Adjuvants

July 26, 2021

Adjuvants Maximize Pesticide Applications

Adjuvants are materials added to a spray solution to increase the activity of the pesticide. Many pesticides benefit from specific adjuvants for many reasons. Correct adjuvant selection will improve the performance of weed control by adhering droplets to the plant better, preparing the water properties it is mixed with, or reducing off target movement, to name a few. Always refer to pesticide label for specific recommendations.

•   Spreading
•   Weed Cuticle Penetration
•   Compatibility Agents
•   Drift Reduction
•   De-Foamers

Water Conditioners

A water conditioner prepares water before herbicides are mixed into solution. Water conditioners neutralize hard water particles like iron, calcium, and magnesium. These particles will antagonize pesticide activity if water is not conditioned and reduce activity.
Liquid or dry AMS (ammonium sulfate) is still the gold standard for neutralizing hard water cations. AMS is found in many premixed products that also contain NIS, Drift Reducers, and De-foamers. There are many types of water conditioners and they all work to varying degrees depending on your water hardness.

Drift Control

Drift is a serious issue when applying pesticides. Even subtle off target movement can cause severe crop injury depending on the neighboring crop or herbicide. Drift reduction adjuvants benefit pesticide application by reducing the amount of small and large droplets. Small droplets can drift off target and large droplets may roll off leaf surfaces. Some drift reduction products also have properties that reduce evaporation and improve deposition on leaf surfaces.

Crop Oil vs NIS surfactant

NIS Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water to help the solution stick more effectively.
Crop oils can help penetrate that waxy layer on leaves. However, if not used correctly, there can be damage or marking to the crop as well.

Last Chance™ is a high efficacy non-ionic surfactant and water conditioner that is unique to the adjuvant market. Last Chance™ uses tallow amine as the work horse to provide quick plant uptake of herbicides through leaf surfaces. The active ingredients in Last Chance™ performs outstanding with glyphosate products for burndown. The non-ionic surfactant has been shown as the most biologically active product for glyphosate and the water conditioner prevents hard water antagonism.
Last Chance™ is suited for burndown applictions such as late season rescue treatments, fallow field burndown, and pre-harvest burndown applications. Use rates are 1-3 qts/100 gallons of spray solution and can be the only adjuvant or in addition to other adjuvants being used.