The frequent tank mixing of phytosanitary products, adjuvants, and foliar fertilizers highlights the lack of information which sustains decisions about what products can be mixed for spray application. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides in combination with some adjuvants on the Brazilian market. The experimental design was completely randomized and spray mixes of the phytosanitary products: fungicide (azoxystrobin+benzovindiflupir), herbicide (diamônio salt of N-(phosponomethyl)) or insecticide (fenpropathrin) were evaluated in combination with adjuvants (mineral oil base, foliar fertilizer or lecithin + propionic acid), and in two application rates (95 and 52 L ha-1); all with four replications. Surface tension, electrical conductivity, pH, dynamic viscosity and density of spray mixes were evaluated. The adjuvants presented characteristics capable of significantly altering the physicochemical properties of the phytosanitary spray mixes, and thus, alter the biological effectiveness and efficiency of the spray applications. However, its effects are also dependent on the phytosanitary product added to the spray mix, which makes general recommendations a difficult task. The greatest pH reduction, as well as the greatest increase in electrical conductivity, were caused by the adjuvant lecithin + propionic acid. All phytosanitary products and adjuvants studied, associated or not, resulted in a reduction in the surface tension of the spray mix in relation to water. The magnitude of change of density and dynamic viscosity promoted by adjuvants was lower than the other characteristics evaluated.

Electrostatic spray can bring benefits to the pesticide application such as the reduction of application rate and the increase of deposits on targets. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of electrostatic spraying using lower application rates and different adjuvants on soybean spray deposition and chemical control of powdery mildew (Microsphaera diffusa Cooke & Peck). The field experiment was conducted in duplicate. A randomized complete block design with four replications in a 2 × 2 × 2 + 1 factorial scheme was used. The factors were two application rates, with and without droplet electrification, two spray solution compositions, and one additional treatment. Deposition on upper and lower leaves, spray loss to the soil, and powdery mildew control effectiveness were evaluated. The electrical conductivity of the spray solution and the charge/mass ratio induced in droplets were also evaluated. All treatments reduced the soybean powdery mildew severity. Electrostatic spraying responded positively to an increase in the electrical conductivity of the spray solution regarding the charge/mass ratio, but it did not increase spray deposition on the lower third of the canopy and did not influence spray loss to the soil, which was higher as the application rate increased.

Knowledge of droplet spectra generated by spray nozzle tips is important to ensure the quality of applications of plant protection products. However, there are different methods for this evaluation, which can cause difficulty in interpreting the results. This study aimed to evaluate the droplet spectra produced by the flat fan spray tip AD 11002 operated under different pressures and using different techniques and equipment. The volume median diameter (VMD), percentage of spray volume in droplets smaller than 100 µm diameter and relative spam (RS), considering pressures of 200, 300, and 400 kPa were determined using two direct measurement equipment (Spraytec and Shadow Sizer), based on laser diffraction and image analysis, respectively, and a measure based on indirect analysis, through the digitization of water-sensitive paper. Thus, the use of different analysis techniques led to variations of the analyzed parameters. Among the direct measurement equipment, a difference of up to 58% was observed in VMD. The use of water-sensitive paper to characterize droplet spectra must be carried out with great discretion because there is an underestimation of fine droplets. Pressure variations of 200 to 400 kPa did not influence VMD and RS.

Tank mixture of pesticides and foliar fertilizes for Triozoida limbata control in guava trees (Psidium guajava L.) 1Although the tank mixture of pesticides and foliar fertilizers is common practice in agriculture, further clarification and scientific support is needed to be regulated. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of tank mixture of an organosilicon adjuvant and manganese foliar fertilizer throw the insecticide imidacloprid effectiveness over Triozoida limbata control in guava trees. The experimental plot was considered with four trees followed in the same cultivation line subdivided into 4 quadrants. The experiment followed a randomized block design with split plots, with four replications. Treatments were T1 -Imidacloprid (Imid.); T2 -Imid. + Polyether-polymethyl siloxane copolymer (Sil.); T3 -Imid. + MnSO 4 ; T4 -Imid. + Sil. + MnSO 4 ; T5 -Control (no application). Physical-chemical characteristics, spray deposition over the leaves and losses to the soil, guava psyllid percentage of infestation and nymph's number were evaluated. The addition of foliar fertilizer on the mixture reduced the pH and surface tension and increased the electric conductivity and viscosity of the insecticide solutions. The silicon adjuvant reduced the surface tension and increased the viscosity and the pH. The tank mixture of organosilicon adjuvant and manganese foliar fertilizer do not influence the efficacy level of the insecticide.

It is a well-known fact that the application of pesticides can be improved using an electrostatic spray due to the reduction of the application rate and increase in deposition on plant targets. However, little information exists on the use of such technology in maize crops. Thus, this study is aimed to evaluate the spray deposition on maize resulting from spray application using an electrostatic sprayer in combination with low application rates and different spray compositions. A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block having a 2×2×2 factorial design with two application rates (95 and 52 L ha-1), with or without the spray electrification, and with or without the synthetic adjuvant. The droplet electrification ability, interference of the electrical conductivity of the spray solution, losses of spray solution to the soil, and spray deposition on maize plants were evaluated for two cases of insecticide applications. The Faraday cage method was used to determine the spray electrification ability of the equipment. The spray deposition on plants and the losses to the soil were analyzed using a tracer (food coloring dye) added to the spray solution that was subsequently detected by spectrophotometry. It was seen that the electrostatic sprayer improved the spray application efficiency, which responded positively to the increase in the electrical conductivity of the spray solution. The deposition of the electrified spray solution on the upper third canopy of maize was found to be higher; the spray solution electrification also reduced the losses to the soil, regardless of the application rate.