How to Prepare a Tank Mix Correctly: Step-by-Step Algorithm

• Water must be clean and soft (no more than 3.5–4 mmol), free of suspensions, silt or foreign impurities. Using silty water causes the active substances to precipitate and reduces efficacy.

• Temperature: The minimum water temperature for preparing the solution should be 14 to 16°C. If cold water from artesian wells or reservoirs (below 14°C) is used, the solubility of the products drops sharply and treatment efficacy falls by 30% or more. Such water should be left to warm up for at least 12 hours before the mix is prepared.

• pH and hardness: It is best to use neutral or slightly acidic water. Hard water must be tested: dissolve a small amount of the pesticide and shake vigorously. Foam or sediment confirms a hardness reaction — such water must be acidified with special adjuvants or citric acid.

• Main rule: it is advisable to dissolve each component separately as a stock solution and add it under constant agitation.

Strict order of addition by formulation:

1. 1Water-soluble bags (WSB) — added first, because the polymer film must dissolve in the water (this takes about 2 minutes at normal temperature).
2. 2Water-soluble granules (SG).
3. 3Wettable powders (WP).
4. 4Water-dispersible granules (WG).
5. 5Suspension concentrates (SC).
6. 6Emulsifiable concentrates (EC).
7. 7Soluble concentrates (SL).
8. 8Aqueous solutions (AS).
9. 9Surfactants, adjuvants and wetting agents — added last!

Preparation technique for individual formulations:

• Solid formulations (WP, WG): Prepare a stock solution in a separate container of 10–15 litres (fill 1/3 with water, add the product, stir, top up with 2/3 water and stir again). Fill the sprayer tank 1/2 with water, add the stock solution, stir and top up with water to the full volume. Do not stop agitation during application.

• Liquid formulations (SC, EC, AS): Add the measured product to a clean tank filled to 1/2 of its volume with water, stir thoroughly, top up with water to the full tank and keep agitating during operation.

• Seed treatments: Fill the machine tank 1/3 with water, add the seed treatment, stir for 3–5 minutes until a uniform suspension forms, top up with water to the full tank and stir for another 3–5 minutes.

• In complex tank mixes, fertilizers are usually added at the very end, although adding them at the beginning or in the middle is also acceptable.

• ECOORGANIC chelates: No mixing problems between the company's chelated fertilizers and crop protection products have been found.

• Acidic micronutrients (pH < 6.5) (e.g. GROS Phosphito-NP, ECOLINE Phosphite (K)): They reduce the need for water conditioners and can be added at the beginning. Applying phosphite products at 1–2 l/ha lowers the overall pH of the solution by 0.5–1.5 units.

• Alkaline micronutrients (pH > 7.5) (e.g. ECOLINE Boron (Organic), ECOLINE Boron (Premium)): At doses above 0.5 l/ha, check the pH requirements of the crop protection product. If necessary, use acidifiers (citric acid, ammonium sulphate), and add the boron itself last.

• If the crop protection product requires a specific pH (e.g. 5.0): First add the micronutrients, set the required pH with acidity regulators, and only then add the crop protection product.

• Urea: It dissolves slowly and lowers pH by 0.2–0.5 units, so it can be added at the beginning of preparation.

• Applying UAN with micronutrients: Dissolve the micronutrients in water first, and then add them to the UAN solution. To avoid leaf burn, UAN treatment is best carried out after 15:00, diluting it with water at a ratio of 1:3 or more. Do not feed with UAN after rain or on wet dew.

• Preparing growth regulators: Because of the small doses, stock solutions must be prepared in glass or enamel containers on the day of use.

• Weather: Optimal temperature is 12 to 24°C, relative humidity above 60%, wind speed no more than 2–3 m/s (at higher speeds more than 20% of efficacy is lost).

• Time of treatment: Spray in the morning (after the dew has dried) or in the evening. Rain within 2 hours after treatment reduces its efficacy by 40–50%.

• Jar test: If there is no compatibility data, mix proportional rates of the products in 3-litre jars or beakers, invert 10–15 times and check immediately and after 30 minutes. Separation, foam, sediment or flakes indicate incompatibility. It is advisable to test any new mix twice on small areas of the field.

• One-hour check: The stability of a complex tank mix (in a small quantity) must be checked at least 1 hour before field use.

• Shelf life: Use the finished tank mix immediately, because its components may break down within a few hours.

• Sprayer requirements: Do not use outdated sprayers with copper parts that are subject to corrosion. After work, pour out the remaining solution in a designated place and rinse all parts of the equipment thoroughly.