After maize harvest, large amounts of stalks, leaves and other plant material remain in the field. Their decomposition can take a long time, especially when residues are poorly chopped or have limited contact with the soil.
For this reason, maize residue decomposition should be treated as an important part of field preparation for the following crop rather than simply as a natural process that can be left to take its course.
Why do maize residues decompose slowly?
Maize residues contain a high proportion of structural plant material that is relatively resistant to decomposition. Cellulose and lignin are among the compounds responsible for the strength and durability of plant tissues.
The rate of residue breakdown depends on several factors, including:
- how finely residues are chopped,
- soil moisture,
- temperature,
- microbial activity,
- contact between plant material and soil.
Good residue preparation increases the surface area available to microorganisms involved in decomposition.
Why does faster residue breakdown matter?
Large amounts of undecomposed plant material can interfere with seedbed preparation and sowing of the following crop. Crop residues may also provide a place where microorganisms associated with plant diseases survive between growing seasons. Efficient residue management therefore helps prepare the field for the next crop while supporting the return of organic matter to the soil. As plant residues decompose, nutrients gradually re-enter the soil cycle and contribute to biological processes involved in maintaining soil fertility.
Trichoderma and Bacillus in crop residue decomposition
The breakdown of organic matter is largely a biological process. Microorganisms capable of colonising and degrading plant tissues play an important role in this process. Among them, species belonging to the genera Trichoderma and Bacillus are particularly relevant. VitaFer TrichoBIO combines microorganisms from both groups and is designed to support the biological decomposition of crop residues.
What did the VitaFer laboratory trial show?
A laboratory trial assessed the effect of VitaFer TrichoBIO on the decomposition of maize and wheat crop residues.
Three treatments were compared:
- untreated control,
- 5% urea treatment,
- TrichoBio treatment.
Moisture was maintained at 17% in all treatments. After 10 days, the TrichoBio treatment showed pronounced decomposition of the plant residues, which could easily be crumbled into small fragments by hand. No visible pathogenic hyphae were observed. By comparison, the untreated control showed poor cellulose decomposition, while the 5% urea treatment showed good decomposition but visible fungal hyphae. The photographic documentation also shows progressive decomposition of wheat straw treated with TrichoBio after 10 days under constant laboratory conditions.
TrichoBIO
5% urea
Untreated control
How to support maize residue decomposition in the field
A microbial product alone cannot compensate for poor residue management. The first step is to chop maize residues thoroughly and distribute them evenly across the field. Smaller pieces provide a larger surface area for microbial colonisation. The microbial treatment can then be applied to the chopped residues, followed by incorporation into the upper soil layer. This improves contact between microorganisms, organic material and soil, creating better conditions for biological decomposition.
VitaFer TrichoBIO in maize residue management
VitaFer TrichoBIO is a microbial product based on Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp.
It can be used as part of a residue management strategy after maize harvest, supporting biological breakdown and helping prepare the field for the following crop.
The recommended field procedure is:
1. Thoroughly chop the maize residues.
2. Apply VitaFer TrichoBIO at 0.5 kg/ha as a spray treatment.
3. Incorporate the residues into the soil to a depth of approximately 5–10 cm.
Good contact between microorganisms, crop residues and soil is essential. Leaving treated residues entirely on the soil surface does not provide the same conditions for microbial activity as proper chopping and incorporation.
Field preparation for the next crop starts after harvest
Crop residue management is one of the first steps in preparing a field for the following season. This is particularly important in intensive rotations involving maize, where large amounts of organic material remain after harvest. Proper chopping, soil incorporation and support for biological decomposition help create better conditions for residue breakdown and prepare the field for the next crop.
VitaFer TrichoBIO can become part of this strategy by supporting microbial processes from the moment residues are incorporated into the soil.
