Agrochemicals

These are substances whose correct application helps to manage agricultural ecosystem or community of organisms under a farming system and boost agricultural productivity. They help to preventing, enhancing, reducing and or eliminating impact of undesirably ecological elements that can affect food production output. The use of agrochemicals has tremendously enhance crop production greatly

• Fertilizers,
• Pesticides (Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, etc.)

The use of agrochemicals has been critical to the raising crops for food. However, inappropriate uses of these chemicals poses a severe health risk, environmental and ecological degradation. As such, a good grasp of the various types, functionality, application timing and rates, knowing which to use and optimal usage is very important to agriculturist.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers are substances that when applied readily provides plants with nutrients enhancing its growth and yield. Fertilizers can either be chemically manufactured (synthetic) or synthesised from organic material such as animal manure, household waste, compost (decaying vegetation) etc. Most fertilizers contain varying amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are the nutrients that plants need to grow. Globally, about 152 million tons (138 million metric tons) of fertilizers are used each year which underlines its importance in food production.

Fertilizers are available as solids, granules, powders, and liquids.

• The most familiar fertilizers are fertilizer salts, in the form of crystals or granules. These are applied directly to the soil and watered in, making it readily available for the crop.
• Other forms are liquids or soluble powders that are dissolved in water before application. These fertilizers are diluted with water and are applied by watering. They can be applied with a watering can or a hose attachment, or through an automatic watering system attached to a drip irrigation system
• Fertilizers can also be applied as solid chunks that are placed individually in the soil where the plant can reach them. They are always slow-release fertilizers and come in the form of pellets, briquettes, spikes, and coarse salts.

Pesticides

A Pesticide is any substance or mixture of substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. Though often misunderstood or referred to as insecticide, pesticides cover a wide range of substances; they are categorized into simple groups according to the pest they are targeting including:

• Herbicide for controlling weed or unwanted vegetation

• Insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects

• Fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and fungi

• Disinfectants used for preventing the spread of bacteria
• Rodenticides used for controlling mice and rat

Very large quantities of pesticides are used in modern agriculture. Globally, about 4.4 to 6.6 billion pounds (2 to 3 billion kilograms) of pesticides are used each year.

Herbicides

Herbicides are used to control unwanted vegetation on a crop field. The selection of herbicides must be cautious; making sure it’s safe to crops and lethal to weeds. The choices of an herbicide vary from crops to crops as well as the stages of the crops. Herbicides can be classified several ways which includes: mode of action, application timing/ method etc.

For this publication, herbicides will be grouped according to mode and site of action, and application timing; which are very important in choosing, understanding herbicide selection and usage.

1.    Site of Action:  

• Contact herbicide
• Systemic herbicides

Contact herbicides kill only the plant parts contacted by the chemical, whereas systemic herbicides are absorbed by the roots or foliage and translocated throughout the plant where it gradually kills the plant from within.

2.    Herbicide activity can be either be

• Selective

• Non-selective

Selective herbicides are used to kill weeds without significant damage to desirable plants. Non selective herbicides kill all plants present if applied at an adequate rate.

3.    Application timing: There are two forms of herbicides

• Pre-emergence herbicide

• Post-emergence herbicide

As the name suggest pre-emergence herbicides are commonly used before the weeds emerge; it exercises its effects by preventing weeds seeds from germinating while post-emergence herbicides is used to control existing weeds on the field.  For both pre- and post-emergent herbicides, timing is critical. While post-emergent herbicides kill weeds at any point in the growth cycle; with pre-emergent herbicides, applying too early will have degraded the herbicide and are useless by the time the seeds start to germinate. Most pre-emergent remain active in soil for six to eight weeks.

FEW EXAMPLES OF HERBICIDES, USAGE AND APPLICATION RATES

Pre-emergence Herbicides

1.      ATRAZINE 80 WP

• A Systemic, selective pre-emergence herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in maize, sorghum, sugarcane, yam, and cassava.

• Contains 800g/kg Atrazine/kg.
• Packed in 1 kg bags.
• Dosage: 4kg/ha.

