Wheat production depends on timely field management, especially before harvest. Choosing the right Diquat Dibromide formulation can improve spraying efficiency, reduce operating costs, and simplify logistics.
In this article, we’ll compare Diquat Dibromide 20% SL and 37.4% SL so that we’ll know which formulation best suits your wheat farming operation.
Diquat Dibromide is a non-selective contact herbicide that is extensively applied for weed control in the form of emerged weeds and, where permitted, as a pre-harvest desiccant. Contrary to systemic herbicides, which spread throughout the plant, Diquat is an herbicide that works locally on the plant tissue that is treated.
Upon application, it immediately disrupts plant cell membranes, leading to drying of leaves and stems. Effects can be seen within hours if weather conditions are favorable, making it among the fastest herbicides.
Since Diquat is a contact herbicide, spray must be comprehensive for best results.
Feature | Diquat Dibromide 20% SL | Diquat Dibromide 37.4% SL |
Active ingredient concentration | 20% | 37.4% |
Herbicidal activity | Contact herbicide | Contact herbicide |
Application principle | Apply according to label rate | Apply according to label rate |
Product volume required | Higher | Lower |
Tank mixing | Larger product volume | Smaller product volume |
Storage efficiency | Moderate | High |
Transportation cost | Higher due to larger volume | Lower due to concentrated formulation |
Suitable users | Small to medium farms | Medium to large commercial farms and distributors |
Packaging efficiency | Standard | More concentrated packaging |
The products use Diquat Dibromide as their active ingredient. They have the same weed-killing mechanism irrespective of the concentrations used.
Both of the products do not affect the entire plant. They only kill the parts or tissues sprayed.
They both have fast results that allow the user to judge their efficacy.
They effectively control many annual weeds commonly found in wheat production when applied according to label recommendations.
Both formulations may be used for crop desiccation in countries where this application is approved.
The main difference is in the concentration of Diquat Dibromide.
20% SL has lower concentrations of active substance per liter.
37.4% SL has a much higher concentration of active substance per liter.
It does not mean that the 37.4% formula is more effective per se. It means that the same amount of active substance can be applied with less product.
Because 37.4% SL is more concentrated, you add less product to the spray tank. This provides several operational advantages:
Faster tank preparation
Less product handling
Reduced container waste
More efficient mixing during busy spraying periods
The 20% SL formulation requires a larger product volume, which may increase mixing time on larger operations.
Storage and transportation costs may be substantial during spraying periods. This 37.4% SL formulation will help you to save on these costs since fewer containers are needed per unit of the sprayed area.
Some of the benefits include:
Reduced space needed for warehouses
Reduced transportation costs
Improved inventory control
Decreased packaging waste
For those who have several warehouses or work in international business, these advantages may matter.
Spraying jobs can take from hundreds to thousands of hectares in a short time frame. With a higher concentration, the following benefits can be achieved:
Increased frequency of refilling
Reduced time needed for mixing
Reduced labor requirements
Increased effectiveness during the spraying window
All these benefits will be more noticeable with the growth of the farm.
Economical formula is dependent upon the nature of your farming rather than on the price tag.
Small Farms: Smaller farmers find 20% SL to be more convenient due to easy dosage calculation and handling of the product.
Medium Farms: Both formulas will do a good job, depending on your storage capabilities and preferences.
Large Commercial Wheat Farms: Large companies prefer 37.4% SL due to less need for transportation, storage, and mixing.
The truth is, the right choice of formulation to use depends on how you operate your business.
You may prefer 20% SL if you:
Operate a small or medium-sized farm.
Purchase herbicides in smaller quantities.
Want a formulation that is familiar to local applicators.
Do not have significant storage or transportation constraints.
You may benefit more from 37.4% SL if you:
Manage large commercial wheat operations.
Spray extensive acreage within limited time windows.
Export agrochemical products.
Want to reduce logistics costs.
Need more efficient warehouse management.
The timing of the process becomes important when it comes to obtaining consistent outcomes while using Diquat Dibromide. It should be applied exclusively at the stages of the crop and weed development stated on the product label and according to the relevant regulations. The application at the wrong time will either leave later weed growth unaddressed or minimize the potential of the pre-harvest weed management if it involves desiccation.
The application should take place based on the maturity of crops and weeds and harvesting time instead of the calendar date.
Diquat dibromide is a contact herbicide, which means that it only works on the parts of the plant where the spray hits. This is why good and complete coverage becomes a lot more essential compared to increasing the spray rates. It is best to choose the nozzles that give the right type of spray pattern, set the boom at the correct height, and travel at the right speed.
