The key to a rich harvest is the robust health of garden crops and favourable weather during flowering and fruiting. While gardeners cannot influence the weather, it is their sacred duty to maintain the health of plants, protect them from diseases and pests, and strengthen them with fertilisers.
The vast number of harmful insects and phytopathogens forces gardeners to treat their crops several times per season, as not every product is capable of dealing with a wide range of pests. To reduce the number of treatments, so-called tank mixtures were invented. These are multi-component working solutions that are prepared directly in the spray tank.
But mixing these solutions is a science akin to alchemy. You need to know many nuances and take into account the interaction of chemicals so that the solution works as intended and does not harm the plants. In this article, we will look at which products can be used to make mixtures and how to mix them correctly.
Rules for the compatibility of drugs
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When preparing tank mixtures, it is essential to consider the conditions of application of each active ingredient – they should be similar. For example, avermectin-based products yield the best results at temperatures of 26-28°C, whereas in cool weather (below 18°C), their effectiveness decreases. Sulphur preparations (e.g., Thiovit Jet and colloidal sulphur) work under approximately the same conditions.
If you prefer to use biological products containing live microorganisms in your garden, remember that biological products should not be mixed with chemical products (the beneficial bacteria will die before they can do their job). However, it is possible and necessary to combine biofungicides with fertilisers and stimulants, for example.
There are several basic rules for the compatibility of preparations that must be taken into account when preparing tank mixtures.
- Acidic and alkaline solutions must not be mixed.
- Substances with an alkaline reaction must not be added to organophosphorus compounds.
- Boron-based preparations must not be mixed with lime and oily liquids.
- Sulphur preparations are also incompatible with oil emulsions (they can be used 15 days before or after treating plants with oils).
- Calcium must not be mixed with solutions containing phosphorus and sulphur, and magnesium and iron must not be combined with calcium solutions.
- It is not recommended to combine several growth stimulants in one solution, as this may have the opposite (inhibitory) effect.
Even though many pesticides already contain special surfactants that keep the solution on the leaf surface, it is recommended to add an adhesive to tank mixtures for better effectiveness. Unlike ‘folk’ decoctions and infusions, where laundry soap is rubbed in for this purpose, detergents, baby gel, or shampoo with neutral acidity are more suitable for tank mixtures.
How to prepare the tank mixture
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Once you have selected the appropriate products for mixing, it is essential to prepare the solution correctly by adding the components in a specific order. First, dilute each pesticide separately in a small amount of water (it is most convenient to calculate the concentration per 1 litre of water).
Then fill a 10-litre bucket halfway with water (5 litres), add the first prepared solution, and mix thoroughly. Next, pour in the next preparation in a thin stream and mix again. Repeat the procedure with all components, and finally add water to bring the volume up to 10 litres.
Important!
Mixing any compounds (pesticides, fertilisers, or stimulants) is only permitted in enamel or plastic containers. Mother solutions may be prepared in glass containers.
The correct sequence for adding components to the mixture:
- water-soluble powder preparations;
- liquid agents and emulsions soluble in water;
- solutions of growth stimulants and biofungicides.
If you are unsure about the compatibility of the preparations, a preliminary test should be carried out before mixing them. The test procedure could be as follows:
- prepare each preparation separately according to the instructions, using a small amount of water (ideally 1 litre);
- measure out equal portions of each solution and mix them in a transparent container (it is recommended to use a large glass jar);
- observe the mixture for 30 minutes.
The preparations are considered compatible if, when mixed, no flakes or granules precipitate, there is no foam or bubbles, the temperature of the solution does not rise, and the colour is uniform. The mixture may be coloured or cloudy, but its structure must be uniform.
Please note!
If, after settling, slight separation is observed, but when mixed, the solution becomes homogeneous again, such preparations are considered conditionally compatible. In this case, it will be necessary to shake or stir the finished mixture periodically.
Sometimes gardeners, in an attempt to get rid of all gnawing, sucking, and buzzing pests, combine several insecticides in a tank mixture. When preparing such a mixture, use half the dosage specified in the instructions for use for each component. When combined, the substances enhance each other's action, and the mixture can become highly toxic.
Recipes for tank mixtures for treating the garden in spring
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For treating fruit trees in early spring, before bud break, a tank mixture consisting of copper oxychloride and Fufanon-Nova is suitable. The copper-containing fungicide helps protect the garden from most infectious diseases and neutralises pathogens that may have survived from the previous season in the soil or tree bark. The insecticide will destroy overwintered pests and their larvae. And since there are no leaves at this time, there is no point in adding a stimulant.
Note!
Some experts believe that mixing tank mixtures at this stage is not advisable and recommend treating diseases (e.g., with Bordeaux mixture) and pests (Prophylactin) separately, with an interval of at least 3-4 days.
To treat the garden during the ‘pink bud’ phase, experienced gardeners use a tank mixture of Aktara (a systemic insecticide against a complex of pests), Horus (a fungicide that works against scab, moniliosis, coccomycosis, and kleasterosporiosis), and any adaptogen (Epin-Extra, Ecosil). Liquid soap or Liposam can be added as an adhesive.
Fufanon-Nova, which can replace Aktara in this mixture, will also help protect stone fruits from cherry flies and get rid of aphids and mites. And if the weather is hot (above 20-22°C), then Horus, which works well in cool conditions, is best replaced with Skor or Rayok.
Photo: shutterstock.com / Ground Picture
The emergence of young leaves on trees and shrubs, on the one hand, limits the choice of pesticides (it is better to use biological products during this period), and on the other hand, makes it possible not only to protect plants from diseases, but also to carry out full-fledged foliar feeding.
Important!
The third component of the tank mixture can be a complex fertiliser suitable for foliar application. Instead of a stimulant (or together with it), you can add a liquid organo-mineral fertiliser or any chelate complex (Aquamix, Kristalon, Ferovit) to the mixture.
The tank mixture for treatment may look like this: biological insecticide Fitoverm + fungicide Previkur Energy + Kristalon + stimulant Immunocytophyte. The same Liposam can be used as an adhesive.
How to use tank mixtures
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When working with tank mixtures, it is essential not only to follow the rules for preparing solutions but also to adhere to the timing of plant treatment. The waiting period after treatment and the period of chemical protection for the pesticides used to prepare the mixture should be approximately the same.
It is undesirable to make a mixture of more than three preparations. Tank mixtures consisting of two protective components (insecticide and fungicide) and one growth stimulator or fertiliser are considered the safest and most effective.
Please note!
It is recommended to spray plants with tank mixtures using a fine sprayer so that the working solution gets on both sides of the leaves and does not run off onto the ground.
Tank mixtures should be used immediately after preparation. This is important, firstly, for maximum treatment efficiency and, secondly, to preserve the properties of the working solution. The fact is that under the influence of oxygen, sunlight, and air temperature, the chemical characteristics of liquids can change - a mixture that has stood in the tank for several hours can turn into a ‘dummy’.
For the same reason, do not prepare large volumes of solution at one time. Leftover tank mixtures should not be stored. If you have not used the mix for its intended purpose, please make sure to take care of it by pouring it into a deep hole at the edge of the garden.
The choice between single-component treatments and the use of tank mixtures is made by each gardener independently, taking into account their capabilities and the weather conditions of the current year. Either way, mixtures are a good way to ‘kill several birds with one stone’ and save time on garden work.
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