“Agricultural adjuvants are substances added to pesticide formulations or applied together with them to improve their effectiveness…”
Leandro Viegas is the CEO of Sell Agro, a company specialized in application technology and agricultural adjuvants, with a degree in business administration and law.
Leandro Viegas, CEO at Sell Agro
AgriBrasilis – What are the different types of adjuvants and what are they used for?
Leandro Viegas – Agricultural adjuvants are substances added to pesticide formulations or applied together with them to improve their effectiveness. There are several types of adjuvants, each with a specific function:
| Surfactants – They reduce the surface tension between the liquid and the plant surface, improving coverage and penetration of the pesticide; |
| Humectants – They keep the treated surface moist for a longer period, slowing down the evaporation of the applied solution; |
| Dispersants – Those keep solid particles suspended in the liquid solution, preventing sedimentation; |
| Compatibility agents – They allow for different chemicals to be mixed in the same solution without causing undesirable reactions; |
| Penetrants – They increase pesticide absorption through the plant cuticles; |
| Stickers – Help keep the pesticide on the surface of the leaves, even after rain or irrigation; |
| Defoamers – Reduce or eliminate foam formation during the mixing and application of pesticides; |
| pH adjusters – They adjust the pH of the solution to optimize the stability and effectiveness of the pesticides; |
| Anti-evaporants – Reduce the evaporation of pesticides, especially at high temperatures; |
| Water conditioner – Neutralize ions present in water that can reduce the effectiveness of pesticides. |
This entire line of adjuvants is produced by Sell Agro and is essential to ensure that pesticides are applied efficiently, maximizing their effectiveness and minimizing environmental impacts and costs.
“Advanced application technologies ensure that products are evenly distributed over crops, increasing treatment effectiveness”
AgriBrasilis – Adjuvants are not covered by Brazilian pesticide legislation. How are they regulated? What guarantees the quality and effectiveness of these products?
Leandro Viegas – In Brazil, agricultural adjuvants are not regulated by a specific legislation. However, there are other ways to guarantee the quality and effectiveness of these products.
An important event for the regulation and quality assurance of agricultural adjuvants in Brazil was the creation of the Brazilian Association of Agricultural Adjuvant Manufacturers, which has been organizing itself to establish technical standards, promoting good manufacturing and use practices, following global standards to guarantee the quality of its associates’ products. As a way of demonstrating commitment to product quality and safety, several manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of their products through testing and field trials; many companies, as well as Sell Agro, carry out efficacy and safety studies to prove the benefits and safety of adjuvants, including in the case of use with biological products.
Good agricultural practices recommend the correct use of adjuvants, based on technical guidance provided by manufacturers and agronomic research institutions. Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and other agricultural research institutions in Brazil also offer guidance on the safe and effective use of adjuvants.
Universities and research centers develop studies on the efficacy and safety of adjuvants, providing scientific data that will help regulate and recommend the use of these products. Collaboration between industry and academia is essential for innovation and continuous improvement of agricultural adjuvants.
Although specific formal regulation does not exist yet, the combination of technical standards, inspection by public entities, manufacturers’ responsibility, good agricultural practices, and scientific research helps to ensure that agricultural adjuvants used in Brazil are safe and effective.
AgriBrasilis – How can the results of spraying be optimized? In what ways do wind, water quality, and other parameters impact the spraying?
Leandro Viegas – Optimizing the results of agricultural spraying using adjuvants involves considering several factors, such as environmental conditions (wind, humidity, temperature), the quality of the water used in the mixture, and the correct choice of adjuvants.
First and most important is the correct choice and use of a good adjuvant.
Wind can cause drift, making the sprayed solution deviate from the target. Spraying only in calm wind conditions (less than 10 km/h) is not always viable. It is a daily struggle against time in the farms, so using anti-drift nozzles and a good adjuvant that increase the size of the droplets is essential to an effective and safe result.
High temperatures and low humidity can increase the evaporation of droplets before they reach the target. Spraying in the early hours of the morning or late afternoon is the best idea, but again the relentless pursuit of pest and disease control is very important. This is where adjuvants with humectant function come into play to delay evaporation.
The pH of the water can affect the stability and effectiveness of the pesticides, so one should check the pH of the water and adjust it as needed using pH adjusters. Many pesticides are more effective in slightly acidic waters (pH 4-6), which is also one of the many functions of an agricultural adjuvant.
High levels of calcium and magnesium can neutralize the effectiveness of pesticides. This is a very common characteristic to find in Brazil, especially in the Cerrado region. Using water correctors or conditioners that neutralize harmful ions, this is also the role of the adjuvant.
Nozzle types and spraying pressure influence droplet coverage and size. One should choose nozzles that produce droplets of the appropriate size for the target (fine droplets for insecticides, larger for herbicides) and adjust pressure to avoid fine mists and reduce drift. If not done well, these uneven sprays can result in inadequate coverage. Therefore, to ensure a precise and uniform application, the use of agricultural adjuvants is essential.
The order in which products are added to the spraying tank can affect effectiveness. One should follow the mixing instructions provided by manufacturers, generally adding adjuvants first, which are a compatibility agent in many cases.
By following these guidelines and considering the specific parameters of your situation, adjuvant use, you can optimize spray results and improve the effectiveness of phytosanitary treatments.
AgriBrasilis – Why should farmers focus on application technology?
Leandro Viegas – Farmers should focus on agricultural application technology for several reasons, ranging from treatment effectiveness to environmental sustainability and cost reduction.
Advanced application technologies ensure that products are evenly distributed over crops, increasing treatment effectiveness. These modern tools can improve the penetration of pesticides and fertilizers, especially in dense or thick-leaved crops.
Application technology allows for the precise application of inputs, minimizing waste and ensuring that each plant receives the required amount of product. By reducing waste, farmers can significantly save on pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer costs.
Specific adjuvants can reduce the drift of chemicals to non-target areas, decreasing environmental impact. More precise and efficient applications mean fewer chemicals in the environment, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.
Application technology allows farmers to make applications at the ideal time, when plants need treatments most, improving the overall health of crops, with more effective applications that help control diseases and pests more efficiently, preventing outbreaks and increasing yields.
Precise applications result in healthier and more productive plants, increasing crop yield, better application of inputs, which can result in higher quality products, promoting better prices in the market.
Application technologies help ensure farmers are in compliance with chemical safety and use regulations. Advanced, more precise and effective technologies reduce operators’ exposure to chemicals, increasing safety in the field and resulting in lower levels of residue in food, contributing to food safety.
Farmers who adopt cutting-edge application technologies are better positioned to remain competitive in the market. Innovations can open up new market opportunities, especially in niches that value sustainability and efficiency.
Focusing on agricultural application technology is essential to maximize input efficiency, reduce costs, protect the environment and increase yield and crop quality. Adopting these technologies puts farmers at the forefront of innovation, enabling them to tackle modern agricultural challenges more effectively and sustainably.
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