Interaction of water with three granular biopesticide formulations

Two obstacles for biopesticide commercialization, long shelf life and reliable efficacy, are both affected by moisture availability. Three biopesticide delivery systems, TRE-G, PEC-G, and PESTA, were analyzed by dynamic vapor sorption analysis. The objective was to investigate the moisture sorption profile of each system in air at 25 degrees C and a relative humidity (RH) ranging from 0 to 90%. The formulations sorbed up to 12.7% moisture. In rehydrating from 0.00 to 90% RH, TRE-G and PEC-G were >or=63% and >or=58% faster than Pesta, respectively. In losing moisture from 90 to 0.00% RH, Pesta was 3.4 and 2.3 times slower than TRE-G and PEC-G, respectively. The GAB model was inadequate for describing moisture sorption, but the Young and Nelson model showed good correlation (r > 0.990) for all three formulations. Moisture distribution for all formulations was obtained. The implications of the findings as they relate to shelf life and dew period requirements of biopesticides are discussed.