Unit 3 Formulations
- Liquid Formulations
- Dry Formulations
- Fumigants
- Adjuvants
Learning Objectives Unit 3 Formulations
After you complete your study of this unit, you should be able to:
- Explain what a pesticide formulation is.
- Distinguish between "active" and "inert" ingredients.
- Identify factors to considerwhen choosing a formulation.
- Use your knowledge of the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of different types of pesticide formulations to select appropriate formulations for specific purposes.
- Recognize the purpose of adjuvants, and list several types.
Test Your Knowledge Unit 3 Formulations
Q. What is a pesticide formulation?
A. A pesticide formulation is the mixture of active and inert (inactive) ingredients that forms a pesticide product.
Q. What is the difference between active ingredients and inert ingredients?
A. Active ingredients are the chemicals in a pesticide
product that control pests. Inert ingredients are the chemicals in a
pesticide product that are added to make the product safer, more
effective, easier to measure, mix, and apply, and more convenient to
handle.
Q. What types of factors should you consider when you have a choice of formulations for a pest control task?
A. You should think about the characteristics of each
formulation, and you should consider which of the formulation's
advantages and disadvantages are important in your application
situation. Also consider the following: Do you have the right
application equipment? Can you apply the formulation safely? Will the
formulation reach the target and stay in place long enough to control
the pest? Might the formulation harm the target site?
Q. If you had a choice of either a wettable powder
formulation or a granular formulation for a particular pest control
task, which would be best if drift were a major concern? Which would be
best if you need the pesticide to stay on a surface that is not level,
such as foliage?
A. The granular formulation would be the best choice
in the first situation, because granules have a much lower drift hazard
than wettable powders. Granules do not stick to nonlevel surfaces, so
the wettable powder would be the best choice in the second situation.
Q. If you had a choice of either a wettable powder or
an emulsifiable concentrate for a particular pest control task, which
would be better if you were concerned about harming the treated
surface? Which would be best if you were diluting with very hard or
alkaline water?
A. The wettable powder would be the best choice in the
first situation, because emulsifiable concentrates (ECs) are corrosive and may cause pitting,
discoloration, or other damage to treated surfaces. Wettable powders
are difficult to mix in very hard or very alkaline water, so the EC
formulation would be the best choice in the second situation.
Q. Why are adjuvants sometimes added to pesticide formulations?
A. Adjuvants are added to a pesticide formulation or tank mix to increase its effectiveness or safety.
Q. What type(s) of adjuvants should you consider for
reducing drift? for coating a surface evenly? when you wish to combine
two or more pesticides for one application?
A. Foaming agents and thickeners help to reduce drift.
Spreaders help to coat the treated surface with an even layer of
pesticide. Compatibility agents aid in combining pesticides
effectively.