Glyphosate herbicide is one of the major weed control products that are being used in oil palm plantations and in other major crop areas in Malaysia. The total volume of glyphosate marketed in Malaysia is estimated to be about 15 million liters, which is valued arounded RM250 million a year. In glyphosate formulations, an adjuvant is usually added or incorporated to enhance the effectiveness of the products. Adjuvants can be categorized into three groups, i.e., spray modifiers, activators and utility modifiers. Spray modifiers improve the wetting and spreading properties of a spray solution by lowering its surface tension. This type of adjuvant is probably more important for non-systemic chemicals that require more complete coverage for effectiveness. An activator adjuvant enhance foliar absorption of systemic chemicals, thus, increasing their biological activity. Utility modifiers, on the other hand, are antifoam agents, co-solvents, etc.

Main Research: Dr Ismail Abd Rahman