Improving pesticide effectiveness is one thing that every turf, ornamental, and pest control professional could benefit from, especially when it might also reduce the amount of product needed at the same time.
But is it possible to apply a little to the target area and still achieve effective results?
Absolutely. It comes down to what you mix in the tank to make the magic happen.
Benefits of Adjuvants
An adjuvant is usually added to the tank to enhance the performance of the pesticide whether it's an insecticide, an herbicide or another product. They improve coverage, deposition and exposure of the product to the target.
You've most likely heard of surfactants, which are a type of adjuvant that reduce the overall tension between the spray application and the surface of the target. They come in two types: nonionic and organo-silicone.
Nonionic surfactants are the most common and can be mixed with most pesticides in the tank. They help the product penetrate the plant more easily.
Organo-silicone surfactants improve the spreadability of the product, making it cover more of the surface area while also improving the total rainfastness.
Other adjuvants are also able to improve the spray application, such as:
- Buffers
- Conditioners
- Defoamers
- Drift control agents
- Tank cleaners
So, the big question is how do you know which one to use for your applications? Well, you'll get most of this information if you read the label of your pesticide. It will have a section about adjuvants and which type will benefit the product.
It's very important that you mix products correctly. Not only will it help to prevent any accidental mixes but also reduce any risk to you and others in the vicinity.
This now brings us to a couple products that are known to help improve your spray applications: Droplex and Breeze.
Droplex Controls Drift
Runoff and drift are two common things that you might deal with on a daily basis. One of the most effective ways to reduce these two issues is to add Droplex to the tank. It's a drift control product that helps to minimize drift during your spray applications.
It also aids in deposition, helping the pesticide stay on the target surface whereas it might otherwise run off the leaves. It's also a canopy penetrator, getting the product to the target area and helping it to cover more surfaces.
Breeze Improves Pesticides
Breeze is also an exceptional adjuvant system for tank mixes. It's a nonionic surfactant, so it helps the pesticide to penetrate the leaves more efficiently. It's also a water conditioner and an acidifying agent.
Adding Breeze to the tank helps to reduce the overall water hardness, which improves the quality of the water used for the application. As an acidifying agent, Breeze helps to maintain better pH levels and to prevent pesticide degradation.
Get More Out of Your Spray Applications
Whether you use Droplex, Breeze or maybe a combination of the two, you will see better results with your spray applications. It's possible to see better coverage and uniformity while also preventing runoff and drift, especially if Droplex is your preferred tank-mix partner.
Getting the most out of your pesticide applications is possible with Droplex and Breeze. Talk with one of our service agents to learn more about how these two products can take your applications to the next level.