The work reported herein explores the viability of cow dung ash (CDA) as a matrix for controlled pesticide delivery, by comparing its adsorptive characteristics towards two organophosphorus pesticides with those of starch, conventionally utilized in designing controlled pesticide delivery systems. CDA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Data for pesticide adsorption on the surfaces correlate well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, with the former isotherm giving a slightly better fit (R2 ≥ 0.90) than the latter (R2 ≥ 0.81). Values of the adsorption parameters KL and RL indicate favourable pesticide adsorption on both surfaces. Desorption is the microscopic reverse of adsorption; both processes obey pseudo-second-order kinetics. The implication of this kinetic form is a mechanism in which adsorbate diffusion to the polymer surface and its transport into the polymer interior are important events. The isothermal and kinetic ratios, $$\frac{{K_{L}^{CDA} }}{{K_{L}^{Starch} }} = 3.8$$ K L CDA K L Starch = 3.8 and 4.0, $$\frac{{k_{2}^{CDA} }}{{k_{2}^{Starch} }} = 1.3$$ k 2 CDA k 2 Starch = 1.3 and 0.6, and $$\frac{{k_{ - 2}^{CDA} }}{{k_{ - 2}^{Starch} }} = 5.2$$ k - 2 CDA k - 2 Starch = 5.2 and 1.0 at pH 7.0 and 27 °C, compare the adsorptive behaviour of diazinon and dichlorvos, respectively, on CDA and starch. These parameters are of the same order of magnitude, signalling that CDA is as potentially viable as starch for use as a matrix for pesticide-controlled delivery.