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February 18, 2013

TheImpactofWaterQuality
onPesticidePerformance:
TheLittle FactorthatMakes
aBig Difference
BillRiden andKerryRichards
PennStatePesticideEducationProgram
extension.psu.edu/pested

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February 18, 2013

FactorsthatInfluenceProduct
Performance

ProductSelection
Labelinstructions
EquipmentCalibration
ApplicationTiming

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February 18, 2013

WeAlsoLearnfrom:

TrialandError
UniversityRecommendations
IndustryRecommendations
OtherApplicators

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February 18, 2013

WhatabouttheQualityoftheWater
UsedtoSprayPesticides?
Over95%ofthespraysolutioniswater!
FACT: Researchclearlyshowsthatthequality
ofwaterusedforsprayingcanaffectpesticide
performance!

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February 18, 2013

WhyisthisSeldomNoticed?
Waterisviewedasarelativelycleaninput.
Concise,easytoreadinformationonwater
qualityandtheeffectsonpesticide
performanceisscarce.

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February 18, 2013

WhatKindsofProblemsCan
PoorWaterQualityCause?

Interactwithproduct
Reducesolubilityofpesticide
Decreaseabsorptionbytargetpest
Theseperformanceissuesmaynotbe
obvious!Wetendtoblameotherfactors!

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February 18, 2013

CheckingWaterpHisImportant!
AnoverviewofwaterpH
Testingmethods
OptionstoimprovethepHofwater

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February 18, 2013

AcidicorAlkaline?
ThepHvaluedescribestheacidity
(concentrationofhydrogenions)oralkalinity
ofanysolution.

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February 18, 2013

ThepHScale
Acidic

Neutral

Basic

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pH=0
pH=1
pH=2
pH=3
pH=4
pH=5
pH=6
pH=7
pH=8
pH=9
pH=10
pH=11
pH=12
pH=13
pH=14

Batteryacid

Orangejuice
Bananas
Purewater
Bakingsoda

Soapywater
Liquiddraincleaner

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February 18, 2013

pHValue
Mostherbicides,insecticides,andfungicides
performbestinslightlyacidicwater.
ApHof4to6.5

However,somepesticides,suchas
sulfonylureaherbicidesperformbetterin
waterthatisslightlyalkaline.
ApHabove7
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pHRule
WhenwaterpHfallsoutsideofthepreferred
upperandlowerboundaries,product
performancecanbecompromised.
Insomecases,thepesticidewillprecipitate
outofsolution.

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pHRule
pHcaninfluencehowlongapesticideproduct
remainsactive.
TheeffectofpHusuallyproceedsfasterasthe
temperatureofthewaterincreases.

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February 18, 2013

WhatDoesHalfLifeMean?
Theamountoftimeforonehalfofthe
substancetobreakdown.
Example:

1 to1/2 to
100%

50%

1 /4

25%

to1/8 to1/16
12.5%

6.25%

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February 18, 2013

WhatDoesHalfLifeMean?
Theamountoftimeforonehalfofthe
substancetobreakdown.
Example:Thiophanate FungicidehasaHalflifeof1
hour(pHof7)
Atapplication
=
100%
1hourlater =
50%
2hourslater =
25%
3hourslater =
12.5%
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EffectofpHonPesticides
Anotherexample:Flumioxazin Herbicide:
AspHvaries,sodoestheHalflife:
pH5=Stable
pH7=Halflifeof24hours
pH9=Halflifeof15minutes

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EffectofpHonPesticides
Common/
TradeName

Halflifewith Halflifewith Halflifewith

pH5

pH7

pH>8

Carbaryl /Sevin

didnotfinddata

Chlorothalonil /Bravo

Stable
63days
13days*
96days
80hours
32hours

24days
Stable
35days
12hours

1day
Stable
1.5days
4hours
24days

Chlorpyrifos /Lorsban
Phosmet /Imidan
Simazine /Princep
Thiophanate /Topsin
Captan /Othocide
*AtpH4.5

Decreases

1hour
8hours

Decreases

10minutes

pHhalflifedatasourcesarelistedatendofpresentation.

