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Developments in adjuvant use for agrochemicals.
1SURfaPLUS bv, Costerweg 5, 6702 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Mededelingen (Rijksuniversiteit Te Gent. Fakulteit Van De Landbouwkundige En Toegepaste Biologische Wetenschappen)
|April 19, 2003
Summary
Adjuvants optimize pesticide efficacy by fine-tuning composition and function. Knowledge-based development of these essential agricultural tools is increasingly important for targeted delivery and reduced environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Chemistry
- Agronomy
Background:
- Adjuvants enhance pesticide and nutrient targeting, significantly improving efficacy over the past 30 years.
- Usage volumes differ globally, with the USA using approximately 110 ML of oil and 20 ML of surfactant annually, while Europe uses around 10 ML each.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of adjuvant chemistries and functions.
- To highlight recent advancements in adjuvant development and application.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on adjuvant science and application.
- Analysis of trends in adjuvant composition and efficacy.
- Discussion of specific adjuvant types and their impact on pesticide performance.
Main Results:
- Adjuvant development is shifting towards a knowledge-based approach, focusing on precise composition-function relationships.
- Recent innovations include specialized adjuvants for glyphosate, waxes, alkoxylated triglycerides, and calcium nitrate.
- Adjuvant selection significantly influences pesticide drift and overall application effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Fine-tuning adjuvant composition and function is crucial for optimizing pesticide performance.
- Knowledge-driven development of adjuvants is paramount for efficient and targeted agricultural applications.
- Further research into adjuvant influence on drift and specific formulations is warranted.