Published on 01/11/2022
UPL NZ adjuvant product manager David Lingan says rising costs and sensitivities around water use are encouraging spray contractors to re-examine the benefits of adjuvants, especially UPL’s Du-Wett Super Spreader.
“Adjuvants have often been considered a bit of an extra, perhaps due to limited understanding of their benefits or a lack of category confidence. In fact, the correct use of Du-Wett Super Spreader improves spread and retention on the target of crop protection products,” David says.
“One spray droplet containing Du-Wett can provide up to 25 times the spread compared to spray applied without an adjuvant, and at least 10-15 times the spread compared to a conventional, non-ionic adjuvant. This allows you to use much lower water application volumes, and if you cut the water you use, it reduces travelling and refilling time.”
David says the benefits to your balance sheet are measurable and significant. “Previously, many contractors out there considered costs to be simply part of doing business, but actually, even water isn’t ‘free’. The savings can be calculated, and Du-Wett will pay for itself.”
Du-Wett can be used across a wide range of crops and pastures. It reduces spray drift and improves coverage through more even spray droplet spread, distribution and adhesion. It also optimises the activity of chemistry.
Du-Wett’s super spreading capability improves coverage. It is an organosilicone surfactant blend that spreads the water droplets. High water volumes alone cannot do that.
“It really gives you the ability to extract every last cent of value from spray applications, and avoid waste,” David says.
“Du-Wett can decrease spray drift by up to 25 percent. That alone is a big improvement in efficiency and lessens environmental impact too. With the cost of sprays increasing at a rate we haven’t experienced in many years, it is fiscally prudent to adopt and integrate Du-Wett and other adjuvants in most crop protection inputs.”