Bayer recommends IntraCrop’s water conditioner with FLiPPER

Align, the non-acidifying water conditioner from IntraCrop, has been supported for use with FLiPPER, the biological insecticide from Bayer Crop Science containing fatty acids C7-C14.

FLiPPER is a highly effective contact-only insecticide for foliar application and product trials have shown that water quality is important to its performance. Where high levels of metallic ions (commonly Ca or Mg >300ppm) are present, flocculation, precipitation or separation may occur, impairing performance. This can be avoided using a non-acidifying water conditioner such as Align.

Many water conditioners are unsuitable for use with FLiPPER as they lower the pH of the water. This may be advantageous with herbicides, but in the case of FLiPPER it would further impair product solubility. Having evaluated a range of commercially available water conditioners, Bayer has advised farmers in hard water areas that the non-acidifying water conditioner Align is effective at restoring the efficacy of FLiPPER similar to that experienced with soft water.

Jack Hill, Horticulture Commercial Manager from Bayer encourages agronomists and growers to test for water hardness before using FLiPPER. “As with almost all plant protection products performance is optimised when mixed with rainwater or other soft water with a water hardness of no more than 300 parts per million. Where testing identifies hard water, such as is the case across much of the East of England, full solubility can be ensured by adding Align at 0.1% by volume per 100 parts per million to soften the water to below 300ppm.”

Align contains a complex of multidentate chelating agents which sequester the cations in hard water rather than displacing them. This enables it to soften hard water without reducing the pH.

Dr Mark Palmer, commercial director for IntraCrop, said: “Because FLiPPER contains unsaturated carboxylic fatty acids and potassium salts, the metallic ions contained in hard water can displace the potassium, reducing the product’s solubility. This reduces the stability of the spray solution, resulting in flocculation and high levels of deposit. Align’s mode of action is to sequester the metal ions in hard water, preventing them from displacing the potassium. This is a great example of IntraCrop’s science-led approach working in partnership with a leading manufacturer to maximise efficacy for growers.”

6th July 2020