Formulations, Adjuvants & Drift In the Basic Manual –Formulations - Page 43 –Adjuvants - Page 47 –Drift – Pages 55 Pages 62, 63

What is a Formulation How a pesticide is packaged. Contains: –Active Ingredient –Inert Ingredient

Types of formulations Liquid – pounds a.i. per gallon Dry –% a.i. per pound A.I. Chemical properties influences formulation.

Active Ingredients – a.i. Pesticidal effect

Inert Ingredients “Inactive” ingredients mixed with a.i. Formulation easier to handle or store. Toxic or non-toxic ANTIFREEZE

Liquid Formulations EC –emulsifiable concentrate S - soluble ULV – ultra low volume F or FL - flowables ME – micro-encapsulated

Dry Formulations WP – Wettable powder DF – Dry Flowable WDG – Water Dispersable Granule D - Dust P or G – Pellets or Granules M or ME – Micro-Encapsulated

Effects of Different Formulations FormulationHazardsPhytoxEquipment AgitateCompatible WPInhaleSafeabrasiveYesHigh DF/WDGSafe abrasiveYesGood SPDustsSafeNon-abrasiveSomeFair DInhaleSafeNA G or PInhaleSafeNA ECDermalMaybeSeals, gasketsNoFair F or FLDermalMaybeabrasiveYesFair SDermalSafeNon-abrasiveNoFair M or MEDermalSafeGenerally okYesFair

Convert a.i. to formulated gallons pg 73 Formulation Gallons of Formulation = active ingredient lbs. a.i per gallon 0.50 pounds of picloram required 0.50 lbs. A.I gallons Tordon™= 2 lbs. A.I. Per gal.

Convert a.i. – dry formulation Gallons of Formulation = active ingredient lbs. a.i per gallon 1 pound of tebuthiuron required 1 pounds A.I pounds Spike™= 0.80 a.i. per pound % a.i per pound Lbs. Of formulation

Mixing Order Fertilizer based surfactants first and compatibility agents W ettable Powders, Dry flowables A gitate L iquid formulations, Solubles E mulsifiable concentrates S oluble powders & Remaining S urfactants

COMPATIBILITY TEST –A small scale test using a 1 quart jar –Proportions 1 teaspoon per pint = 1 pint per 100 gallons of water –Check for lumps, clumps, gunk, goop, glop, heat

Spray Additives Carrier – body to formulation –Aids in storage and application –At time of manufacture Diluent –Dilutes concentrated formulation –At time of Application Solvents –Aid in mixing Adjuvants erformance - Enhance or modify performance

Adjuvants include: Acidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutionsAcidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutions Acidifiers - lower pH.Acidifiers - lower pH. Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of spray solutions.Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of spray solutions. Anti-foaming agentsAnti-foaming agents Compatibility agentsCompatibility agents Deposition aidsDeposition aids Drift control agentsDrift control agents Emulsification aidsEmulsification aids Acidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutionsAcidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutions Acidifiers - lower pH.Acidifiers - lower pH. Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of spray solutions.Buffering agents - stabilize the pH of spray solutions. Anti-foaming agentsAnti-foaming agents Compatibility agentsCompatibility agents Deposition aidsDeposition aids Drift control agentsDrift control agents Emulsification aidsEmulsification aids

Adjuvants also include: Many surfactants Dispersing and Suspension Agents Surface-Acting agents) Retention agents

Surfactants Reduces Surface Tension Surface Acting Agent

30-60 o Contact Angle with a surfactant: * 30 to 60 degrees. * More leaf surface is covered

Surfactants/wetting agents Non-ionic Surfactants Composed of alcohols and fatty acids Non-ionic = no charge Cationic (+) Anionic (-) Reduces surface tension Improves spreading, sticking and herbicide uptake All purpose

Silicones Surfactants Blend of silicone & non-ionic surfactants: some are entirely silicone Good spreadability Maximum rainfastness due to increased absorption. $$$$

Oils Crop Oil Concentrates (COC) Blend of paraffin based petroleum oil and surfactants Provides penetration characteristics of crop oil and surface tension reducing qualities of the NIS Used primarily with grass herbicides

True Seed Oils Seed oils(corn, soybean, canola) with an alcohol to form an ester MSO and ESO Methylated Seed Oil Ethylated Seed Oil More crop friendly than COCs

FERTILIZERS SURFACTANTS Improved herbicide performanceImproved herbicide performance Neutralizes hard water mineral ionsNeutralizes hard water mineral ions Ammonium sulfateAmmonium sulfate Adjust pHAdjust pH –more herbicide is transported into the plant. –2,4-D –Pursuit (imazethapyr) –Poast (sethoxydim) Used primarily with broadleaf herbicides.Used primarily with broadleaf herbicides.

Water Quality pH (alkalinity) Hard Water Dirty Water

Water Quality Alkaline Hydrolysis – effect of high pH Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides degrade in pH >7. Organophosphates Malathion/Parathion Dorsban/Lorsban Diazinon Carbamates Sevin Lannate

Trade nameCommon namepHHalf-life FuradanCarbofuran hours 8 days SevinCarbaryl hours 24 days Malathion days 9.0 hours ImidanPhosmet days < 12 hours pH and Pesticides

Water Quality – Low pH pH 5-7 is optimum for most herbicides. Acid Hydrolysis Sulfonyl Urea herbicides degrade in acidic environments. –Ally and Escort Most sulfonyl ureas are stable in pH > 7.9

Other pH Effects Mixing Assert and Curtail –Assert works best at pH 4 –Curtail is an amine; raises the pH to 7 when mixed with Assert –Assert precipitates out –Use Curtail M (an ester) if you need to mix these.

* At a low pH, 2,4-D is an uncharged molecule * At a high pH, 2,4-D becomes anionic or negatively charged H+ OH - O-CH 2 -C-OH O-CH 2 -C-O -

Water Quality – Hardness Use max rate or reduce carrier volume Severe hard water (Roundup) - add ammonium sulfate (AMS) or spray-grade water conditioner Severe hard water (2,4-D & other salt based herbicides –adjuvants –Avoid salt based herbicides

Water Quality – Hardness Hard Water –Ca+ and mg+ – ppm or grains –Affect salt-based herbicides – Roundup, 2,4-D.

O-CH 2 -C-O- Na Cl Ca 2 + Salt-based herbicide or a surfactant Calcium replaces the sodium

Different 2,4-D’s & Hard Water Form of 2,4-D Stability in Hard Water* Di-ethyl amineFair K, Na salts Poor EstersGood

Formulations, Adjuvants & Drift In the Basic Manual –Formulations - Page 43 –Adjuvants - Page 47 –Drift – Pages 55Drift – Pages 55 Pages 62, 63