purchasing a pesticide: pesticide action, formulations, and adjuvants montana state university...

Purchasing a Pesticide: Purchasing a Pesticide: Pesticide Action, Formulations, Pesticide Action, Formulations,

and Adjuvantsand AdjuvantsMontana State UniversityMontana State University

Pesticide Safety Education ProgramPesticide Safety Education Program

20082008

What is a formulation?What is a formulation?

How a pesticide is packaged.

Contains:– Active Ingredient– Inert Ingredient

Active IngredientsActive Ingredients

Has the pesticidal effect

Its on the label

Properties of the a.i. influence the Formulation

A.I. derived from: – Plants– Minerals– Microbes.

Nicotine, Pyrethrum, and Rotenone

Copper, and Sulfur

Bacillus thuringiensis, Metarhizium anisopliae

Inert IngredientsInert Ingredients

“Inactive”

ingredients mixed with a.i. To make

formulation easier to handle or store.

Toxic or non-toxic

Can you get the same reaction Can you get the same reaction from the same active ingredients from the same active ingredients regardless of inert ingredients?regardless of inert ingredients?

NO, Inert Ingredients are often patented NO, Inert Ingredients are often patented and are only known to the company.and are only known to the company.

Many times this is the difference between Many times this is the difference between a product working effectively and not at all.a product working effectively and not at all.

BANDED, SEED, FOLIAR applications all BANDED, SEED, FOLIAR applications all different yet the same!different yet the same!

Types of FormulationsTypes of Formulations

Liquid (Wet) – Mixed with water / oils / diesel fuel /

kerosene– More easily absorbed

Dry– More easily inhaled

Liquid Formulations (Wet)Liquid Formulations (Wet)

EC –emulsifiable concentrate

S – soluble

Flowables

ULV – ultra low volume (approach 100% active ingredient)

SolubleSoluble

Advantage:– ☺ Will not separate or settle out when

mixed with water.– ☺ Not as harmful to non-target plants

and animals

Disadvantage:– Not many disadvantages.– Readily absorbs into skin

Emulsified ConcentratesEmulsified Concentrates(1 or more petroleum based solvents)(1 or more petroleum based solvents)

ADVANTAGES– ☺ Little agitation required. Won’t settle out when equipment

is turned off. Does not plug equipment– ☺ Relatively non-abrasive.– ☺ Easy to handle, store and transport

DISADVANTAGES– Because of the solvents and emulsifiers, EC’s are a hazardto non-target plants and animals. Easily absorbed through skin of plants and humans.– Solvents may cause rubber or plastic hoses & gaskets todeteriorate. - May cause pitting of painted finishes, and may be corrosive

FlowableFlowable

ADVANTAGES

☺ Easy to handle and apply

☺ Seldom clogs nozzles. Finer ground carrier.

DISADVANTAGES

May leave visible residue.

Requires agitation

Dry FormulationsDry Formulations

WP – Wettable powder

F or DF – Dry Flowable

WDG – Water Dispersible Granule

D -Dust

Baits P or G – Pellets or Granules

Wettable PowdersWettable Powders

ADVANTAGES– ☺ Easy to store & transport. Smaller packaging. Won’tfreeze.– ☺ Less inert ingredients in formulation.– ☺ Lower toxicity to plants than liquid formulations.– The inert ingredients, clay or talc, are generally harmless to

plantsDISADVANTAGES– Inhalation hazard when pouring and mixing. It’s dry!– Needs vigorous & constant agitation in the spray tank.– Abrasive to many pumps and nozzles.

Granules or PelletsGranules or Pellets

ADVANTAGES– ☺ Ready to Use (RTU); no mixing– ☺ Low drift hazard as particles settle quickly.– ☺ In most cases, don’t need to mix with water

first.DISADVANTAGES– May need to be incorporated into the soil.– Dust from application equipment might present

hazard to applicator.– May need to be activated by moisture– Hazardous to some non-targets (birds)– Easy to over apply

Effects of Different FormulationsEffects of Different FormulationsFormulation Hazards Phytox Equipment AgitateM or ME Dermal Safe ok Yes G or P Inhale Safe NA NA D Inhale Safe NA NA S Dermal Safe Non-abrasive No F or FL Dermal Maybe abrasive Yes EC Dermal Maybe Seals, gaskets No WP Inhale Safe abrasive Yes

AdjuvantsAdjuvants

Additives that are added to a spray solution in order to enhance or modify the performance of the spray mixture. #1 - Surfactants/wetting agents

#2 - Oils

#3 - Fertilizers

#4 - Utility

SurfactantsSurfactants

A broad category of adjuvants that facilitate and enhance the absorbing, emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, sticking, wetting and penetrating properties of pesticides. Some pesticides like Roundup Pro already have surfactants added. (14.5 %)

Why SurfactantsWhy Surfactants

Because of the high surface tension of water, spray mixture droplets maintain their roundness and can sit on the leaf hairs or leaf surface without much of the mixture actually contacting the leaf.

Surfactants reduce angle and promote more absorption

UtilityUtility

Acidifiers -neutralize alkaline solutions & lower pH.Buffering agents -stabilize the pH of spray solutions. Anti-foaming agents Compatibility agents Drift control agents Emulsification aidsSuspension aids -added to a suspension in order to keep pesticide particles dispersed or to resuspend particles.

