Cationic-based Crop Oil Concentrates

Abstract

For most of six decades, crop oil concentrates (COCs) have been used as important tank mix adjuvants for increased pesticidal penetration. For the past 30 years, cationic surfactants have been known to enhance the bio-efficacy of numerous acid-based herbicides, especially glyphosate. With the advent of glyphosate-tolerant crops, glyphosate has become almost universal in its use. This has led to some issues with weeds hard to control with glyphosate alone. Recently a practice has developed where other herbicides and COC formulations are mixed with glyphosate to address problems with glyphosate-tolerant plants. A field study was conducted to develop a COC containing cationic surfactants that would deliver excellent, stable emulsification of the oil phase and boost the herbicidal activity of both glyphosate and the admixed herbicide. This COC worked very efficiently in a broad range of waters as well as ultra-high electrolyte environments such as ammonium sulfate solutions common to glyphosate applications.