WHAT IS SUPA LINK -
A compatibility and water conditioning agent for multiple uses in broadacre pesticide and fertiliser applications.
WATER QUALITY AND EFFECT ON PESTICIDE EFFICACY -
Varying water quality can have serious deleterious effects on the efficacy of pesticides
used in the broadacre marketplace. Traditionally, recommended practice is to use rainwater for most pesticide applications. However, this is not always practical in most circumstances, thus the use of artesian water. This water source can have many dissolved minerals (Ca, Mg and other cations), and depending on the parent material, bicarbonates and high pH are also problematic. Dissolved minerals such as Ca and Mg are highly antagonistic especially to glyphosate (see below). High levels of bicarbonates are antagonistic to phenoxy herbicides, and alkaline hydrolysis affects a broad range of pesticides. The net result of less than ideal water quality (depending on severity), can lead to pesticide breakdown (alkaline hydrolysis) or tie-up of some of the active ingredients leading to sub-optimal control. Traditionally, the use of ammonium sulphate (for water hardness) and propionic acid (for pH management) have been the preferred products for this problem. However, these options do not effect bicarbonates in water, and multiple products are required. Ammonium sulphate in
the soluble form is also hydroscopic and can be difficult to handle.
WHAT IS HARD WATER?
Water hardness is a measure of the total amount of cations such as Calcium and Magnesium as bicarbonates and carbonates in the solution, generally expressed in parts per million (ppm), or mg/L as calcium carbonate equivalents. Water that is considered to be “hard” is when the levels are above 250-350 ppm. Products that are susceptible to hard water include Atrazine, Chlorsulfuron, Clopyralid, Dicamba, Diflufenican, Diuron, Glyphosate, MCPA, Phosmet, Simazine, 2,4-D Ester and 2,4-D Amine. The normal practice is to use ammonium sulphate for this problem.
WHAT DO BICARBONATES EFFECT?
Bicarbonates and carbonates can adversely impact some pesticides. Clethodim and other “Dim” herbicides, 2,4-D formulations (other than ester formulations) are also adversely degraded. Levels of bicarbonates as low as 175 ppm (mg/L) have been reported to impact on “dim” herbicides. Simply switching from amine 2,4-D formulations to ester formulations is not always a viable option due to environmental restrictions on ester use. Normal practice is to add ammonium sulphate to the spray solution for this problem.
WHY USE SUPA LINK?
Hard water (high in Ca and Mg), high levels of bicarbonates, alkalinity/acidity and total dissolved solids in spray solutions reduce the effectiveness of many pesticides and fertilisers, thus reducing either the robustness of the pesticide, or availability of the fertiliser to the target crop. The ability to manage water pH, water hardness, bicarbonates in water and a compatibility agent, gives farmers a one product solution rather than requiring multiple products.
HOW IT WORKS?
Supa Link adjusts high water pH to reduce alkaline hydrolysis, and disassociates dissolved cations in the spray solution to make them less antagonistic.
HOW TO USE
Supa Link 5 Because of the ability of Supa Link to manage water quality issues, it must be added to the spray tank prior to any pesticides or fertilisers. Add Supa Link when the spray tank is 1/3-1/2 full and continue filling. This will allow the Supa Link to disassociate any dissolved cations and adjust pH of the water prior to any potentially antagonistic
products being added.
1. Add water to 1/2 tank volume and add Supa Link to tank.
2. Continue filling tank to 3/4 volume, then add respective pesticides in normal mixing order.
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