use.

Yes. CRD ships in sample sizes through bulk and wholesale quantities, with domestic and international shipping, and is available for private label and distributor supply with custom CFU concentrations and packaging for qualified partners.

Contact our sales team with your crop, acreage, and residue load. We will recommend a rate and send pricing.