Silicone Surfactants in Agriculture: Enhancing Pesticide Efficacy

Silicone is one of the most widely used adjuvants in modern agricultural production. When mixed with corresponding pesticides, it can significantly improve the efficiency and utilization of pesticides.

01 Unique Advantages of Silicone

Unlike conventional pesticide adjuvants or activators, silicone has unique properties that set it apart:

• Lower Surface Expansion Force: Silicone has lower surface expansion force, which enhances the spreading, adhesion, penetration, wetting, temperature resistance, and rainfastness of pesticide solutions.
• Broad Compatibility: Silicone can be mixed with most fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, and foliar fertilizers available on the market, significantly improving the efficacy of various formulations.
• Superior Spreading Function: The silicone surface has a powerful spreading function, allowing the pesticide solution to cover a wider and more uniform area, increasing the absorption or penetration of the solution on the leaf surface or insect body, thus improving the control efficacy.
• Cost and Frequency Reduction: The use of silicone reduces the number of applications and the amount of pesticide needed, potentially saving more than 30% in pesticide use and over 50% in water usage.

For example, when applying a pesticide solution mixed with silicone, a few drops of the solution on the leaf can spread and cover the entire leaf surface. In contrast, a solution made with water alone does not achieve the same effect.

02 Key Features of Using Silicone in Pesticide Application

1. Enhanced Spreading Ability, Better Wetting of Target Surfaces
   The spreading ability of a pesticide on plant leaves or insect bodies directly impacts its efficacy. Many plant surfaces and insect exoskeletons have a waxy or rough outer layer, making it difficult for the pesticide to adhere. When using only water-diluted pesticides, the solution is unstable on these surfaces.

However, adding silicone effectively solves these problems, allowing the pesticide to maximize its effectiveness.

1. Reduced Contact Angle, Improved Spreading
   The contact angle between the pesticide solution and the plant or insect surface determines the spreading and distribution properties. The smaller the contact angle, the better the spreading and distribution, leading to better efficacy. Silicone has a very low surface tension, which significantly reduces the contact angle of the pesticide solution on plant leaves and insect bodies, thus improving its performance.

2. Powerful Expansion, Increased Coverage Area
   The addition of silicone to the pesticide solution can significantly increase the coverage area on the plant leaves. This is one of the key reasons why using silicone adjuvants greatly improves the effectiveness of pest and disease control.

3. Enhanced Penetration, Absorption, and Rainfastness
   Silicone enhances the penetration and absorption of the pesticide, allowing it to quickly and efficiently enter the plant or insect body through the pores. Additionally, silicone provides excellent rainfastness, ensuring that the pesticide remains effective even under rainy conditions. This is a major advantage over using pesticides or foliar fertilizers without silicone.

03 Important Considerations When Using Silicone

When using silicone in pesticide applications, the following points should be carefully observed:

1. Use Immediately After Mixing
   Prepared pesticide solutions should be used as soon as possible to ensure maximum effectiveness.

2. Reduce Spray Volume
   Minimize the amount of water used for spraying and increase the speed of spraying. The spray volume should be enough to form a thin water film on the target surface without creating droplets.

3. Wear Protective Gear
   When spraying, always wear protective gear according to the pesticide instructions, especially to protect the eyes from any contact with the pesticide.

4. Avoid Mixing with Certain Pesticides
   It is not recommended to mix silicone with certain pesticides that are prone to phytotoxicity, such as Fluosilazole, Fluquinconazole, Flutriafol, Avermectin, or Benzthiazole.

5. Optimal Application Time
   It is best to apply pesticides in the morning before 10 AM or after 4 PM, avoiding high-temperature periods. Always dilute pesticides according to the manufacturer's instructions, typically at a dilution ratio of 3000:1 or higher.

By properly utilizing silicone, the stability and spreading ability of the pesticide solution are enhanced, which ultimately improves pest control effectiveness and overall agricultural efficiency.