A thick weed population might need special care to be sure that all the parts are sprayed, especially the lower leaves and stems. This will be a waste of effort and time if not done properly.
It is very important that you know how weather affects the efficiency of your spraying. Spray on calm days since windy days can cause drift, which reduces the effectiveness of your spraying because the chemicals will not be applied to the targeted areas. Do not spray when strong winds are blowing, or it rains right after you spray, since it may reduce the performance of the spraying process.
By checking the weather forecast before starting to spray, you can select the best time to spray.
The quality of the water used in mixing will have an effect on how consistently your spray solution comes out. You should always use clear water for filling your spray tank that doesn't contain any sediments, organic matter, or any other form of contamination.
Always follow the mixing procedures that are provided on the product label and ensure that the mixing remains consistent during the whole mixing process. In case you have to mix different products within a tank mix, ensure that those products are compatible before you use them.
It doesn’t matter how good the herbicide is because without proper calibration, you will not achieve optimal results from its use. Make sure that before the beginning of every spraying season, your sprayer is checked and calibrated to ensure it applies at the right application rate all along the boom width. Test the condition of nozzles, check pressure, and replace parts that might lead to inaccurate distribution.
Calibration will help you avoid under-applying, in which case you won’t get enough weed control, as well as over-applying, in which case the cost of the product will go up.
The size of the farm is typically the first thing one would think about in regard to comparison of both herbicides. Should you have a fairly small wheat farm, the different characteristics of the two formulations will have a relatively small effect on your work routine. In this case, it is probably best to choose a formulation that is easily available and known by your spraying crew. However, for bigger commercial farms of hundreds or thousands of hectares, efficiency becomes more and more critical.
Using a high-concentration formulation enables you to deal with less material and thus saves your time while applying the same volume. As the size of your farm gets bigger, even small time savings may bring you great profits.
Your spraying equipment will determine the formulation that provides the best operational efficiency. Small spraying equipment with little acreage sprayed per day may not gain much from a higher concentration formulation since it would be easy to fill. However, bigger sprayers work towards ensuring maximum productivity in the field, such that every fill-up consumes more time and effort.
Diquat Dibromide 37.4% SL will mean less formulation is needed in every tank. It reduces the time spent filling the spray tank when weather conditions are good for spraying. Consideration of your spraying equipment against your workload is an important factor to ensure the right formulation is chosen.
Labor considerations are another significant factor, especially when dealing with spraying periods. Each task related to herbicides, such as moving containers, measuring the product, mixing solutions, and filling the spray tanks, requires both time and people. Higher concentration will make the process easier by decreasing the amount of the product needed to be moved around.
In large wheat farms where several spray loads have to be prepared on a daily basis, it will be possible to achieve higher productivity due to increased efficiency in handling the tasks. On small farms with less intensive spraying operations, it might not be a significant advantage; thus, both formulations will do well.
Considering labor issues on your farm and your spraying schedule, you can select the appropriate formulation for field operation tasks.
Prior to any purchase decision, verify that the formulation of choice has been registered for your intended target market and end-use application. The rules regarding Diquat Dibromide can vary from one country to another, and the registered uses might differ based on local agricultural laws.
For distributors, choosing a formulation that caters to both their customers’ needs and regulatory laws can help plan their stock and compete in the market better. Commercial farmers must also keep in mind that they need formulations that cater to their future business interests.
Collaborating with a reputable manufacturer that has a wide range of formulations and quality to offer can be helpful when scaling up their businesses in the future. This way, you will be able to select a formulation that caters to both your needs and the regulations.
Both formulations of Diquat Dibromide 20% SL and 37.4% SL provide efficient weed and desiccant solutions. The selection of the right formula depends on your farm size and logistics. Partner with Red Sun for better recommendations in line with your objectives of growing wheat.
However, neither of the two is "stronger" than the other, as the former has a greater efficacy against certain types of weeds while the latter works better on others. Dicamba tends to be more effective against some tougher broadleaf weeds, but 2,4-D works much better on other weeds like morning glory. Additionally, Dicamba has a slightly longer residual activity in the soil.
To make a spot treatment solution, use 0.75 fl. oz. of diquat, which should be mixed with 1 gallon of water. Then, add a 75% or greater nonionic surfactant at the rate of 1 to 2 pints per 100 gallons of spray solution (or about 0.12 to 0.64 oz. per gallon).
The compound known as diquat dibromide is one of the fastest-acting herbicides that will cause wilting and browning within 2 to 3 hours after application. The weeds growing on land or those floating in water will dry up and will be dead within 1 to 4 days, while submerged aquatic weeds will decompose in 2 to 3 weeks.
