Oil Dispersion Formulations: Stability Assessment and Field Trials

In the search for new agrochemicals with safe and improved agronomic efficacy in the field, oil dispersion (OD) formulations have been investigated intensively because they are expected to have a better performance on crops than ordinary formulations. This is because the oils and surfactants within the formulation play the role of adjuvants. Therefore, an OD formulation may show a better biological efficacy, making the addition of tank mix adjuvant (regularly used in association with systemic pesticides) optional. The main goal of this work was to develop a new insecticide OD formulation with active ingredients that would be produced as a suspoemulsion (SE), resulting in a better and easier way of formulating a commercial product. These formulations were developed with new surfactants and dispersants and were stabilized using different rheology modifiers, showing appropriate results in stability tests. Rheological assessments were also performed in order to understand system microstructure. The new insecticides' OD formulations also exhibited excellent performance in physical-chemical lab tests and were subjected to field trials with cotton crops at Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brazil, during the 2012-2013 season. The target insect evaluated in this study was the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which is primarily responsible for damage to Brazilian cotton. The results from using the new OD formulations showed an improved performance when compared to tank mixtures of the same insecticides. Dispersants and rheology modifiers used in this development are promising tools for future OD formulation technology. primarily responsible for damage to Brazilian cotton. The results from using the new OD formulations showed an improved performance when compared to tank mixtures of the same insecticides. Dispersants and rheology modifiers used in this development are promising tools for future OD formulation technology.