At the other end of the spectrum LI 700 has a positiveeffect as well. Figure 7 shows the droplet spectrum from a Turbo Teejet 11002 nozzle that creates large dropletsto avoid drift. In this instance it is desirable to decreasethe number of very large droplets. The addition of LI 700lowers the Dv0.9 as well as the VMD and narrows thedroplet sizes closer to the desired range. The nozzles willproduce more droplets and will be more likely to provideincreased coverage of target weeds.

Small droplets can volatilise rapidly. For example, a droplet measuring 50 μm at 15°C, 60 % relativehumidity will fall a theoretical distance of 29 cm before itdisappears. Such a small droplet in a normal boom sprayset up will not even reach its target. LI 700 increases thedroplet velocity, the speed with which the droplet falls(Figure 8). Faster transit time from nozzle to plant

reduces the amount of droplet evaporation and assuresmore of the active ingredient reaches the target. Dropletsthat fall faster are less likely to be exposed to drift.

LI 700 is an excellent tool for droplet management andwill assist nozzle performance but it should not bemistaken as a substitution for the right nozzle choice.

Figure 7. Effect of LI 700 on coarse droplet spectrum of a Turbo TeeJet11002 nozzle. Source: Centre for Pesticide Application, Gatton, QLD, 2004.

Figure 8. Droplet velocity of a glyphosate spray with and withoutadjuvants. Source: Loveland Industries.

LI 700SURFACTANT

Give your crop the adjuvantage.

For more information contact your Nufarm Regional Office:Phone Fax

Northern NSW/QLD/NT 1800 267 612 1800 267 602Southern NSW 1800 033 038 1800 707 543Victoria/Tasmania 1800 033 038 1800 707 543South Australia/Sunraysia 1800 131 964 1800 133 206Western Australia 1800 131 964 1800 133 206This publication is a guide only and no substitute for professional or expert advice. The product label should be consulted before useof any of the products referred to in this publication. Nufarm Australia Limited shall not be liable for any results, loss, or damagewhatsoever, whether consequential or otherwise through the use or application of products and/or materials referred to herein.

® Registered trademark of Nufarm Australia Limited, ®1 Registered trademark of Nufarm Technologies USA Pty Ltd, ®2 Registered trademark of MonsantoTechnology LLC used under licence by Nufarm Australia Limited, ®3 Registered trademark of BASF used under licence by Nufarm Australia Limited, ®4 Registered trademark of United Agri Products Inc., ®5 Registered trademark of Bayer CropSciences, ®6 Registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC, ®7 Registered trademark of Du Pont, ®8 Registered trademark of FMC, ®9 Registered trademark of Margarita Int., ®10 Registered trademark of Montecatini, ®11 Registered trademark of Syngenta, ®12 Registered trademark of Spraying Systems Co.

© Copyright 2006.Nufarm Australia LimitedA.C.N. 004 377 780

• Prevention of chemical degradation• Increased coverage• Better uniformity of spray• Better uptake• Better translocation• Increased rainfastness• Increased efficacy

Droplet size is measured in microns (μm) = 1/1000 mm.

Spray nozzles produce a range of droplet sizes.

The range will depend upon type and size of nozzles. Commonly used measurements to describe a droplet spectrum are VMD, Dv0.1 and Dv0.9.

• The Volume Median Diameter (VMD) is the point where half of the volume of the spray consists of droplets smaller than this size.

• Dv0.1 describes the finer end of the spectrum with 10 % of the volume of spray consisting of droplets smaller than this size.

• Similar Dv0.9 describes the larger end of the spectrum with 90 % of the volume consisting of droplets smaller than this size.

Measurement of Droplet Spectrum

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Table 2. Examples of pesticides subject to alkaline hydrolysis.

LI 700 SURFACTANT - GIVE YOUR CROP THE ADJUVANTAGE

Penetration

At rates of 250 mL/100 L and above the lecithin chemistrytemporarily loosens the joints between overlapping waxplates on the leaf surface. This enhances the uptake of herbicides, foliar fertilisers, fungicides and plant growthregulators. Unlike many other oils the disruption of the waxylayer by LI 700 has little side effects. Therefore, in selectivepost-emergence situations LI 700 is very soft on the crop(see picture. 1).

Many plants, especially broadleaf weeds have surfacesthat are naturally high in pH (alkaline) that hinders theuptake of weak acidic herbicides. The acidifyingproperties of LI 700 help to create a more favourable pHenvironment for the herbicide on the leaf surface.Examples of weak acidic herbicides are given in Table 1.With its penetrating properties LI 700 enhances speedand overall uptake of products and increases efficacy and rainfastness.

Without adjuvant Cycocel showed limited uptakeand movement. The treatment containing LI 700demonstrated the best uptake, resulted in the besttranslocation and was the only treatment whereCycocel moved down to the base of the leaf.Studies have shown that at low temperatures thetranslocation of Cycocel in cereals can be enhanced7-fold when mixed with LI 700.

Chemical Hydrolysis

Alkaline hydrolysis is the chemical break down ofpesticides in spray solutions that can occur if thewater used for spraying is alkaline. In Australia, most water used for spraying has varying degrees of alkalinity. Alkaline hydrolysis is affected by thesusceptibility of the product, the pH of the water,duration of contact and temperature. A most alarming example of rapid breakdown is theinsecticide dimethoate. It loses half of its activity inonly 45 minutes when mixed with water pH 9. Table2 shows some examples of pesticides affected byalkaline hydrolysis. Minimising breakdown can beachieved by acidifying the spray solution with LI 700to the optimum pH level of 4 to 6. Unlike other acidsthat can over acidify the spray solution, the propionicacid in LI 700 is a weak acid that will not lower thepH beneath the safe level of pH 3.5. This becomesespecially relevant for a droplet drying on the leaf

surface. As the water is evaporating theconcentration of acid will increase. Dropletscontaining LI 700 will remain buffered at a safe pH level around 3.5.

