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Combination Product Overview
The manufacturing process for combination product fertilizers, also know as sparging or impregnation; is a complicated process to ensure the integrity of the product.
"At AgChimp, we select specific blending partners to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality combination products possible with crop quality as our driving factor" - Brian Buchanan, President & CEO
Most of the technical products used to create combination products start in the form of liquids or powder formulations. Depending on the product quality desired, these products can be "adhered" to the fertilizer in three primary ways.
"Hot Melt" Applied
For technical products applied through the "hot melt" process, the desired fertilizer formula is placed into a blender. The active ingredient is placed into a furnace along with other various components. The technical ingredient is heated to a pre-determined temperature to create the molten active ingredient. It is then applied through nozzles contained within the blender. The blender rotates for a specific amount of time to ensure uniform coating of the fertilizer.
Fertilizers sparged using the "hot melt" process provide the highest quality product. For certain products such as oxadiazon, the "hot melt" process should be the only accepted method of applying the oxadiazon + fertilizer product.
Liquid Applied
For liquid applied technical products, the desired fertilizer formula is placed into a blender. The liquid is then applied through nozzles contained within the blender. The blender must rotate for a specific amount of time to ensure uniform coating of the fertilizer. To ensure the product quality, these times and formulas are pre-determined by the manufacturer of the technical active ingredient.
The end-result is significantly impacted by the care taken in the application process. Formulators must take great care in ensuring that the appropriate drying agents are added to the mix to create a uniform "dust-free" product.
Powder Applied
For powder applied technical products, the desired fertilizer formula is placed into a blender. The powder is then added to the blender through "powder feeders". Addition of solvents and tacking agents are added to the batch. The blender then rotates for a specific amount of time to ensure uniform coating of the fertilizer. To ensure the product quality, these times and formulas are pre-determined by the manufacturer of the technical active ingredient.
The end-result is significantly impacted by the care taken in the application process. Formulators must take great care in ensuring that the appropriate tacking agents and solvents are added to the mix to create a uniform "dust-free" product.
Herbicides
Dinitroaniline Pre-emergent Herbicides (DNA's)
Dinitroaniline pre-emergent herbicides have a mode of action (MOA) that inhibits root growth. Weeds and shoots can absorb these herbicides, but the main effect is the inhibition of normal root development, often resulting in "clubbed tips." Without a functional root system, overall weed growth is halted, and the seedling dies. DNA pre-emergent herbicides when impregnated on fertilizers are yellow in color. DNA pre-emergent herbicides are prone to staining of hardscaped surfaces.
Oxadiazole Pre-emergent Herbicides
Oxadiazole pre-emergent herbicides inhibits plant enzyme protoporphyrinogen "protox" oxidase. Weeds and shoots can absorb these herbicides, and this inhibition hinders the usual developmental functions of the plant and breaks down tissues. Oxadizole pre-emergent herbicides when impregnated on fertilizers are clear in color, therfore are less prone to staining of hardscaped surfaces. Oxadiazole's will not hinder turf root growth or recovery, which makes it ideal for application in sod farms either on established turf or at vegetative planting (sprigging/plugging).
Pyridine Pre-emergent Herbicides
Pyridine pre-emergent herbicides act as a root growth inhibitor thus causing the cessation of root elongation. Pyridines also inhibit normal cell division in susceptible plants. Weeds and shoots can absorb these herbicides, and this inhibition hinders the usual developmental functions of the plant.
Insecticides
Bifenthrin
Bifenthrin has become an industry standard over the last 25 years – it has stood the test of time with a broad label and dependable efficacy. Bifenthrin insecticide achieves control of over 75 pests, including ants,armyworms and other surface feeding insects. Most bifenthrin formulations are water based, so it's non-irritating and contains no odorous or plant-damaging solvents. It leaves no unsightly residues and causes no phytotoxicity
Chlorantraniliprole
Acelepryn is a class of active ingredient found to have a lower toxicity and environmental impact than that of organophosphates, neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids used for the same purpose. Recognized by the EPA as a reduced risk pesticide, Acelepryn will control both surface and sub-surface feeding insects by attacking the muscles of the target pest resulting in paralysis and death. When applied early in the season, Acelepryn will outlast imidacloprid applications made at the same time.
Imidicloprid
Imidicloprid is an insecticide that provides the longest-lasting grub control at exceptionally low use rates. Imidiacloprid gives outstanding residual control of numerous turfgrass pests by interfering with nerve impulses and disrupts insect behavior. Pests stop feeding, stop reproducing and eventually die. Imidacloprid is a great insecticide for the prevention of white grubs on sod farms!
