Laura Weatherhead , applications team leader at Croda , explores how the design of sophisticated soil adjuvants can increase crop yields , while minimising negative effects on the environment
Figure 1 – Effect of a soil adjuvant on surface tension & soil penetration
Figure 2 – Soil coverage with & without inclusion of a soil adjuvant soil adjuvant . The application of the adjuvant lowers the interfacial tension between the ground water and soil surface , resulting in increased wetting . This reduces water repellence and therefore improves infiltration . Reducing surface-run off is not only good for treatment effectiveness but is also important for environmental factors . If more of the spray solution penetrates the soil , the pesticides it contains are less likely to enter and contaminate waterways . Surface run-off can be exacerbated by climatic events like droughts , which cause soil to become more hydrophobic and difficult to penetrate . An effective soil adjuvant can improve infiltration even in these harsh conditions .
Even distribution
The soil adjuvant improves the distribution of water-based applications throughout the soil profile , helping them to move into , and through , micro- and nano-pores in soil that are normally impenetrable by water alone , due to unfavourable hydrophobic interactions of compositional matter . Soil-applied agrochemical treatments are more effective when they are evenly distributed throughout the soil . More uniform coverage and distribution of each application minimises ‣
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