When you’re committed to achieving pristine greens and landscapes, effective pesticide applications are essential. As the largest component of a pesticide tank mix, water can significantly impact application effectiveness. The composition of water, including its hardness, pH levels, and potential contamination, directly influences the bioefficacy of herbicide and pesticide tank mixes. Ensuring quality water is simple when a water conditioner is added to the tank mix.
Water with high mineral content, known as “hard water,” is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk, or gypsum, primarily made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates. The dissolved magnesium, calcium, and other minerals form the hard water cations. These cations react with negatively charged pesticide molecules, reducing efficacy and/or affecting active ingredient solubility.
Some water conditioners will lower the pH, while others will increase the pH. Adjusting the tank mix’s pH to the desired pH of the active helps to get the most out of a pesticide application.
Sediment, algae, and other contaminants may interfere with active ingredients in a tank mix. This can cause filter and nozzle issues as well as reduce overall pesticide effectiveness. The negative impact of water sediment can be addressed to a certain extent by sequestering water conditioners.
There are four categories of water conditioners: ammonium sulfate (AMS), acidulants, salts, and EDTA chelates. AMS and acidifiers both lower the pH of a tank mix. Salts such as potassium acetate, potassium carbonate, and sodium hydroxide raise the pH. These three categories are grouped as pH modifiers and can raise, lower, or buffer the pH of a tank mix. They can also affect a pesticide’s volatility, which is particularly important when dicamba-based pesticides are used.
This demonstration of COMPLETION™ shows how a water conditioner acts in a tank mix.
pH modifiers do double duty by complexing with the hard water cations preventing them from interfering with the negatively charged pesticide while modifying the pH.
Buffering agents not only change the pH of a tank mix, but also hold that pH steady so that it is less likely to fluctuate.
The last category, EDTA chelates, does not affect the pH. They sequester undesirable particles or molecules that can negatively affect a tank mix.
AMS has unique dual functionality in a tank mix. The sulfate reacts with the hard water minerals in the water, and the ammonium helps transport the active ingredient into the plant. However, using traditional AMS is inconvenient because it is needed in large quantities and is difficult to dissolve, making it expensive to ship and handle.
Fortunately, there are liquid AMS-based water conditioners that can also offer other beneficial water conditioning functionalities.
Why use a separate water conditioner, surfactant, and other adjuvants when you can simply mix in one multifunctional with various adjuvant characteristics, all in one bottle?
With a built-in water conditioner, multifunctionals provide an excellent option for tank mixes that could benefit from both a water conditioner and other types of adjuvants.
DRApHT PICK™ is a multifunctional adjuvant containing a Water Conditioner, Nonionic Surfactant, and Buffering Agent.
DRApHT PICK is a prime example of an adjuvant that conditions water while providing additional benefits. This multifunctional adjuvant is a water conditioner, nonionic surfactant, and buffering agent all in one. DRApHT PICK includes an indicator dye that turns solution a color (yellow, orange, or red) according to pH range, improves tank mix compatibility, and acts as a premium surfactant to aid in spreading the active ingredient thoroughly. DRApHT PICK also increases wetting and penetration even on waxy or weather-hardened surfaces.
Adding a water conditioner to the tank mix makes ensuring water quality simple. Hard water, pH levels, and contamination are far less of a concern with a water conditioner in the mix. Pristine greens and beautiful landscapes are within reach as water conditioners ensure effective pesticide applications.
Exacto is pleased to announce the appointment of Malin Westfall as Chief Commercial Officer. Exacto, LLC (“Exacto”), a full-service innovation partner in the agricultural, turf, and ornamental horticulture markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Malin Westfall as Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately.
Explore UW-Madison’s turf research studies from the Wisconsin Turfgrass Association Field Day. Dr. Soldat’s Soil Science Program showcased an athletic field management study comparing conventional & organic approaches. Dr. Koch’s Plant Pathology Program highlighted a leaf mulching study.
Turf needs water to survive. If not managed effectively, soil moisture can cause consistent problems such as water-repellancy that create dry patches, inconsistent turf appearance, and in severe cases, complete loss of turf. Turf wetting agents help move water into the soil, improve uniformity, and increase moisture retention.
As the heat of summer nears, so does the threat of fungal diseases infecting turf. Planning a fungicide application with adjuvants based on environmental conditions and the turf ecosystem can improve fungicide effectiveness.
How do great ideas turn into high-quality products? The idea is translated into a stable, quality formulation then the questions begin. At what rate should the product be applied? When should it be reapplied? Can it be mixed with other materials? Does it need to be watered-in? We answer these questions by conducting field trials to put new product ideas to the test under real-world conditions.
Have you ever purchased a potted plant and noticed that after a few rounds of watering it, the water was going straight down to the drainage holes? This classic case of water repellency or hydrophobicity in the soil can be resolved with the use of soil surfactants, or wetting agents.
Maintaining consistent and uniform conditions within turfgrass ecosystems can be challenging. But, with effective turf management strategies such as the use of a wetting agent, localized dry spot, moss growth, and other ecological pressures can be managed in turfgrass ecosystems.
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