When you’re committed to achieving pristine greens and landscapes, effective pesticide applications are essential. As the largest component of a pesticide tank mix, water can significantly impact application effectiveness. The composition of water, including its hardness, pH levels, and potential contamination, directly influences the bioefficacy of herbicide and pesticide tank mixes. Ensuring quality water is simple when a water conditioner is added to the tank mix.
Water with high mineral content, known as “hard water,” is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk, or gypsum, primarily made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates. The dissolved magnesium, calcium, and other minerals form the hard water cations. These cations react with negatively charged pesticide molecules, reducing efficacy and/or affecting active ingredient solubility.
Some water conditioners will lower the pH, while others will increase the pH. Adjusting the tank mix’s pH to the desired pH of the active helps to get the most out of a pesticide application.
Sediment, algae, and other contaminants may interfere with active ingredients in a tank mix. This can cause filter and nozzle issues as well as reduce overall pesticide effectiveness. The negative impact of water sediment can be addressed to a certain extent by sequestering water conditioners.
There are four categories of water conditioners: ammonium sulfate (AMS), acidulants, salts, and EDTA chelates. AMS and acidifiers both lower the pH of a tank mix. Salts such as potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide raise the pH. These three categories are grouped as pH modifiers and can raise, lower, or buffer the pH of a tank mix. They can also affect a pesticide’s volatility, which is particularly important when dicamba-based pesticides are used.
This demonstration of COMPLETION™ shows how a water conditioner acts in a tank mix.
pH modifiers do double duty by complexing with the hard water cations preventing them from interfering with the negatively charged pesticide while modifying the pH.
Buffering agents not only change the pH of a tank mix, but also hold that pH steady so that it is less likely to fluctuate.
The last category, EDTA chelates, does not affect the pH. They sequester undesirable particles or molecules that can negatively affect a tank mix.
AMS has unique dual functionality in a tank mix. The sulfate reacts with the hard water minerals in the water, and the ammonium helps transport the active ingredient into the plant. However, using traditional AMS is inconvenient because it is needed in large quantities and is difficult to dissolve, making it expensive to ship and handle.
Fortunately, there are liquid AMS-based water conditioners that can also offer other beneficial water conditioning functionalities.
Why use a separate water conditioner, surfactant, and other adjuvants when you can simply mix in one multifunctional with various adjuvant characteristics, all in one bottle?
With a built-in water conditioner, multifunctionals provide an excellent option for tank mixes that could benefit from both a water conditioner and other types of adjuvants.
DRApHT PICK™ is a multifunctional adjuvant containing a Water Conditioner, Nonionic Surfactant, and Buffering Agent.
DRApHT PICK is a prime example of an adjuvant that conditions water while providing additional benefits. This multifunctional adjuvant is a water conditioner, nonionic surfactant, and buffering agent all in one. DRApHT PICK includes an indicator dye that turns solution a color (yellow, orange, or red) according to pH range, improves tank mix compatibility, and acts as a premium surfactant to aid in spreading the active ingredient thoroughly. DRApHT PICK also increases wetting and penetration even on waxy or weather-hardened surfaces.
Adding a water conditioner to the tank mix makes ensuring water quality simple. Hard water, pH levels, and contamination are far less of a concern with a water conditioner in the mix. Pristine greens and beautiful landscapes are within reach as water conditioners ensure effective pesticide applications.
There’s something about the smell of freshly mowed grass that makes you want to get out on the turf and play. Couple this with some perfectly mowed stripes and neatly painted lines and you have a picture-perfect playing field. While athletes almost always prefer natural grass fields, artificial turf is a widely used playing surface due to the perception that it is easier to maintain.
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.
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.
Explore UW-Madison’s turf research studies from the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Field Day. Dr. Soldat’s Soil Science Program showcased an athletic field management study comparing conventional & organic approaches. Dr. Koch’s Plant Pathology Program highlighted a leaf mulching study.
Turf needs water to survive. If not managed effectively, soil moisture can cause consistent problems such as water-repellancy that create dry patches, inconsistent turf appearance, and in severe cases, complete loss of turf. Turf wetting agents help move water into the soil, improve uniformity, and increase moisture retention.
This site uses cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation, monitor site usage, and web traffic, assist with our marketing efforts, customize and improve our services and websites, as set out in our Privacy Notice.