Adjuvants: Are they an integral component of spray mixtures or just snake oils?

By Dr Brian de Villiers

February 2022
 
Adjuvants are registered with many crop protection products (CPP) and are added to an immense amount of spray mixtures. Are adjuvants necessary, or are they just an extra cost to the grower? The answer to this question is complex because an adjuvant’s usefulness is determined solely on whether it can address the deficiencies of a CPP. Adjuvants can therefore be essential to ensure effective control, or they can be a waste of money if recommended for the wrong reasons. We discuss these two scenarios in more detail below.

An integral component of spray mixtures

All CPP have deficiencies that reduce their efficacy. These deficiencies include efficacy loss because of salt antagonism, alkaline water, poor coverage, inadequate droplet spreading and decreased or delayed absorption due to low humidity conditions. Adjuvants ensure that the CPP reaches more of its potential and increases control, especially when environmental conditions are not ideal. The correct adjuvant will address these external factors and stabilises efficacy over a wide range of conditions. Adjuvants can be regarded as an integral part of spray mixtures and contribute significantly to the
effectiveness of the CPP. Always study the labels and use the registered adjuvant. Villa registers all CPPs with the correct adjuvants that add value to the efficacy of applications.

Snake oils

The image of adjuvants has improved over the last few years. Gone are the days when adjuvants were seen as an unnecessary extra cost and omitted from tank mixtures when growers were under financial pressure. Most modern growers understand the value of adjuvants and frequently include them in spray mixtures. The problem often arises when growers replace the label recommended adjuvant with a different product. The replacement adjuvant doesn’t address the deficiencies of the CPP, resulting in poor efficacy, especially under sub optimal conditions. In this case, the incorrect adjuvant is a snake oil. It adds no value to the spray mixture and may even be antagonistic or cause compatibility issues. The wrong recommendation and application of adjuvants could give them a bad name. An adjuvant that is a perfect choice for one CPP could be the worst choice for another. Know your adjuvants and try to stick to label recommendations. If the correct adjuvant is unavailable, contact your Villa marketing advisor for a suitable replacement.

Villa’s stance

Villa believes in adjuvants, and we have witnessed their value on numerous occasions.
However, we have also seen incorrect adjuvants used with disastrous consequences. These consequences include poor control, phytotoxicity or incompatibility. Adjuvants used correctly can be the difference between acceptable and unacceptable control. They can increase and stabilise efficacy to enable the CPP to reach more of its potential. However, with incorrect use, adjuvants can turn into the villain. Adjuvants are
an integral component in spray mixtures but can also be snake oils, depending on their use.

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