Shred-It: Accelerate Residue Decomposition
Shred-It is a soil health and mineralization solution that integrates a custom blend of selected bacteria. These bacteria work together synergistically to break down crop residue and effectively promote nutrient recycling.
Contact Your PowerAg AgronomistFAQ: What is Shred-It doing to my residue?
Shred-It is a stalk decomposition product made up of 8 aggressive Bacillus strains that are specifically formulated to eat the pith, lignin, and cellulose of stalks left in the field. This breaks down residue, releases nutrients, and leaves stalks more brittle, which helps improve planter performance by reducing hair-pinning.
FAQ: When is the best time to apply Shred-It?
The best time is in the fall right after harvest while there’s still sugar and starch in the stalks—this gives the bacillus a food source to start working. The spores go dormant over winter and reactivate in spring to continue breaking down residue. Spring applications with burndown are still useful for nutrient release, but won’t impact planter performance as much.
Use Rates
Broadcast: 12.8 oz/acre
Treated vs Untreated Crop Residue
TREATED
Fall Application — Next Year Corn Start
- Uniform stand from better seed-soil contact and warmer soil from more exposed dirt/microbial feeding.
- Improved coloration and growth from in-season nutrient release.
- Root balls on the treated samples reveal enhanced breakdown of the plant tissues.
UNTREATED
No Fall Application — Next Year Corn Start
- Less uniform stand from increased amount of crop residue.
- Yellow/smaller corn due to crop residue taking away much-needed moisture and nutrients during early development.
