Adjuvants are substances that enhance or modify the performance of pesticides when added to the spray tank.
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Label rates and formulations of pesticides should be strong enough to handle some adverse conditions during the application process. However, in many instances during mixing, spraying, deposition and uptake of pesticides the losses can be so substantial that efficacy is compromised. Adjuvants can overcome these problems. Essentially, they make the application process more robust.
To optimise application it is important to choose the right adjuvant for a specific task.
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Adjuvants: Functional Classification
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Wetting / Spreading Agents
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|  | | - Anionic surfactant: a surface-acting agent that forms a negative ion (anion) at its lipophilic part when in solution with water
- Cationic surfactant: a surface-acting agent that forms a positive ion (cation) at its lipophilic part when in solution with water
- Non-ionic surfactants: a surface-acting agent that has no ionisable polar end groups, e.g. Activator®, Chemwet 1000
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| | | | | | Petroleum or Mineral Oils:
| - a) containing >95% mineral oil and <5% emulsifier, e.g. D-C-Tron® (1-3%) or D-C-Trate® (<5%)
- b) containing <85% mineral oil and >15% emulsifier, e.g. Bonza®, Uptake®, Supercharge®
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| Vegetable Oils:
| - a) Vegetable oil with <15% emulsifier, e.g. Synertrol
- b) Chemically modified vegetable oils (methyl or ethyl esterfied) with emulsifier, e.g. Hasten™
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| | | | - Conventional surfactants at high dose (>0.15% v/v) e.g. Activator, Chemwet 1000
- Organosilicones, e.g. Pulse
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| Sticker / Adhesion Agents
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| | | Wetter TX, Activator, Chemwet 1000, LI 700
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| Latex & resin type adjuvants
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| | | | | a) Acidifier (e.g. LI 700)
b) True Buffer (e.g. Primabuff®)
c) Alkaline agents
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| Hard water management agents
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| | Antifoam / de-foam agents
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| | Suspension / re-suspension agent
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Prolongs the activity of chemicals in adverse weather conditions, e.g. Bond
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