Adjuvant Champion hub | UPL

Yes, there are other adjuvants. But not with our track records.

For over 30 years, UPL adjuvants have been tried, and rigorously scientifically tested. But most importantly, they’ve delivered results that growers, farmers and distributors have seen for themselves, in paddocks and orchards. UPL adjuvants make sure every single dollar invested in a spray programme is maximised. A range of more than 20 stickers, spreaders, and waste-saving products delivers a decent ROI, and ensures that yields, reputations, and our environment are protected.

The different types of adjuvants

Adjuvants cover a wide range of functions and can be split into several categories, with some adjuvants fulfilling more than one purpose at once. The different types of adjuvants cover: Surfactants (spreaders, super spreaders, stickers), penetrants, activators, pH Buffers, water conditioners, defoamers, drift control agents, tank cleaners, marker dyes, and yield maximisers

Surfactants (Spreaders, super spreaders and stickers)

Surfactants are surface-active agents. Adding a surfactant to a liquid reduces its surface tension, which increases its spreading, sticking and wetting properties. Surfactants can further be broken down to spreaders, super spreaders and stickers.

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Penetrants

Penetrant adjuvants get spray solutions IN to the plant. They aid the uptake of mainly herbicides either through stomata or waxy cuticle of the plant.

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Activators

Activators are used to increase performance of certain herbicides that require an oil adjuvant. They can be further broken down into Crop Oil Concentrates (COC) and Methylated Seed Oil (MSO).

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pH buffers

pH buffers reduce the pH of spray solution from an alkaline to an acidic state which is preferred by certain chemistries such as glyphosate, a weak acid herbicide. Li-700 is a proven pH buffer, also known as acidifier. Water conditioner X-Change is also designed to reduce high pH on certain herbicides.

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Drift control

Getting spray droplets TO the target is critical. Off target drift is wasteful and environmentally unacceptable. Using a drift control agent such as Li-1000, Li-700 or Unison allows the spray droplet to land on the target. These products eliminate driftable spray droplets, turning them into more suited spray droplets without affecting spray swath. It is important to ensure your chosen drift reduction adjuvant is compatible with the crop and chemistry you are applying it to.

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Good agricultural practice

Good agricultural practice is on every grower’s and farmer’s agenda with adjuvants playing a pivotal role. The canny use of adjuvants improves safety (for crops, people and the environment) and increases profitability by keeping sprays where they’re supposed to be. This in turn maximises efficacy and reduces waste.

Water conditioners

Water conditioners remove cations such as calcium, iron, magnesium that are present in “hard” spray water. These cations can have a negative impact on some crop protection product performance such as glyphosate. X-Change is a well-known and effective water conditioner that sacrifices itself to the cations to optimise glyphosate performance.

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Defoamers

Defoamers prevent foam or eliminate foaming. FoamMaster is a highly effective anti-foam and defoamer, requiring only a small dose for a large effect.

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Tank cleaners and decontaminators

Cross contamination of crop protection products, especially herbicides, can cost several thousands of dollars in crop damages. All Clear is a user-friendly formulation, which cleans, neutralises and decontaminates spray lines, nozzles, and tanks to ensure ALL residue is removed.

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Marker dyes

Using marker dyes when spot spraying is also part of good agricultural practice as it minimises missed areas and reduces waste. While GPS systems have driven a decline in the use of many spray markings, Trakka Marker Dyes are still invaluable for spot spraying of gorse and brush weeds. The Trakka Marker Dye range covers: Trakka Red, Trakka Blue, Trakka Brite, and Trakka Long Life Foam Marker, their use dependent on preference and target.

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