New plant-based adjuvant increases the effectiveness of fungicides, according to BASF study

A new adjuvant for the agricultural market, biodegradable and plant-based, increases the effectiveness of fungicides, providing increased production according to a study carried out by BASF. The Agnique HP 450 tank-mix adjuvant had proven performance in field tests carried out in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso and São Paulo, on crops that received application of a commercial fungicide based on strobilurin and triazole to control Asian rust. On average across the three locations, there was an 8% increase in protection effectiveness and a 14% increase in harvest.

“This is a very important result because improving crop production, without harming the environment, are important objectives of adjuvants”, he explains. André Karadi (pictured above), BASF formulators business analyst.

The adjuvant is a ready-to-use solution added to the active components of the formulation to optimize the application of agricultural pesticides. In the case of Agnique HP 450, it is of the tank-mix type, that is, it is added to the spray liquid in the tanks before application.

“It increases the speed of propagation and penetration of the active ingredient through the cuticle, allowing, in most cases, to control the disease with lower doses of the pesticide and reduce the effects of light degradation”, explains Karadi.

The solution, based on soy methyl ester, can also be used with herbicides and insecticides to protect crops without harming the environment. Its composition does not interfere with plant growth, it is free of ethoxylated nonylphenol (a substance that can pose risks to health and the environment) and is free of mineral oil, completing its sustainability requirements.