Pesticides are chemical substances commonly used in the cultivation of crops, fruits, and vegetables to eliminate pests, diseases, and weeds, while also improving yield and quality. Most pesticides, including herbicides, are oil-soluble and not easily mixed with water. To make them usable, surfactants are typically added to create an oil-in-water emulsion. Before application, these formulations are diluted with water to a very low concentration and then sprayed or applied directly onto the leaves, stems, and weeds to kill or suppress the growth of harmful organisms.
The surface tension of aqueous solutions containing conventional surfactants is generally above 30 mN/m, whereas silicone-based surfactants significantly reduce this value, often bringing it down to around 20 mN/m. This lower surface tension enhances the solution’s ability to wet and spread across solid surfaces, especially hydrophobic ones like plant leaves. The waxy cuticle on the surface of leaves and stems makes them difficult for standard pesticide solutions to penetrate. When using traditional surfactants, the wetting speed is slow, and the coverage area is limited. As a result, many tiny pores on the plant surface remain untreated, allowing some pests to survive. Similarly, weeds may not be fully affected by herbicides if the solution cannot penetrate their structures effectively.
Adding a small amount of silicone surfactant to herbicide formulations can reduce the required amount of active ingredient by more than one-third. According to the China Pesticide Network, the low surface tension of silicone surfactants allows pesticide solutions to spread quickly and penetrate deeply into every part of the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots. This ensures maximum effectiveness and extends the duration of action, leading to better pest and weed control with less chemical use. Overall, the inclusion of silicone surfactants improves both the efficiency and environmental safety of pesticide applications.
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