What formulation is this?What formulation is this?

FLOWABLEFLOWABLE

DERMAL ABSORPTIONDERMAL ABSORPTION

Examples:Bravo 720 F fungicideFuradan 4 F insecticide

Question #2Question #2What formulation is this?What formulation is this?

Powdered Hand SoapPowdered Hand Soap

Wettable PowderWettable Powder

Easily InhaledEasily Inhaled

Examples:Sevin 50 W insecticideKerb 50 W herbicideSniper 50 W insecticide

Pesticide Properties Important to Pesticide Properties Important to Know Prior to PurchaseKnow Prior to Purchase

FormulationFormulation

Adjuvants to use with this pesticideAdjuvants to use with this pesticide

Other properties?Other properties?

What to know when What to know when purchasing a Herbicidepurchasing a Herbicide

#1) Application Method#1) Application Method– Foliar AppliedFoliar Applied

Plant contactPlant contact

– Soil AppliedSoil AppliedSoil contactSoil contact

– BroadcastBroadcastEntire areaEntire area

– SpotSpotSpecified areaSpecified area

What to know when What to know when purchasing a Herbicidepurchasing a Herbicide

#2) Application Timing#2) Application Timing– PreemergencePreemergence

Prior to seed Prior to seed germinationgermination

– PostemergencePostemergenceAfter seed germination After seed germination and active growthand active growth

– Post-directedPost-directedDirected to particular Directed to particular portion of plant once portion of plant once emerged and growingemerged and growing

Mode of ActionMode of Action

Mechanism of ActivityMechanism of Activity– Mode of action (MOA)Mode of action (MOA)

How it kills

Herbicide Modes of ActionHerbicide Modes of ActionWhy is this important?Why is this important?

1. Plant Growth Regulation1. Plant Growth Regulation

2. Photosynthesis Inhibitors2. Photosynthesis Inhibitors

3. Photosynthetic Pigment Inhibitors3. Photosynthetic Pigment Inhibitors

4. Plant Growth Inhibitors4. Plant Growth Inhibitors

5. Amino Acid Synthesis Inhibition5. Amino Acid Synthesis Inhibition

6. Lipid Biosynthesis Inhibition6. Lipid Biosynthesis Inhibition

7. Cell Membrane Disruption7. Cell Membrane Disruption

8. Unclassified Activity8. Unclassified Activity

Plant Growth RegulationPlant Growth RegulationExamples include:Examples include:– 2,4-D2,4-D– DicambaDicamba– PicloramPicloram– ClopyralidClopyralid– TriclopyrTriclopyr

Plant Growth RegulationPlant Growth Regulation

Mimics natural plant hormone – Mimics natural plant hormone – Auxins.Auxins.

Results in an imbalance of this growth Results in an imbalance of this growth regulating hormone.regulating hormone.

Cells of the leaf vein rapidly divide while cells Cells of the leaf vein rapidly divide while cells between the veins do not.between the veins do not.

Cell division and respiration increase, while Cell division and respiration increase, while photosynthesis does not.photosynthesis does not.

Common Leaf Symptoms from PGR Exposure

normal

cupped and blistered from PGR exposure

short internode

accumulation In new growth

Foliar PGR Application

Amino Acid Synthesis InhibitionAmino Acid Synthesis Inhibition

ImidazolinonesImidazolinones– ArsenalArsenal– PlateauPlateau– SaharaSahara– Top SiteTop Site

GlyphosateGlyphosate– RoundupRoundup

SulfonylureasSulfonylureas– EscortEscort– OustOust– TelarTelar

Amino Acid Synthesis InhibitionAmino Acid Synthesis Inhibition

Amino Acids = life!!Amino Acids = life!!

Specific to plant AAs onlySpecific to plant AAs only

Visual results are the result of secondary Visual results are the result of secondary injury injury – the injury as the beginning of a chain of the injury as the beginning of a chain of

events that take place in the plant.events that take place in the plant.– symptoms take time to develop – it is not an symptoms take time to develop – it is not an

immediate process.immediate process.

Amino Acid Synthesis InhibitionAmino Acid Synthesis Inhibition

Amino Acid Synthesis InhibitionAmino Acid Synthesis Inhibition

What are you going to see visually?What are you going to see visually?– Initially there will be a general yellowing of the Initially there will be a general yellowing of the

treated plants.treated plants.– After 5 to 10 days, chlorosis results in After 5 to 10 days, chlorosis results in

necrosis.necrosis.

Plateau or Escort Injury Symptoms

Stunting

Chlorosis ofyoungest tissue

Glyphosate (Roundup) Drift

chlorosisshortened internodes

stem proliferation

When purchasing pesticides know:When purchasing pesticides know:

FormulationFormulationAdjuvantsAdjuvants

How to use pesticideHow to use pesticidePest TimingPest Timing

Mode of ActionMode of Action

Contact:Contact:

Montana State UniversityMontana State University

Pesticide Safety Education ProgramPesticide Safety Education Program

www.pesticides.montana.edu