Only a limited number of contact herbicides exist in agricultural production. Although systemic herbicides are also more efficient for suboptimum spray coverage with long-lasting weed control, contact herbicides provide several advantages. For example, there is no translocation to fruits, roots, and other crop parts and neither have residual activity nor minor risk for spray drift damage. Synthetic products in their use often imply toxicological or other drawbacks. Whereas, natural fatty acids, particularly pelargonic acid (PA), have contact activity and are safer for home and garden use. We recently described a methyl capped polyethylene glycol ester of pelargonic acid (PA-MPEG) as a novel contact herbicide. Both PA-MPEG and PA are applied at high rates per hectare to achieve excellent weed control. We herein report about potential additives to increase PA-MPEG efficacy. Herbicidal active, 1-decanol, and the non-phytotoxic alkylated seed oil-based adjuvant, HastenTM, improved performance by achieving better results than the PA benchmark. Both PA-MPEG and PA appear to mainly act by the disintegration of bio-membranes besides having effects on transpiration. The main suggested effect is desiccation due to cutting the water continuum at the site of evaporation in the intercellular spaces. The synergistic action of the adjuvant HastenTM and its practical uses are also discussed.

Products based on co-polymers of glycerol, at least one dicarboxylic and one monocarboxylic acid, act as dispersing agents and/or adjuvants in various soluble liquid formulations. Because of the hydrophilicity of the polyglycerol chain, use of these products is typical in water-based formulations. Presenting novel derivatives of this cross-linked co-polymer that has high oil solubility, for example, in alkyl esters of fatty acids, is the goal of this study. One such derivative is a mixture with methylated seed oil (MSO) and is able to be used in oil-based formulations or as tank-mix adjuvant with or without further wetting agents or other components. The new product, referred to as a novel adjuvant (NOVAD) in this study, has no hazardous labeling, is based on renewable resources, and will fulfill any criteria for environmentally friendly adjuvants. Thus, NOVAD is a sustainable product with wide use potential in crop protection. Both components of the product are adjuvants and we will demonstrate the property as an enhancer of penetration of various model compounds and selected active ingredients in this study. The product acts as a foliar penetration enhancer in particular, because the mobility of active ingredients in the plant cuticle is rapidly increased and active availability in the deposit is high. Plant compatibility indications are excellent across all major grain and fiber crops, as well as various fruit crops, vegetable crops, and ornamental plants. NOVAD's plant compatibility is superior to other MSO or non-ionic surfactant adjuvants having the same attribute as a powerful penetration enhancer. The basic product properties are flexibly adapted in accordance with the major use as in-can or tank-mix adjuvant for the respective crop or indication.