Understanding the role of adjuvants in agriculture

24 Feb 2025

With the rising global population, limited farming land and unpredictable climate, maximising crop yields is essential to meet growing food demands and support global food security. For farmers, however, achieving high yields is challenging due to unpredictable weather, pest pressures and soil degradation to name but a few. 

While crop protection like herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are widely used to protect crops, advancements in agriculture have introduced a powerful tool to make these chemicals even more effective—agricultural spray adjuvants.

In this blog, we’ll explore the types of adjuvants, including spray oils, their benefits, and how choosing the right adjuvant can improve crop protection and boost agricultural performance.

What are adjuvants in agriculture?

Agricultural adjuvants are additives that enhance the performance of crop protection chemicals. By modifying how pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers interact with plant surfaces, adjuvants increase spray efficacy, helping the active ingredients work to their full potential. Adjuvants don’t have active properties themselves, but they can make agrochemicals more effective and reliable, especially under challenging conditions.

Types of agricultural adjuvants and their roles

Adjuvants are helpful additives that work with crop protection products, such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, to make them more effective. Adjuvants can be part of the product (built-in) or added separately before spraying (tank mix). 

The main types of adjuvants include:

Surfactants

Surfactants improve how sprays spread and stick to plant surfaces. They help the spray cover more areas evenly and are absorbed better, reducing waste. Non-ionic surfactants are the most commonly used, while cationic surfactants should be avoided as they can harm crops.

Oil-based adjuvants

Oil-based adjuvants, like crop or vegetable oils, help agricultural sprays stay on plants longer by slowing evaporation. Oil-based adjuvants make it easier for active ingredients to penetrate plant surfaces, especially when heat or wind makes spraying more challenging.

Spray modifiers

These adjuvants change the spray’s physical properties to solve specific problems:

• Buffering agents keep the spray solution at the right pH level so the chemicals work their best.
• Drift control agents help prevent spray droplets from drifting away from the target area by making the droplets larger and heavier.

Using the right type of adjuvant ensures that crop protection products work as intended, even in tough conditions, helping farmers protect their crops and boost yields.

The benefits of agricultural adjuvants

Agricultural adjuvants offer significant benefits that can enhance crop protection and improve farming efficiency:

1. Increased efficacy. Adjuvants improve the ability of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers to stick to and penetrate plant surfaces, helping active ingredients reach their target areas more effectively.
2. Better coverage and spread. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of spray droplets, ensuring even distribution across leaves and reducing product waste.
3. Enhanced penetration and absorption. Oil-based adjuvants help active ingredients penetrate the plant cuticle, improving pest control and nutrient uptake.
4. Reduced drift. Drift control agents reduce the chance of chemicals drifting away from target areas, making applications more precise and protecting non-target areas.
5. Consistency in challenging conditions. Adjuvants help sprays perform reliably, even in difficult conditions like high temperatures or low humidity, which can lead to rapid evaporation.
6. Cost savings. By enhancing chemical effectiveness, adjuvants reduce the amount of pesticide or herbicide required per application, leading to cost savings for farmers and fewer reapplications.

Choosing the right adjuvant

Selecting the right adjuvant can make a significant difference in crop health and yield. Here are some practical tips for choosing the best adjuvant for your needs:

• Read labels carefully: Both pesticide and adjuvant labels contain important information on compatibility and recommended usage.
• Consider environmental conditions: Weather and water quality, like pH and hardness, can affect adjuvant performance. Buffering agents help maintain optimal pH, while nitrogen-based fertilisers can address hard water issues.
• Use reputable brands: Trusted products, such as Gulf Agri Adjuvants, offer consistency and reliability, ensuring you get the full benefit of your investment in crop protection.

Agricultural adjuvants are essential tools for modern farming, helping to maximise the performance of crop protection chemicals, reduce costs and support sustainable agriculture. 

By understanding the types of adjuvants and selecting the right ones for specific conditions, farmers can overcome common crop protection challenges, boost yield, and promote long-term soil and environmental health. With reliable options farmers can achieve greater crop efficacy and contribute to a more resilient and productive agricultural future.

Ready to make the most of your crop protection strategy? Learn more about our crop protection solutions.