How adjuvants and application aids work
Tank mix adjuvants and additives have a role to play throughout the spray application process. We can divide this into four sections:
Water
Additives can be used during sprayer filling as:
- Anti foam – eliminate excessive foaming by physically bursting air bubbles and reducing surface tension. Prevention is better than cure so always add Companion Gold to spray tank first.
- pH buffers – high pH in the spray solution and soil water can lead to rapid breakdown (alkaline hydrolysis) of the active ingredient. Nelson, Chaperone, Stingray and Companion Gold buffer the pH to 4.5-5.5 to prevent this.
- Water conditioners – hard water contains Ca++ & Mg++ cations that react with certain pesticides (e.g. glyphosate) reducing efficacy. Companion Gold, Chaperone, Nelson and Stingray deactivate and sequester Ca++ & Mg++ preventing salt precipitation and spray blockages and increasing pesticide efficacy.
Spray application
Factors such as nozzle type and angle, boom height and forward speed increase the number of driftable fine spray droplets (under 100 microns). Companion Gold, Chaperone, Lok-it , and Grounded AD contain specialised components that reduce the number of fine spray droplets ensuring accurate spray deposition on the target.
Foliar effects
Nelson, Roller and Velocity reduce droplet surface tension, minimising bounce and run off from the leaf surface providing excellent coverage. Roller and Velocity contain humectants that slow droplet drying to increase absorption. Nelson and Velocity increase uptake through the outer wax layers.
Companion Gold and Chaperone improve rainfastness and weathering of the spray droplet by increasing adhesion to the leaf surface.
Residual herbicides
Applied pre or early post emergence, residual herbicides are prone to spray turbulence beneath the boom. This results in uneven spray deposition over the soil surface.
Grounded AD ensures the soil surface is evenly coated and increases the adsorption to soil particles, retaining the herbicide in the upper soil layer. This improves crop safety, weed control and yield.