Aid for Droplet Management

Several independent studies have shown that LI 700decreases the number of undesirable very finedroplets that are prone to drift as well as the numberof undesirable very large droplets. They aredetrimental to good coverage and are prone toshattering when they reach their target. Generallyspeaking, LI 700 narrows the droplet spectrum atboth ends of the spectrum and increases the numberof droplets in the desirable range. In contrast,commonly used non-ionic surfactants often increasethe number of droplets in the fine spectrum andtherefore increase the risk for drift.

Figure 6 shows a droplet spectrum from a XR TeeJet®12 11002 Nozzle. This nozzle type is themost commonly used nozzle type in Australia.

It produces fine droplets that can be very easilyaffected by drift. The addition of LI 700 lifts thedroplet size at the fine end of the spectrum andincreases the VMD, therefore decreasing the risk for drift.

Kamba®500

LVE MCPA, MCPA 500Nufarm Glyphosate CTLusta, Glean®7 & othersAssociate®, Ally®7, Brush-Off®7

Lontrel®6, Archer®

Kamba®M

Amicide® 625, Baton®, Surpass® and othersButtress®, Buticide, Trifolamine®1

Dimethoate, Rogor®10, Saboteur®1

Bugmaster®5 Imidan®9

Fastac®3 Duo, Dominex®8

Figure 6. Effect of LI 700 on fine droplet spectrum of a XRTeeJet 11002 nozzle. Source: Centre for PesticideApplication, Gatton, QLD, 2004.

More than 200 adjuvants are registered in Australia. Many of them have little or no empirical

data supporting their label claims. In contrast, LI 700® is one of the most researched adjuvants

in the world and its multifunctional properties are well understood.

LI 700 is made from a blend of soyal oils (Lecithin, derived from soybeans), propionic acid

(a weak organic acid) and various surfactants. This combination of ingredients gives LI 700

a wide range of properties that can greatly enhance pesticide performance in several ways.

Spreading and wetting

LI 700 reduces the surface tension of spray droplets, allowing them to spread over a greater

surface area which greatly increases coverage. In this regard LI 700 is not different to a typical

adjuvant.

LI 700 does more. Its acidifying properties protect many pesticides from chemical degradation

in the tank and provide a more favourable pH environment on the leaf surface for their uptake.

Its multifunctional chemistry opens cuticle pathways in the waxy layer of the plant and

increases penetration and translocation to the target sites.

LI 700Surfactant – Penetrant – Acidifier – Aid for Droplet Management

Table 1. Examples of some weak acidic herbicides.

Figure 1. Wild radish, effect of LI 700 on rainfastness of Glyphosate450 CT at 1.2 L/ha. Source: A. Wells, Plant Protection Quarterly Vol 4(4) 1989.

Figure 2. Efficacy on Wild radish, York, WA, 2001. Source: Nufarm trial 881, York.

Figure 3. Effect of LI 700 on manganese uptake (Mn sulfate at 1600 g/haand inorganic Mn at 300 g/ha) in barley. Source: Dawson, 1989

Enhancement of Rainfastness

Faster penetration into the plant means less exposure to detrimental weather conditions. This effect of LI 700 isdemonstrated in figure 1. LI 700 aids in the quick uptake ofglyphosate into the waxy layer of radish and increases therainfastness dramatically. In the same study similar resultswere observed on wild oats, annual ryegrass and hedge mustard.

Increase in Herbicidal Efficacy

To demonstrate the effect of LI 700 on weak acidic post-emergence herbicides Nufarm conducted a trial in York, WAin 2001 (Figure 2). Amicide 625 was used at three differentrates with and without LI 700. The addition of 0.25 % of LI 700 enhanced performance of Amicide 625 on wild radish in wheat.

Increase in Uptake of Foliar Fertilisers

LI 700 enhances the uptake of foliar fertilisers in many crops.Trials have shown improved uptake of iron, zinc andmanganese when formulated as salt, chelate or sulphate.

Data in figure 3 demonstrate that the use of LI 700 candouble the manganese uptake in barley.

Increase in Efficacy of Foliar Fungicides

At rates of 0.5% LI 700 can increase the efficacy of a widerange of broadacre fungicides such as Throttle®, Folicur®5

Impact®7, Fortress®1, Amistar®11 or Rovral®5 (Figure 4).

Translocation

LI 700 does not only affect the uptake of chemicals into theplant but also their translocation inside the plant. Forexample, Cycocel®3, a Plant Growth Regulator for cerealshas limited mobility in the plant. Figure 5 shows the results of an experiment in which Cycocel was only applied to themiddle of a cereal leaf.

Figure 4. Efficacy increase of flutriafol on yellow leave spot control in wheat

by using LI 700. Source: Loveland Industries.

Figure 5. Effect of LI 700 on uptake and translocation ofCycocel in a wheat leaf.

LILI

Normal structure undisturbed

Structure after exposure to petroleum oil-based adjuvant

Structure after exposure to LI 700

Picture 1. Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) waxy cuticular.

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II

WaterWater + LI 700 (0.25%)Roundup®2CTRoundup CT + LI 700 (0.25%)

Dv

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