Synthetic or conventional oil? Regular 87 octane or premium 93 octane gas? Cheap tires or more expensive ones? These vehicle maintenance decisions may not seem like a big deal, but they can make a real difference in performance, longevity, and overall cost of a vehicle. In agricultural applications, adjuvant decisions can make the difference in an efficient and effective application. It’s important to ask questions to understand product composition and potential agronomic effects to determine if an adjuvant will truly be cost effective.
Finding a balance between price and agronomic results is key to adjuvant decision making.
Just like a mechanic knows their cars, farmers know their crop. If there is a wet or dry spot or area where it is harder to maintain weed control, the farmer knows all about it. Providing these experts with information and tools to effectively combat their issues is essential to successful applications. Simple research data from lab tests like percent nonvolatile, Draves test, contact angle, and surface tension can show the capabilities of a product and whether or not the product is right for the job.
A surfactant’s ability to wet a leaf surface is directly related to the quality of that surfactant, and higher quality products will lead to more consistent performance across challenging environmental conditions. Quality surfactants can help growers extract the most from the pesticide-active ingredients they apply. Contact products need good leaf coverage, and adjuvants that improve wetting and reduce surface tension and contact angle will perform best. Systemic products must also have adequate leaf contact to get into the target plant, and using effective surfactants can improve deposition and wetting of spray droplets through hairy leaf surfaces.
Surfactants Explained
The principal functioning agents in a surfactant product are a combination of surfactants and other agents with diverse functionalities, including humectants. The percentage of nonvolatile substances in an adjuvant formulation determines the amount of components that do not evaporate quickly. A higher rate of non-volatiles provides the active ingredient more time to perform its function, increasing the likelihood of a successful application. The results below show the range of product quality on the market today. A lower number for the Draves test, surface tension, and contact angle indicates a product with better surfactant qualities. A higher percentage of non-volatiles is an indication of surfactant persistence on the leaf surface. This is why it’s essential to understand what you’re buying to find the product that works best for you.
This chart shows percent nonvolatile, Draves test, surface tension, and contact angle results for surfactant products currently on the market. All tests were measured at 0.25%.
Pesticide labels vary on surfactant requirements. Always follow the pesticide active ingredient label and consider the needs of each application to help choose the best tank mix components.
When evaluating a product, you should ask:
As price pressures increase in all aspects of business, looking at ways to cut costs is a natural and appropriate response. While searching for cheaper alternatives in the adjuvant and crop protection industry, it’s important to keep in mind how formulation changes impact quality and agronomic effects as well as price. A cheaper formulation is an option, but is it always the best way to go? When the agronomic effectiveness of a product goes down, so does the value of the crop in the field. The risk of developing herbicide resistance also increases along with a host of other concerns.
Weeds growing back in a corn field in late July
When evaluating a product, you should ask:
If you have a big truck for hauling equipment, doing farm work, or other extra work, buying cheap tires saves money in the short term, but those tires may wear faster and have to be replaced sooner. Yield loss can break a profitable season. Certain adjuvants may have less surfactant and perform just fine in mild conditions, but throw in environmental factors like excess rain, hardened-off weed cuticles, or a particularly challenging weed, and it may become an overwhelming control battle that requires multiple applications.
While there may be cheaper alternatives, quality formulations that cost more can help get the job done right. If a product costs less and isn’t getting the job done, it’s not cost-effective. It’s essential to find that balance between high performance and product cost to ensure good efficacy while keeping costs down.
Purchasing decisions aren’t easy. Ask questions to ensure informed decisions and consider all factors, including product composition and agronomic effects. The more costly option could save money in the long run.
Pre-emergence herbicide applications offer a valuable tool to prevent or reduce weed infestations early in the season. While these applications are helpful, it can be a challenge to achieve optimum results. Adjuvant use is increasing and studies continue to prove their effectiveness.
Leaders from Exacto and other companies recently took part in advocacy activities in Washington, DC, engaging in twenty-four meetings with congressional leadership, senators, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They addressed a major challenge related to the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Failed weed control may resemble herbicide resistance, but it’s not always the culprit. Recent cases of HPPD-inhibitor (group 27) herbicide failures have shown that certain application errors are more common culprits than resistance. This research shows ways to overcome these application challenges.
Cutting-edge discussions on golf course maintenance, including adjuvants and wetting agents, took place at the 2024 GCSAA Conference. The Exacto team was in full swing, bringing spray adjuvants, wetting agents, and innovative formulations to the table.
Have you ever thought you prepared the perfect application, but gotten less-than-perfect results? As the largest component of a spray tank mix, water can significantly impact application quality with hardness, pH differences, or dirtiness. Water conditioners can help to mitigate these issues.
Oil and water might not mix alone, but with the right emulsifier, they can be combined into a stable emulsion. The fascinating science behind emulsion stability reveals how adding the right emulsifier to a pesticide tank mix can ensure a uniform and consistent application.
Listen in as Brad DeBels, a prominent figure in the turf industry and the President of the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association, discusses current turf challenges, provides insight on the increasing value of turf, and shares his perspectives on the future of the green industry.
Pesticides and herbicides require proper mixing and application to be effective in preventing weed takeovers. WALES and other acronyms are a trick to ensure optimal mixing. Following proper mixing order can alleviate foam, sludge, broken emulsions, and other reactions that can occur through mixing.
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