Silicone surfactant used in agriculture

Surface tension of silicone surfactant is 2.57x10-4N/cm, it is a good nucleating agents. Silicone surfactant used as pesticide adjuvant began in the 20th century, and it has attracted attention in the national economy, but only in the 1980s began the commercial application in agriculture. A wide range of biochemical and physiological tests and subsequent field studies confirm, , the first silicone surfactant L-77 in the world (also known as S]iwet m) is the best additives to control gorse glyphosate herbicide for grass.
Silicone surfactant for pesticide additives is a t-shaped structure, it made up entirely of methylated siloxanes skeleton. Skeleton of hydrophobic and flexural properties of siloxane backbone exposure to methyl interface. The hydrophobic of methyl is better than the methylene, and methylene is the main composition of the majority commonly used non-ionic hydrophobic hydrocarbon surfactants. The hydrophilic part of silicone surfactants are most like the commonly used non-ionic surfactant. Its hydrophilic can be eased by by embedding smaller polar isopropyl ether (PO) units. Overall polarity of surfactant can be adjusted by replacement ratio of dimethyl siloxane unit.

General speaking, the silicone surfactant is mostly spray conditioner. Because of their strong activity, it sometimes also is used as Activator. Application of silicone surfactants can improve leaf's ability of absorb when spray liquid through the leaf pores, therefore it is necessary to study their characteristics in spray.

The ultimate goal of herbicides, plant growth regulator and nutrient is in plant tissues, and silicone surfactants can enhance pesticides absorption of foliar, which is meaningful in improving pesticide efficacy and reducing the dosage. So far, silicone surfactant for adjuvant of pesticide research work mostly for herbicides. Researches also include insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and foliar application of agents and other fields.

L-77 can overcome the drug resistance of grass to 2-chloro-, indicating that it is cost-effective and rational agents, but conventional surfactant does not have this property. This makes sense for the mix-use of silicone surfactants and selective herbicides. S309 can improve picloram and 2-4 drops of mixtures effect on the black spruce and the firs, while the L-77 mixed with ethyl chloride of grass plus dicamba synergism on the control of black spruce, but has no effect on controlling plastic firs. In addition to chemical herbicides, L-77 used for microbial herbicides for control has good effect on controlling of weeds of Fern. If you have interest, please read more here!