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Vegetation Control Without the Volatility
When Vastlan® herbicide arrived on the market, you may have been skeptical about what another triclopyr-based product would add to your operation. However, the difference with Vastlan is apparent from the moment you open the jug.
What you’re smelling — or more accurately what you’re not smelling — is the result of advanced formulation science that practically zeroes out the volatility and odor usually associated with ester and amine triclopyr products.
Volatility vs. drift
Drift and volatility are often conflated. The differences between the two types of movement are subtle, but key to understanding why low volatility matters.
Drift is the movement of spray droplets through the air, usually from wind. Volatility is when a spray solution turns into a vapor after application. Volatility is a characteristic of the herbicide active ingredient or formulation, rather than environmental conditions. Once the herbicide has turned into a gas, it can move with the air and settle someplace new, potentially damaging susceptible vegetation.
Making lower volatility possible
Vastlan® herbicide uses a proprietary form of triclopyr: triclopyr choline. Corteva scientists have been working for decades on refining choline formulations for herbicides, building on our experience in agricultural products, where off-target movement is a constant challenge.
As a choline formulation, Vastlan is much more chemically stable than ester or amine chemistries. From a performance standpoint, lower volatility means the product is staying put to do its job, absorbing into the plants you need to control instead of vaporizing into the ether.
Comparing effects of volatility
A simple benchtop experiment shows how different forms of triclopyr can volatilize and damage nearby plants. Scientists treated ryegrass with either triclopyr triethylamine, triclopyr butoxyethyl ester or Vastlan® herbicide (triclopyr choline). The treated rygrass was then placed in a humidome next to grape and tomato seedlings, which are susceptible to triclopyr.
In each test, warm air (104ºF) was pulled through the humidome to simulate conditions where volatilization can occur. After 24 hours, the seedlings next to the amine- and ester-treated ryegrass had injury rates ranging from 30% to 51%. After 7 days, injury increased to 61% for grape seedlings next to the ester-treated ryegrass. In contrast, seedlings next to the Vastlan-treated ryegrass had a maximum injury rate of just 3% across the study. This demonstrates that Vastlan provides the highest level of safety from off-target movement versus other forms of triclopyr.1
Reducing odor and community concerns
Reduced volatility isn’t just something you can see in a lab, it’s also part of creating a better experience in the field. Vastlan® herbicide helps crews work efficiently and confidently. Because of its choline salt formulation, Vastlan is tank-mix compatible other salt-based herbicides, including glyphosate and imazapyr.* Vastlan also has a “warning” signal word, rather than the “danger” classification carried by other forms of triclopyr, which simplifies PPE requirements.
While volatility and odor are not directly related, the formulation of Vastlan greatly improves the handling experience for applicators. Vastlan is not completely odorless, but the smell is much milder and more tolerable versus amine or ester forms. The lower odor with Vastlan can also reduce the number of questions your team is likely to receive. When property owners and neighbors can smell what you apply, it draws attention. And the harsher the odor, the more it can lead to an assumption that what you’re applying is harsh, too. When odor lingers, you may get more calls, emails, posts and comments that raise doubts or complaints about your crew’s work. This can create a negative perception and even affect future treatments.
For operations looking for reliable, grass-safe control of brush and broadleaves, Vastlan offers improved handling and less hassle than other triclopyr options. Vastlan helps you keep treatment where you want it and deliver a better weed control experience for crews and communities.
*Always follow label directions for tank mixing, and keep in mind that some combinations can change the volatility profile of active ingredients.
1 Corteva Agriscience. Data on file.
Vastlan® is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
Vistas®
For over 30 years, Vistas® has covered strategies, trends and stories from across the Vegetation Management industry.