Agrochemicals: their uses and applications

Agrochemical products are important agricultural inputs that assist farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases. It also boosts crop yields, improves soil fertility and crop quality, and protects their investment in their crop. Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, soil conditioners, algaecides, and other agrochemicals are examples.

What are agrochemicals?

Agrochemicals are a broad term that refers to a variety of chemicals designed to protect plants and crops. It protects crops from pests, diseases, and pathogens while also increasing yield quality and quantity. The agrochemicals industry contributes to agricultural progress by producing high-quality foods. We have worked on creating, manufacturing, and distributing agrochemicals (agricultural insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, insanitary insecticides, and soil fumigants). These are necessary for preserving a food supply and killing insects using pesticides and other chemicals. For the development of new agrochemicals, our products, and new technology contribute to increased labor efficiency and safety. Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, soil conditioners, algaecides, and other agrochemicals are examples.

Insecticides

Insecticides are chemicals that are used to kill, damage, repel, or control insects. Almost all pesticides have the potential to have a significant influence on ecosystems; many are toxic to humans and/or animals, and some concentrate as they rise up the food chain. Wettable powders, soluble concentrates, suspendable concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates, wettable dry granules, and soluble powders are all examples of insecticides.

• Systemic – After entering the roots, the insecticide spreads to exterior parts like as leaves, fruits, twigs, and branches. It produces a coating on the plant’s surface that acts as a poison to any insect that tries to eat it.
• Contact -Its main aim is to kill insects when used on a single target.Because they must strike the insect directly, most domestic insect sprays work like contact insecticides. Natural occurring substances (such as pyrethrum) and manufactured organic compounds are two types of contact insecticides.
• Mode of entry- Stomach poisons are especially effective against insects with biting or chewing mouth parts, such as caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers. For example, systemic toxins and Paris green (copper acetoarsenate).
• Mode of action- The mode of action distinguishes physical poisons, nerve poisons, respiratory poisons, protoplasmic poisons, general poisons, and chitin inhibitors.
• Toxicity- It is terms as follows.Extremely poisonous – colour: crimson, symbol: skull and poison, Moderately hazardous – blue tint, caution sign, oral method of delivery ,Highly toxic—yellow colour, poison symbol and Less toxic—green colour, caution symbol.

Herbicides

WEEDKILLERS are also known as herbicides. Weed controls are essential for maintaining good crop output. It suffocates crop growth by absorbing all minerals, water, and nutrients available to the plant. As well as to change or manage undesirable vegetation. The amino acid and protein synthesis of herbs and weeds are interrupted, and they are finally killed. Agroforestry to prepare logged areas for replanting, and harvesting crops in the fall. Although most herbicides are safe for animals and humans, they have no effect on the plants they target or the insects that rely on them. Weed controls are essential for maintaining good crop output. It suffocates crop growth by absorbing all minerals, water, and nutrients available to the plant. Herbicides are essential in integrated weed management systems.

Types of herbicides

• Translocated Herbicides –It have been translocated to the site of action travel through the plant’s transport mechanisms, the xylem and phloem. Symptoms on target weeds can take up to two weeks to appear, depending on herbicide rate, circumstances, and species. Consider the herbicide glyphosate.
• Contact herbicides -Due of the limited movement of contact herbicides within the plant, thorough coverage of the target is essential. Symptoms of oxyfluorfen, diquat, and bromoxynil, for example, appear quickly, usually within 24 hours.
• Selective herbicides –When administered at a precise application rate, selective herbicides will kill specific weed species while leaving the desired crop relatively unscathed.
• .Combination. Herbicide-It mixes and sequential applications combine the use of multiple herbicides, usually to broaden the range of weed species controlled but also to manage resistance.
•  Natural herbicides -Some plants, such as the genus Juglans (walnuts) or the tree of heaven, create their own natural herbicides.

Fungicides

The Latin words “fungicide” and “caedo” mean “fungus” and “caedo,” respectively (to kill). They can be used to control rusts, mould, mildews, oomycetes, blights, and other fungi that harm plants. It’s a fungicide that kills or suppresses the fungus that’s causing the problem, preventing animal disease and agricultural loss. Fungistat refers to a class of chemicals that do not kill fungal pathogens but temporarily limit fungus development, and fungistatis refers to the phenomenon. Fungicides are toxic compounds or insecticides that kill or prevent fungus and their spores from growing. Antimycotics are another name for fungicides. Fungi is a significant problem that has a negative impact on crops. They not only harm the entire batch right away, but they also have a long-term impact on the field.

