Right from the get-go, adjuvants can contribute to a great job and healthier bottom lines in a wealth of ways.
Leveraging adjuvants for profit and productivity
Right from the get-go, adjuvants can contribute to a great job and healthier bottom lines in a wealth of ways.
That’s according to David Lingan, UPL NZ Ltd’s Adjuvant Product Manager.
Unison® - for outstanding drift control
“You always want the best outcome. If we begin by looking at spray-out time pre-planting, with non-selective herbicides, Unison delivers drift control and the enhanced deposition, retention and penetration you really need.”
David says the low foaming, non-petroleum-based adjuvant is used primarily with herbicides like glyphosate and glufosinates. “It’s a unique patented formulation - a blend of soybean oil ethoxylate and extract from pine tree stumps. It helps the sprays to be to absorbed through the natural pathways by opening the waxy and hairy cuticle of plants, rather than damaging them, which slows down uptake. With Unison the uptake into the plant is excellent.”
In addition, he says, the ability to manage spray drift effectively not only reduces waste but avoids posing an environmental hazard or potentially threatening neighbouring crops and plants. “Ensuring non-selective herbicides land on the target is part of running a good business, and good land stewardship.”
Proven adjuvant portfolio - each with its own job
He says adjuvants in general have an important role to play in helping extract maximum value and safety for spray contractors and their clients, along with reducing the risk of any unintended consequences of spray application.
While adjuvants are a broad category, UPL are across it. Previously Elliott Chemicals Limited, they began work on adjuvants in this country more than two decades ago. Today, they are industry leaders with a portfolio of 22 proven adjuvant products – each with its own job to do.
“The ability to get sprays ‘to, on and in’ are what adjuvants bring to the spray application,” David says. “While adjuvants don’t include an active, they have a lot to contribute.”
Du-Wett® Super-Spreader to make every droplet count
Perhaps the best known, and most used, is the super spreader Du-Wett®. David explains water, which is up to 90% of sprays, has a high surface tension. “It doesn’t give you real spread or coverage. Adding a spreader will definitely enhance the product’s performance. It’s making every droplet count.”
There are other benefits too.
“Du-Wett has a significant impact in terms of time and cost-savings because it can be used at a much-reduced water application volume. That way, spraying is completed faster. Tank filling and travelling times are cut, especially if you’re travelling between blocks, and diesel and labour expenses decrease. It more than pays for for itself.”
Good agricultural practice - All-Clear® 2X tank cleaner & decontaminator
Adjuvants also play a role in other aspects of good agricultural practice. For instance, All Clear® 2X spray tank cleaner and decontaminator removes notoriously sticky products such as carfentrazone (e.g., Clout®). David says it’s cheap insurance against accidental cross-contamination and mistakes. Getting your spray equipment cleaned, and fully decontaminated prior to the start of the spraying season, should be part of a regular maintenance programme.”
Good agricultural practice - X-Change® for tackling hard water
David says “hard” water is another potential factor in spray efficacy that an adjuvant can help tackle.
“What people often forget is that water is an active chemical (H20). Some chemicals, including glyphosates, are very susceptible to the effect of “hard” water. The positively charged cations in calcium, magnesium, iron etc. bind to the negatively charged glyphosate molecule. This slows up-take, reduces solubility, and can precipitate out of the solution, reducing the efficiency of glyphosate (in particular).”
David recommends water conditioner and ion scavenger X-Change to optimise spray performance. X-Change reduces the effects of hard water, locking up free ions which would otherwise deactivate products.
Good agricultural practice - FoamMaster® for reducing foaming, waste and miscalculations
The importance of exact calibration hasn’t been overlooked either. This is where FoamMaster® comes in. David says the low use rate in a convenient 250 mL pack is highly effective at reducing foaming, waste and miscalculations. “It helps achieve the right concentration in the spray tank.” He recommends putting FoamMaster to prevent foam in the tank first for best results. However, it can also be used to stop foam once it has foaming has occurred.
For more information, visit: Unison, Du-Wett, All Clear 2X, X-Change, FoamMaster
