The Right Nozzle Makes Every Drop Count

Our goal is to ensure that Syngenta chemistry is applied in the most effective way to maximize efficacy, which leads to higher yield potential and profit potential for growers.

Syngenta researchers fine-tune formulations to meet these challenges. This might mean adding a nonionic surfactant to change the surface tension of a liquid so the droplets don’t bounce off the plant and hit the soil.

For instance, coverage is essential when the goal is weed control. “If you’re spraying small, upright, grass-like weeds, our formulations will stick to the target,” says Mark Ledson, Ph.D., group leader of the lead application technology group in formulation development at Syngenta.

Syngenta works closely with equipment manufacturers to optimize spray nozzles’ effectiveness. “While there haven’t been a lot of new active ingredients coming along, there’s a lot of research going on with nozzles,” Ledson says.

Among the successes over the last 25-plus years of working with equipment manufacturers, Syngenta helped develop the Hypro GuardianAIR with a 10-degree angle for increased spray coverage. The success of the GuardianAIR spurred the creation of the 3D nozzle, whose 40-degree angle outperforms flat-fan nozzles for preemerge weed control.

“Our goal is to ensure that Syngenta chemistry is applied in the most effective way to maximize efficacy, which leads to higher yield potential and profit potential for growers,” Ledson says.