Types of fungicides:

• Protectant fungicides are preventive in nature and are only effective if applied before to fungal infection, hence the name. Examples include Zineb and Sulphur.
• Therapeutant Fungicide: A chemotherapeutant is a fungicide capable of eliminating a fungus after it has caused infection and treating the plant. They affect the underlying infection and have a systemic effect. Carboxin, oxycarboxin antibiotics like Aureofungin, organic mercurials, lime sulphur, dodine, and other antifungal agents eliminate harmful fungus from an infection court. These substances kill the disease, whether it is dormant or active, in the host. They have the ability to stay active on or in the host for long periods of time.
• Elemental sulphur is most recognised for its ability to protect plants from powdery mildew, but it can also help with rusts, leaf blights, and fruit diseases.
• Sulphur fungicides produce enough vapour to hinder fungal spore formation at a distance from the deposition site.

Soil conditioners

Apart from the aforementioned, several are classified as agrochemical or agrichemical goods. Plant Growth Regulators are a type of chemical. The study of the chemical elements and compounds required for plant development, metabolism, and external supply is known as plant nutrition. Nutrients come in a range of ratios, which may or may not be appropriate for a particular crop. The active ingredients are typically viscous and have a high solid content. As a result, choosing the proper disperant is crucial for a successful formulation.

There are some other agrochemical products besides those listed above:

• Algaecides: Algaecides can lower the likelihood of nuisance algae spreading, but they rarely result in complete eradication of the algae. Algaecides, photosynthesis-blocking dyes, and macrophyte harvesting are all examples of management techniques that prevent or minimise bloom production. Mechanical macrophyte harvesting removes macrophyte biomass from a contaminated watercourse, as well as the nutrients integrated into the plant tissues. Harvesting macrophytes helps to improve canal navigation and recreational fishing opportunities. However, removing too much rooted macrophyte biomass can destabilise the sediments, causing internal phosphorus loading to increase the eutrophication situation.Copper sulphate, which is extremely soluble in water, is a frequent algaecide.

• Molluscicides: Molluscicides are used to treat schistosomiasis and are a highly specialized field. Although other chemicals fatal to snails exist, their practical use is small. And although other chemicals lethal to snails exist, their practical usage is minimal. Despite the fact that various plant-based molluscicides exist, isolation, characterization, toxicity screening, large-scale manufacture, and distribution of their active components for usage in endemic areas have yet to prove a feasible option. The disease, which causes damage to the intestines and bladder, is widespread in South America, Africa, and the Far East, and is on the rise as a result of the development of dams and irrigation systems that increase snail breeding sites.
• Rodenticides:When it comes to rodents, the term can refer to squirrels, woodchucks, beavers, and other animals. Although mice play a crucial part in nature, they can often be difficult to manage. Because rodents, people, dogs, and cats are all mammals, our bodies function similarly. When consumed by any mammal, rodenticides have the same effect.

There are several benefits associated with agrochemicals:

• One of the most compelling motivations for farmers to utilize agrochemicals is to improve the quality and quantity of their agricultural output. Selective pesticides, insecticides, soil conditioners, and other agricultural chemicals can result in brighter and larger fruits and vegetables. Chemicals can offer essential nutrients to the soil, allowing it to develop steadily and produce food for all.
• Agrochemicals can help a farmer achieve his or her goal of growing specific plant species while also eradicating weeds and other detrimental elements that deplete farming resources and reduce the quality of produce.
• Agrochemicals can assist enhance yields from dwindling agricultural farmlands, which will help meet the ever-increasing demand for food.
• Without the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, hazardous organisms would continue to thrive and adapt at an accelerated rate, posing a major threat to agricultural produce.
• Rice blast, for example, is a major threat to rice production stability.
• Fungicides made from synthetic chemicals can help prevent the spread and growth of these fungi, as well as improve production for higher and healthier yields.
• Pesticides can help to lessen the amount of manual labour required. For example, manually inspecting each plant and the entire farmland for pests, insects, and weeds and then engaging in removal is not practical without specialised expertise and a large expenditure of time and effort.
• Pesticides can reduce the amount of time and effort required to manage agricultural land and product with a small expenditure of time, money, and effort.
• Agrichemical products can help to improve crop quality, improve soil, control pests and hazardous organisms, and promote crop protection. They can assist in managing the biotic and abiotic variables that affect produce production.

How to use pesticides safely

• Read, understand, and follow all of the label requirements when combining and using pesticides.
• Double-check that the product’s label states that it can be used in the way you intend.
• Keep in mind that having more isn’t necessarily a good thing.
• Apply the product at the rate specified on the label.
• Make sure you have the correct pesticides for the job if you’re planning to use one to manage weeds.  
• Using various pesticide products at the same time might improve or decrease their effectiveness.
• It also posing a greater danger to human health and the environment

Agrochemical companies

Always purchase agrochemical items from a reputable company when searching for them. Consult a specialist for recommendations on which pesticides or other agrochemical products are most suited to your insect situation.