2.      DIURON 80 WP

• A systemic, selective pre-emergence herbicide for the control of annual broadleaf weeds and grasses in sugarcane, tuber crops, maize, sorghum, cotton, and tree crops.

• Contains 800gr DIURON per kg.
• Packed in 1 kg bags.

• Dosage: 3-5kg/ha.

3.      RAFT 500 SC

• A selective pre-emergence herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in maize, sorghum, millet, and tuber crops: yam and cassava.

• Contains 2 active ingredients: 250g/1 Atrazine and 250g/1 Terbuthylazine.

• Dosage Rate: 4-5 litres per hectare.

• Assured of clean field.

• Peace of mind.
• Packing: 1-liter bottle and 5 liters gallon.

Post-emergence

1.    GLYPHOSATE 480 SL

• Non-selective systemic herbicides for the total control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in arable farms, orchards, plantations, and fallow land.

• Contains 480g/l Glyphosate.

• Premium quality Glyphosate.

• Dosage Rate: Annual grasses/broadleaf weeds: 4lt/ha
• Perennial weeds: 8lts/ha
• Sedges: 6lt/ha
• Very effective.
• Fast and reliable.

2.    PARAQUAT DICHLORIDE 200 SL

• A contact total weed killer for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in arable farms, orchards, plantations, and fallow land.

• It contains 200g/litre Paraquat Dichloride.
• Dosage Rate: Plantation crops: 5litres/ha
• No-tillage pre-plant and pre-crop emergence: 3lts.ha
• Inter row: 3lts/ha
• Uncropped land: 4lts/ha
• Versatile.
• Available.

3. GLYPHOSATE 750 SG

• A systemic non-selective herbicide for the control of stubborn annual, perennial grasses and broadleaf weeds in arable and plantation crops.

• It contains 680g Glyphosate/kg
• Dosage Rate: Just 2kg/ha.
• High load premium quality Glyphosate in granules.
• Packed in special sachets of 200gr = 1 Knapsacks Sprayer.
• Dissolves completely in water.
• Fast and reliable.
• Very easy to use.
• Cost-effective.
• Available.

4. BUTACHLOR 600 EC

• A broad-spectrum, selective systemic herbicide for the control of broadleaf weeds and grasses in upland and lowland rice, groundnuts, cowpea, soybean, and cotton.

• Contains 600gr/litre NOT 500gr/litre BUTACHLOR.
• Used on both seeded and transplanted rice.
• Reliable and available.
• Dosage: 4litres/ha

5. NICOSULFURON 75 WG

• A selective and early post-emergence

  herbicide for the control of annual grasses, broadleaf weeds, and perennial weeds in maize.
• Contains 750g/kg Nicosulfuron/kg.
• Controls Rottboellia spp at an early state.
• Dosage Rate: 100/hectare.
• Packed in water-soluble sachets of 100g each.
• Easy and safe to use.
• 100g sachet = 1 Knapsack load.
• Fast and reliable.
• Available.

6. DIMETHYLAMINE SALT 2, 4-D

• A selective pre and early post-emergence herbicide for the control of broadleaf weeds in maize, rice, wheat, sugarcane, and plantation crops.

• Contains 720gr/litre of Dimethylamine salt 2, 4-D.
• Dosage Rate: Pre-emergence: 2-3litre/ha.
• Post emergence: 3-5litre/ha.
• Fast action.
• Packing: 1 liter bottle.

7. NOVA HALOSULFURON 750 WG

• A water dispersible Granule Herbicide for selective post-emergence control of NUTSEDGE and certain broadleaf weeds in RICE and SUGARCANE.

• It contains 750g/kg Halosulfuron and applied at 50-100g/hectare.

8. CLETHODIM

• A post-emergence herbicide for the control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in cowpea, groundnuts, cotton, potatoes, and soybean.

• It contains 240g/liter Clethodim and is applied at the rate of 1 litre/hectare.

