"Nutrastick '' is Non–Ionic, Bio-Surfactant based on biodegradable vegetable oil whereas other stickers are soap/paraffin wax base / Silicon base and are hydrophilic in nature.
93% Vegetable Oil
FEATURES
There are four categories of surfactants- anionic, cationic, nonionic & organic silicones. Among them non-ionic surfactants are best like “Nutrastick”.
Surfactants should be activator, spreader, sticker and rain fastener.
“Nutrastick” has acidic pH range 4.5 as pH of the surfactant is very important along with pH of spray fluid which plays an important role in stability and effectiveness of pesticides.
Many pesticides are broken down through a permanent and irreversible process called ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS when pH is greater than 7 . When we use acidic surfactant, it will reduce high pH of spray fluid. However, most of the surfactant we use are alkaline in nature as pH of those stickers is more than 7 and they are not penetrants.
Thus “Nutrastick” (6 in 1) Vegetable Oil, non-ionic, USA formulation reduces evaporation loss and maximizes pesticide performance.
BENEFITS
It is compatible with most of Pesticide, Herbicide, Insecticide, Growth regulator & Defoliants.
Oil based stickers evaporation rate is very slow. It also has good rain fastness.
It is a sticker cum adjuvant with a pH of 3.8-5.6 (acidic range). Since it is in the acidic range it will not undergo alkaline hydrolysis hence it will help pesticides to retain and penetrate more.
This acts as a Humectant, which can resist the drying time of spray droplet even after the aqueous solution has evaporated. So very effective for all contact pesticides/acaricides.
Longer retention on leaves as it is a blend of oil & surfactant which makes it a better penetrant & slowing the rate of drying means more time for absorption.
Vegetable oils fall in the category of penetrants as they can improve cuticular penetration by softening, dissolving cuticular waxes also allowing herbicides to penetrate in hydrophilic regions underneath.
It falls in the 7- 9 range of neutral moles, so good for systemic insecticide. Since it is already in the range of 1-7 it is automatically suitable for contact insecticide. So, it will spread and penetrate on the leaf.