Advances in surfactants for agrochemicals

Pesticide efficacy is improved by surfactants. Increase in the foliar uptake is particularly useful for herbicides, growth regulators and defoliants, because less active compounds are needed, thus decreasing cost and pollution. Therefore, the choice of the adjuvant in an agrochemical formulation is crucial. The surfactants commonly used as adjuvants include anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric and cationic surfactants. This review analyses the role and properties of the new adjuvants for agriculture and the improvement of the ecotoxicity profile of the pesticide formulations in glyphosate formulation.