Adjuvants

Substance or preparation with no notable biological action but capable of modifying the physical, chemical or biological properties of agrochemicals products when added to a mixture at the moment of preparation.

Tank mix

A mixture, usually with water, of an agrochemical for application by spraying, irrigation or soaking.

Target

The object to be sprayed (part of the plant, soil, insect, weed...)

Drift

The act of running off or speading in another direction other than that which was intended.

Hardness of water

The concentration of cations e.g., Calcium, Magnesium etc in the water.

Co-formulant

A substance or preparation with no particular biological activity of its own, included in a agrochemical product at its formulation in order to confer certain qualities on the formulation e.g. emulsifier or solvent in an EC formulationt.

Droplet size

The size of the droplets and their distribution.

Hydrophilic

A chemical substance with an affinity to water.

Hydrophobic

A chemical substance with affinity to oil.

Hydrophiles, from the Greek (hydros) "water" and φιλια (philia) "friendship

Lipophilic

A chemical substance with an affinity to fats.

Greek hydro - and for fear phobos)

Lipophobic

A chemical substance which does not “like” oils / fats.

Surface tension

Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid. It is what causes the surface portion of liquid to be attracted to another surface, such as that of another portion of liquid (as in connecting bits of water or as in a drop of mercury that forms a cohesive ball).

Surface tension is caused by cohesion (the attraction of molecules to like molecules). Since the molecules on the surface of the liquid are not surrounded by like molecules on all sides, they are more attracted to their neighbours on the surface.

VMD

Diameter of the median volume of spray droplets. It is normally expressed in microns. This criteria indicates that 50% of the volume is sprayed in the form of droplets of a smaller size than that value.

Systemic

Describes an agrochemical that, following absorption by the target is capable, having penetrated into the plant, to move within the plant.

Translaminary

Describes a substance that is capable of penetrating a plant and to diffuse through several layers of cells of the same organ.