Как подготовить воду для опрыскивания | Проект #ИдеальноеОпрыскивание

Rainwater or meltwater is considered the standard for purity. But even this isn't always ideal for spraying: some pesticides and micronutrients require a neutral pH, others work better in an acidic environment, and still others in an alkaline environment. "Every self-respecting pesticide manufacturer should indicate on the packaging the pH range within which the product will work well," says Roman Tkach, an expert at Spraytec. "We pay attention to this because an acidic or alkaline environment can significantly reduce the shelf life of the product. For example, an active ingredient like cypermethrin has a very short lifespan in an alkaline environment—its half-life is 10-30 minutes. Imagine: an agronomist fills a tank and goes out for lunch—by that time, half the active ingredient has already decomposed, and the insecticide's effectiveness will be at least halved... So, if we're talking about average water acidity, then for pesticides or tank mixes, I recommend aiming for a pH of 5.5-6.5. However, the agricultural practice of acidifying water to the required levels has already become firmly established on farms. However, only the most advanced companies are currently addressing water hardness. "The water we take from wells or surface sources passes through natural filters and becomes enriched with ions of various alkaline earth metals," explains a Spraytec representative. "Most often, these are calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron. Dissolved metal salts also affect the shelf life of pesticides. When combined with the product molecules, the metal ions form a rather bulky molecule, which partially loses its properties. What do farmers do in this case? Correctly, they increase the pesticide dosage, not realizing that part of the product will be used to neutralize the minerals dissolved in the water. "We strongly recommend that farms acquire a device such as a TDS meter: it will show the total mineral content of the water," says Roman Tkach. There are several methods for assessing water hardness, but we use the ppm scale. Water hardness and acidity should be tested several times during the season, especially if you're using open water sources: rain, floods, and drought can significantly alter the readings. What should you do if your water hardness and acidity are far from ideal? Typically, there are two options: either install water purification on your farm (for example, using reverse osmosis systems) or improve water quality with chemicals. In an effort to save money, some farmers use phosphoric or citric acid. These substances do change the acidity of the water, but they don't affect the total mineral content. Therefore, it's better to use high-quality conditioners that can not only adjust the pH of the water but also inhibit alkaline earth metal salts. There aren't many such products on the market, but our Fultek is one of them. It gently acidifies the water, neutralizes metals, and suppresses foam. A Spraytec expert suggested that using a water conditioner should not be pitted against using a reverse osmosis system. Firstly, this type of water purification can be logistically challenging for a farm. Secondly, the issue of waste disposal after water purification remains unresolved. Finally, a reverse osmosis system will ultimately yield simply clean water, and adhesives, spreaders, and so on will still be required to improve the properties of the working solution. "So, if we're talking about ease of use, adjuvants will still win out," jokes Roman Tkach. "Perhaps this is why the adjuvant market is growing faster than the market for water purification systems. So, reverse osmosis is a good solution, but, unlike a complex adjuvant, it's not a complete solution."