Toward targeted delivery of agrochemicals to soil

This partnership between CRODA and The University of Sheffield, Dept of Geography offers an exciting opportunity to develop research on how agro-chemical formulations interact with soil in order to increase the efficiency of use of agro-chemicals in food production. In addition, the effect on water uptake and plant health will be investigated. This will allow characterisation of the physical/chemical interactions of agrochemical formulations with soil and tailor them for effectiveness in relation to soil type. Food security is one of the great global challenges of the 21st century. This research will produce new techniques and new formulation additives for the protection of growing crops, securing yields and reducing losses tailored for site-specific conditions, including soil types and abiotic pressures such as drought tolerance. The project aims to address these challenges producing both deconstructed and full formulations containing various additives to ensure the optimum physical and chemical interactions are favoured when binding to soil with different organic matter or clay content. The active ingredient bioavailability and degradation also depends on irrigation and hence the primordial role of water will also be established. The efficiency of agrochemical active ingredient delivery will be quantified by measuring the effectiveness of agrochemicals to reduce weed populations. This will be evaluated from plant survival rate as well as the delivery perspective (transport and location of agrochemicals to roots).