Improving the Performance of Pesticides and Herbicides with Tank Mix Partners
Every year, farmers invest heavily on inputs such as herbicides and pesticides to manage the health of plants by defending them against damage from pests and competition from weeds. Avoiding drift and optimizing leaf coverage are key to making the most return on those investments. In today’s blog, we’re exploring how tank mix partners, such as Optalign, enhance the performance of spray tank inputs and reduce off-target loss.
Why Drift Must be Mitigated
Drift of pesticides and herbicides can unfortunately have many negative consequences. Non-target and non-resistant crops may be damaged by herbicide drift, leading to economic loss for both growers and neighboring fields involved. Pesticide drift can potentially contaminate non-target soil and waterways, posing health risks to people and animals. In addition, herbicides and pesticides which do not land on target can lead to reduced efficiency and financial detriment to farmers. Adjuvants and tank mix partners such as those from Streamline Ag help to reduce drift and its negative effects.
Leaf Coverage Matters
When investing time and money into herbicides, you want herbicides to reach the highest efficacy possible. Leaf coverage is crucial to herbicide performance. The better the coverage, the more opportunity the herbicide has to effectively reach and penetrate into plant tissues, maximizing the weed-killing potential of your chosen herbicides.
Likewise, with pesticides, optimal leaf coverage matters. Differing leaf surfaces and dense canopies may create difficulties in getting an even spread of pesticide application, and you want to ensure pesticides can reach areas where pests and disease are present.
Optimized droplet size is a key factor in leaf coverage. Tank mix partners like those from Streamline Ag create the perfect droplet sizes for optimal coverage.
Consider Tank Mix Compatibility
Every field is different, and different hybrids and field conditions demand differing approaches in herbicide and pesticide choices. It is crucial to choose the right tank mix partner, to ensure both efficacy and safety.
Application technique also plays a factor into the tank mix partner you choose. For example, aerial application is lower in water volume than that made with a ground application machine. Using a partner designed for aerial application, like Optalign Aerial, can improve droplet adhesion and reduce bounce off the plant leaf surface.
Tank Mix Partners are One Part of Ensuring the Best Performance for Herbicide and Pesticide Application
Utilizing a tank mix partner can be a big help in reducing drift and ensuring the best leaf coverage. Other helpful practices include monitoring wind speed when spraying, using the correct nozzle type and pressure, spraying at the correct height and using the correct ground speed. When combining all of these management practices, farmers set themselves up for successful sprayer applications.
