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.
Surfactants are widely used across the world – in fact, you probably use surfactants every day in soaps, detergents, toothpaste, cosmetics, and countless other applications. Surfactants are just as important in agriculture and turf and understanding how and when to use the right surfactant can make or break a successful application.
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.
In turf and ornamental applications, the effective use of spray applications is crucial for maintaining the health and aesthetics of landscapes. Among the various factors contributing to success, incorporating deposition aids is a critical element that can significantly elevate the outcomes.
Formulation understanding begins in the lab, where researchers study how liquids behave under specific conditions. This knowledge aids users in predicting real-world product performance. Exacto Chemist Chris Walter discusses surface tension in the Research to Real-World series, helping applicators grasp the importance of surfactant and wetting agent chemistry.
Salinity and sodicity can challenge turfgrass maintenance in arid regions. This blog post discusses causes, effects, and management strategies for irrigation water quality. Choose turfgrass cultivars, conduct irrigation water and soil testing, and apply leaching and gypsum to improve soil conditions.
Wielding his 35 years of experience, Mark Mahady provides insight on irrigation and water conservation, turf and soil moisture management, wetting agents, surfactants, and other related topics in this edition of Cutting-Edge Perspectives.
Revolutionize how you care for turf with effective solutions including wetting agents RPO™, Wishbone™, and the innovative AquiMax® Sprayable water management product. We’re excited to introduce these breakthroughs in turf management with approval for use in multiple states, including California.
With tightening EPA regulations and increased label restrictions on dicamba, Corteva’s Enlist One® and Enlist Duo® are seeing increased adoption. As more growers make the change, choosing the right adjuvants to use with Enlist One and Enlist Duo is key to ensuring optimum weed control.
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