Most spray solutions are more than 95 percent water, yet water quality is rarely considered when herbicide performance comes up short. The pH of that water and the minerals dissolved in it can directly influence how well an herbicide works once it is sprayed. Certain dissolved cations, such as calcium, magnesium and iron, can tie up herbicides, and alkaline water can reduce how readily some products move into plant leaves. The good news is that those issues are manageable with simple water testing and the use of water conditioners or pH-buffering adjuvants.
Improve waterhemp control
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When most of the spray tank is water, ensuring that water quality supports rather than hinders herbicide performance can be a simple but impactful step for improving weed control.
Figure 1 shows the effects of including a pH-adjusting adjuvant on A) waterhemp control and B) waterhemp density and dry biomass.
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