9. BISPYRIBAC-SODIUM

• A selective, systemic post-emergence Herbicide for the control of grasses, sedges, and broadleaved weeds in RICE.

• It contains: 100g/litre Bispyribac-Sodium and is applied at the rate of 500mls/hectare.

INSECTICIDES

SHOOTER 1000 EC

• A contact and stomach action insecticide for the control of sucking and biting insects in field crops.

• Used for stored produce protection against storage pests.
• Contains 1000g/litre Dichlorvos.
• Versatile.
• Also used as a public hygiene product.
• Most popular DDVP brand in the Nigerian market.
• Safe to use.
• Special packaging: 1litre, 500mls, 250mls and 100mls.

CYPERMETHRIN 10 EC

• A synthetic pyrethroid with contact and stomach auction properties.

• Popular insecticide for the control of insects in cotton, cowpea, soybean, vegetables, and ornamentals.
• Contains   100gr/litre CYPERMETHRIN.

• Dosage: 1litre/hectare.

• Packaging: 1 litre and 250mls per bottles.
• Broad spectrum.

LAMDACYHALOTHRIN 2.5 EC

• A contact and stomach action insecticide for insect control in cotton, rice, cowpea, fruits, and vegetables.

• Contains 25gr/litre Lamdacyhalothrin.
• Dosage: 2litres/hectare.
• Packaging: 1 litre and 250mls pet bottles.

IMIDACLOPRID 350 SC

• A systemic insecticide with a translaminar activity which also has a contact and stomach action properties.

• Used for the control of: leafhoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies in rice, vegetables, cotton, cereals and tree crops such as mango and other fruits.
• Also for the control of mirids in cocoa.
• Contains 350/litre Imidacloprid.
• Dosage: 0.5-1.0lt/ha
• Packaging: 250ml, 100ml and 50ml bottles.
• Value for money product.

TERMISTAR 480 EC

• An emulsifiable concentrate residual contact insecticide for the protection of buildings by mean of soil treatment to control sub-terranean wood-eating termites and termites on Agricultural fields.

• It contains 480g Chlorpyrifos/litre and is applied at the rate of 1-21/ha.

EMAMECTIN BENZOATE 5.7 WG

• An insecticide for the control of bollworms and leaf worms in cotton.
• It contains 57g/kg Emamectin Benzoate and is applied at the rate of 200g/ha.

FUNGICIDES

CUPROUS OXIDE 75 WG

• A multipurpose, protective, curative systemic broad-spectrum, residual fungicide mainly applied for the control of black pod disease of cocoa.

• Contains 86% Cuprous Oxide as a WG formulation.
• High efficacy.
• Specially packed in 75gr sachets.
• Dose Rate: 800gr/ha.
• 1 sachet = 1knacpsack load.

GRANITE PLUS 66 WP

• A multi-purpose, protective, curative, systemic broad-spectrum

  , residual fungicide.
• Controls black pod disease of cocoa and the fungal diseases of coffee, tea, and vegetables.
• Highly efficacious.
• Contains 6% Metalaxyl-M and 60% Cuprous Oxide.
• Specially packed in 50gr sachets.
• Dose Rate: 500-600gr/ha.
• 1 sachet = 1 knapsack load.

GRANITE 74 WP

• A multi-purpose, protective, curative and systemic broad-spectrum

  residual fungicide for the control of black pad disease (phytophthora

  spp) in cocoa.

• It contains 60% copper-1-oxide and 14% Metalaxyl-M and is applied at the rate of 800g/ha.

SEED TREATMENT

ALL STAR: 40 DS

• A novel seed treatment chemical for the treatment of seeds against soil insects, diseases, and early season pests.

• It contains: 200g/kg Metalaxyl (fungicidal component) and 200g/kg Imidacloprid (insecticidal component).

• Dose Rate: 10g/3kg of seed: maize, sorghum, millet, rice, and cotton and 10g/4kg of groundnuts, cowpea, soybean, and vegetable seeds.

• Outstanding crop establishment.

• High yields.

• Very effective.

• Cost-effective

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