The water you mix with affects results more than you think
Alkaline or hard water makes some product groups lose their effect before they even leave the tank, with nothing you can see.
About 3 min read
In this article
Most farmers use whatever water is near the field, whether pond water, canal water or village tap water, without thinking it has any effect. But the properties of water clearly affect many groups of chemicals.
Water pH
- Many groups of insecticides break down much faster in alkaline water. This process starts as soon as they are mixed into the tank; it does not wait until the next day. In very alkaline water, some products lose much of their effect before they are even sprayed.
What you see is "it was sprayed but did not work", which is often taken to mean the insects are resistant, leading to higher rates or a change of product, when the real cause is the water.
Hard water
- Water high in calcium and magnesium, common in groundwater in some areas, makes some herbicides bind with the minerals in the water so the plants absorb less. The result is that more is needed to get the same effect.
Sediment and dirt
- Muddy water with suspended soil makes some products bind to soil particles instead of working, and sediment is also the number one cause of blocked nozzles. This affects drone spraying especially, because drone nozzles have smaller openings than ordinary sprayers.
What you can do
- Always filter water before it goes into the tank, at the very least through a filter cloth or fine mesh. This takes a few minutes and prevents almost all nozzle problems.
Test the pH of the water source you use regularly at least once. Paper test kits are inexpensive and easy to use. Knowing the value once gives you a reference for a long time, because the same water source usually stays at a similar value.
Spray as soon as possible after mixing; do not leave it standing. The longer it stands, the more time the product has to break down in the water.
If the water in your area clearly has problems, there are water conditioners made specifically for this. But the choice of product and rate must be based on the real water values and the products being mixed, so consult our staff first rather than adding whatever someone else tells you. Important note This article explains general safety principles. It is not a recommendation to use any particular chemical. Mixing rates, the crops a product may be used on and the waiting periods required differ by product and change with government notifications. Always treat the product label as the authority, and consult an agricultural specialist or our staff before deciding to use it.
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