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EffectofpHonPesticides
SelectedHalflifeofCommonPesticides
Captan /Orthocide
Dimethoate /Cygon
Phosmet /Imidan
Endosulfan /Thiodan
Malathion /Cythion

pH92minutes
pH9
1hour?
pH101minute
pH89 Unstable?(12hours)
pH89 5hours?(nodata)

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February 18, 2013

HowtoCombatAlkalineHydrolysis
Knowyourpesticideproducts
KnowthepHofyourwatersource
Testregularly

Useacommercialbufferingagent

BufferX
Buffer
SprayAide
Buffercide

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GeneralRule
ThepHalsocanchangethechemicalcharge
ofapesticidemolecule,limitingitsabilityto
penetratetheleafcuticleandreachthesite
action,hencereducingitsefficacy.

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AlkalineHydrolysis
Achemicalreactionthatoccurswhensome
pesticidesinthepresenceofalkalinewater
(pHof7orabove)degradeorlosetheir
effectiveness.
ForeverypHpointincrease,therateof
hydrolysiswillincrease10X.

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GeneralRule
Checkthelabelforanyrecommendationsin
regardstotheadditionofwaterconditioners,
additives,oradjuvants.
NOTE:Thepesticidelabelmayormaynotspecify
theneedforadditives!

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February 18, 2013

TestingYourWater
Useaprofessionallab:
TestforIron,pH,andhardness?
Whatisthecost?
Howmuchwatertotest?
Anyspecialguidelinesorcontainersforcollecting
andtransportingthewatersamples?

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TestingYourWater
DoItYourselfTestKits:
Readilyavailable
Reasonablepriced
Easytouseandinterpret
Reliable

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TestingYourWater
TestMeters:
Quick
Reliable

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February 18, 2013

AnyQuestions?

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Useofthispresentationorpartsofthispresentationis
encouragedaslongasthesecreditslidesareincluded.
OverallReference:
FredWhitford,PurduePesticidePrograms.TheImpactofWaterQualityon
PesticidePerformance:TheLittleFactorthatMakesaBigDifference.
November2009.(http://www.ppp.purdue.edu/Pubs/PPP86.pdf)
pHHalflifeDataSources:
HowardM.DeerandRichardBeard,UtahStateUniversity.EffectofWater
pHontheChemicalStabilityofPesticides. July2001.
(http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/AG_Pesticides_14.pdf)

F.M.Fishel andJ.A.Ferrell,UniversityofFlorida.WaterpHandthe
EffectivenessofPesticides. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi193)

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Useofthispresentationorpartsofthispresentationis
encouragedaslongasthesecreditslidesareincluded.
pHHalflifeDataSources(continued):
GraemeMurphy,OntarioMinistryofAgriculture,Food,andRuralAffairs.
WaterpHanditsEffectonPesticides. September2004.
(http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/news/grower/2004/08gn04a1.htm)

JohnRinehold andJeffreyJenkins.SpraytankAdjuvants sectioninthe2012

PacificNorthwestInsectManagementHandbook.
(http://insects.ippc.orst.edu/pnw/insects?31ADJV11.dat)

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Thispresentationwascreatedinpartnershipwiththe
PesticideEducationProgram,PennStateCooperativeExtension;
andthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofAgriculture.
Formoreinformationonthisandotherresources,pleasevisit

extension.psu.edu/pested

Wheretradenamesappear,nodiscriminationisintended,andnoendorsementbyPennStateCooperativeExtensionisimplied.
PennStateiscommittedtoaffirmativeaction,equalopportunity,andthediversityofitsworkforce.
ThePennsylvaniaStateUniversity2012

November2012

Pesticide Education Program

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