Key Takeaways:
- Breakthrough in Agricultural Products: Attune Agriculture announces significant performance improvements when Ampersand adjuvant is paired with soil-applied insecticides and fungicides.
- Research Findings: New studies reveal that Ampersand significantly increases control over pests and diseases when used in soil applications, expanding its recommended use beyond foliar applications.
- Trial Results: Trials show up to 300% increased control of whiteflies with Ampersand and up to 83.7% reduction in disease severity for Phytophthora in peppers.
- Soil Application Efficiency: Ampersand extends the presence of applications in the root zone, enhancing the absorption and efficacy of active ingredients.
- Industry Feedback: Grower observations of improved control and yields with Ampersand led to third-party research validation.
Expanding Ampersand’s Applications
Attune Agriculture, a leader in agricultural innovation using hydrocolloid technology, has shared groundbreaking research on the Ampersand adjuvant, demonstrating its significant performance enhancements in foliar and now in soil applications. This revelation broadens the scope of Ampersand’s functionality, previously known for its efficacy in foliar applications, to include soil applications, offering a promising new tool for growers.
Groundbreaking Trial Outcomes
In trials of RD4AG in Yuma, AZ, adding Ampersand to Safari® insecticide for Silverleaf Whitefly control on melons showed remarkable improvements. Without Ampersand, Safari achieved less than 20% nymph reduction. However, incorporating Ampersand at a low use rate of 0.0625% achieved over 60% control, and a higher use rate of 0.5% reached 75% control. This demonstrates a potential threefold increase in efficacy over the insecticide used alone.
Similarly, a soil fungicide trial at Crop Inspection Services in Valley Center, CA, assessed the effectiveness of Segway O® fungicide on Phytophthora in peppers. The untreated plants had a near-total severity rating of 9.8, while Segway O alone reduced disease severity by 45.9% to a rating of 5.3. Including Ampersand at 0.25% reduced disease severity to 1.6, marking an 83.7% reduction. This suggests that Ampersand could significantly lower the need for subsequent fungicide applications, thereby reducing costs and labor for growers.
The Mechanism Behind the Success
Ampersand’s efficacy in soil applications is attributed to its ability to retain the active ingredients and water in the root zone for extended periods. This extended presence allows for more excellent absorption of the actives into the plant, enhancing overall effectiveness against pests and diseases.
Leadership Commentary
Dr. Ed Quattlebaum, Director of Product Development at Attune Agriculture, expressed gratitude towards the growers whose observations prompted the rigorous testing of Ampersand in soil applications. The feedback from growers, noting more effective control and higher yields when using Ampersand with soil-applied pesticides, led to third-party trials that confirmed the adjuvant’s significant impact. “The increase in efficacy was unexpected and massive,” stated Quattlebaum, highlighting the substantial benefits of integrating Ampersand into pest and disease management strategies.
