Agrochemical Formulation Drift Reduction via Adjuvant Parameter Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agrochemical spray applications face challenges with high volumes leading to energy consumption, soil compaction, and pesticide drift, which affects environmental impact and crop yield, while low spray volumes result in reduced coverage and efficacy.
Innovation Solution
Formulations containing specific drift-reducing agents combined with spreading and rainfastness agents at optimized concentrations, designed for use at both high and low spray volumes to minimize drift, maintain coverage, and enhance biological efficacy on various leaf surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high spray volumes are used, then coverage and efficacy are improved, but energy consumption and soil compaction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the spray liquid by incorporating specific surfactants and adjuvants that modify droplet surface tension and evaporation rates. This allows the spray to maintain better coverage and efficacy at lower volumes by improving droplet deposition and retention on leaf surfaces, thereby reducing the energy required to transport and apply the spray liquid.
2Reliability
If high spray volumes are used, then coverage and efficacy are improved, but soil compaction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The formulation parameters are modified to include spreaders and stickers that enhance droplet adhesion and spreading on leaf surfaces. This ensures that lower spray volumes achieve the same coverage and efficacy, thereby reducing the weight of spray liquid that would otherwise be transported and applied, thus minimizing soil compaction from heavy equipment.
3Use of energy by moving object
If low spray volumes are used, then energy consumption and soil compaction are reduced, but coverage and efficacy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary substances such as surfactants, spreaders, and stickers that act as mediators between the spray liquid and the leaf surface. These intermediaries improve wetting, spreading, and adhesion properties, ensuring that even at low spray volumes, the active ingredients are effectively deposited and retained on the target surface, maintaining coverage and efficacy.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If drift mitigation measures like buffer zones are used, then environmental impact is reduced, but field area for crop production decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of spray drift into a benefit by using drift-reducing adjuvants that modify droplet characteristics to reduce evaporation and enhance deposition on target surfaces. This reduces drift without requiring buffer zones, thereby maintaining the full field area for crop production while still protecting the environment.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If drift-reducing agents are added to spray formulations, then drift is reduced, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated formulation system. The drift-reducing agents are combined with spreaders, stickers, and other adjuvants in a unified spray formulation that works synergistically to reduce drift while maintaining coverage and efficacy. This integrated approach simplifies the overall system compared to using separate applications of different additives.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The formulations achieve reduced drift and improved coverage and uptake at low spray volumes, comparable to higher volumes, while reducing environmental impact and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a more acceptable way to optimise a spray cloud, so that it leads to less or more limited drift, is by adjusting the properties of the spray liquid
Implementation Method 2
c) One or more spreading agents
Implementation Method 3
d) One or more uptake enhancing agents
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to agrochemical compositions: their use for foliar application; their use at low spray volumes; their use by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned guided vehicles (UGV), and tractor mounted boom sprayers fitted with conventional nozzles but also pulse width modulation spray nozzles or rotating disc droplet applicators; and their application for controlling agricultural pests, weeds or diseases, in particular on waxy leaves, and in particular the present invention relates to agrochemical compositions with a reduced drift, in particular in spray applications.