Allan Huysamen, Business Development Manager – Adjuvants
Introduction
Accuracy and consistency have a crucial influence on the efficacy of field treatments at farm level. Whether spraying herbicides, applying stem treatments or managing bush encroachment, knowledge of the exact location where a mixture had previously been applied can significantly reduce application overlaps and misses and subsequently, unnecessary costs. Agricultural marker dyes play a valuable role in the field application process, offering immediate visual confirmation during spraying operations and providing a lasting indicator for completed applications.
BRIGHTBLUE and BRIGHTRED are advanced agricultural marker dyes developed to provide superior visibility, formulation stability and longer-lasting field performance across a wide range of agricultural and forestry applications.
The role of marker dyes in modern agriculture
Marker dyes are added to product application mixtures to create a visible deposit on plant foliage or target surfaces. This visual reference allows operators to maintain consistent spray patterns, ensuring complete coverage and also ensuring that breaks in spraying are resumed at the correct point. Other uses include timber marking for forestry and bush encroachment preventative practices, where the clear identification of treated areas is essential for effective vegetation management.
Product formulation
BRIGHTBLUE and BRIGHTRED differ only in terms of pigment colour, to allow for versatility surrounding visibility of the deposit on different substrates. The products are formulated with a high pigment load and high-end dispersing agents. The former guarantees a vivid, easily distinguishable colour on foliage and treated surfaces, while the latter ensures the pigment remains evenly suspended in the concentrated product and disperses rapidly and uniformly once added to the spray tank.
This advanced dispersion system delivers several key benefits:
- A stable and consistent formulation during storage.
- Rapid dispersion in water without clumping or settling.
- Uniform pigment distribution throughout the spray mixture.
The result is an even application pattern and consistent colour intensity across the treated area, supporting accurate spray placement.
Proven success
A trial was undertaken during which various concentrations of BRIGHTRED and a competitor product were blotted on PVC material and allowed to dry. This was done to observe the pigment intensity and the drying pattern/consistency (Figure 1).
The results showed that the pigment load of BRIGHTRED at a certain concentration is comparable to the main market competitor and has a brighter appearance once dried. The pigment intensity on a leaf surface once dried, applied according to a standard label recommended rate for both products, is also shown (Figure 1), where the BRIGHTRED has the brighter appearance.
Rainfastness polymer: A key differentiator
A major differentiating feature of the BRIGHT range is the inclusion of a rainfastness polymer within the formulation. This polymer supports the binding of the pigment deposit to plant surfaces, counteracting deterioration of the pigment deposit due to environmental conditions, thereby providing extended visibility after application.
This allows operators to assess treated areas for longer periods, supports follow-up operations and reduces uncertainty in situations where the weather conditions change shortly after spraying operations.
Conclusion
BRIGHTBLUE and BRIGHTRED represent a new generation of agricultural marker dyes designed for performance, reliability and clarity in the field. With a high pigment load
advanced dispersing technology and rainfastness enhancement, these products deliver bright, stable and long-lasting visibility across agricultural and forestry applications.
