Wageningen, The Netherlands
July 3, 2015

Seeds do not or hardly germinate in dry soil. Moisture regulating agents in the seed coating can greatly improve germination under dry conditions. Adjuvants & Formulations has mapped out some of the most interesting approaches. A quick patent scan completes this survey.

Seeds in a bone dry seedbed will most likely not germinate until the next rain has fallen. Moisture regulating agents in the seed coating, however, can greatly improve germination under dry conditions. Researchers at companies and institutions are working on different solutions for this increasing problem. And very recently researchers have found that specific additives not only improve germination in dry soil, but also in moist soil.

Water-absorbing polymers as seed coating additives are known for more than a quarter-century. Humectants and surfactants or enzymes to reduce the water repellency of the soil around the seeds are the youngest members of the family of moisture regulating additives for seed coatings. Adjuvants & Formulations has conducted a quick scan covering recently published reports and patent applications on seed coating additives to improve the germination in dry soil. This special issue can be purchased and downloaded via the website.

Adjuvants & Formulations – former Adjuvant Newsletter – is a bimonthly newsletter for agchem specialists. In its eleven year anniversary this digital newsletter is well-established as special interest medium for formulators and adjuvant specialists who want to follow the developments in their field. Furthermore Adjuvants & Formulations presents in every issue an overview of the recent patent literature. In the just distributed May/June issue, the newsletter published new patent applications covering novel agrochemical compositions and adjuvants to improve the performance of agchem products.

Website: http://www.surfaplus.com

Published: July 3, 2015