What is tank mix and how is it used?

There are many highly effective plant protection products. The tank mixture is characterized by excellent action. In this article, we will take a closer look at the indicated composition and figure out how to use it correctly.

Before understanding the rules for using the tank mixture, it is advisable to find out what it is. Tank mix is ​​a combination of several pesticides that protect plants from insect pests and protect them from various infectious or fungal diseases. Such a mixture involves a combination of 2-3 pesticides. In some cases, their number exceeds these figures.

Since the volume of the solution is usually impressive, in most cases it is prepared in capacious tanks. This is where the name of the mixture in question comes from.

The tank mixture must be prepared according to all the rules. It is very important to correctly select the active and auxiliary components. In order for the chemicals to remain on the surface of the sheet plates for a longer time after processing is completed, without flowing into the soil, it is necessary to add a substance that will provide an appropriate level of stickiness to the mixture. For these purposes, soap, shampoo or dishwashing detergent is quite suitable.

When doing the correct preparation of the tank mixture, you should take into account some important recommendations.

• It is advisable to prepare the tank mixture either in an enamel or in a plastic container. For these purposes, iron tanks or galvanized barrels are completely unsuitable. It is imperative to add an insecticide and fungicide so that the plant is reliably protected from various kinds of diseases and attacks of dangerous pests.
• It is important to consider the processing time, the level of harm, the order in which all the constituent elements are introduced into the tank prepared for this purpose.
• In no case should you use drugs that have already expired. You need to know exactly about the compatibility of all components. It is not recommended to experiment in this matter, since such experiments can lead to bad consequences.
• In the course of spraying the plants with the prepared mixture it is recommended to use an extremely fine spray.

The most effective will be a formulation containing 2 pesticides, as well as a suitable growth stimulant. To properly prepare the mixture in question, you can mix such effective drugs:

• chemicals coupled with growth stimulants;
• insecticides and fungicides that are highly effective;
• pesticides in combination with suitable fertilizing ingredients.

If the goal is to destroy pests, then you can use drugs such as "Actellik", "Thunder", "Iskra M", "Provotox", "Anteed" and the like. If it is necessary to select funds that are planned to be used as a prophylaxis for various diseases, as well as simultaneous fertilization in the first days of the summer months, you can add copper or iron vitriol.

If only insecticides or only fungicides will be provided in the mixture, then only half doses are required. Extreme caution should be exercised when adding copper-containing compounds, as exceeding the permitted dosage results in severe burns to the treated plants.

Systemic herbicides are highly effective. We are talking about such drugs as "Zeus", "Napalm", "Roundal", "Typhoon", "Tornado" and many others. Sometimes mixtures are used, which are based on herbicides, but when using them, it must be borne in mind that systemic herbicides are used first, and then contact ones. Their simultaneous use will not allow achieving the maximum effect from the treatment of plants.

If you have planned to prepare the tank mixture yourself, you need to remember that not all chemicals are compatible. If you pick up conflicting combinations, then this will lead to inefficiency or even danger of the finished mixture.

If there is no information on compatibility indicators, it is advisable to make tests. Mix the funds in a separate glass jar. The container is closed, the contents are mixed well and left to stand for 30 minutes. If the drugs turn out to be incompatible, then this can be understood by several signs:

• a sediment will appear at the bottom;
• flakes will form in the composition;
• the liquid will separate into several separate layers;
• large amounts of foam are formed.

For different crops, different tank mixes are used, including different components. The summer resident must adhere to the correct recipes so as not to harm the planted plants. Let us consider in detail several recipes for preparing tank mixtures for different landings.

An effective tank mix can be prepared to reduce the risk of late blight in potatoes, as well as significantly increase the volume of green mass. For this you need to take a fungicide and combine it with a suitable fertilizer "Aquarin". Consumption rate - 3 kg per 1 ha. With the help of the ready-made mixture, it will be possible to increase the yield of potatoes by about 15-20%.

For spraying tomatoes, a tank mixture is also often used. Due to this, an intensive growth of the culture occurs, a powerful root system develops, and prolonged fruiting is demonstrated. To achieve good results, you need to take the drug "Lignohumate" (0.05% solution) and combine it with pesticides.

If you want cabbage to tolerate dry weather without problems, and its leaves grow large enough, you can use this combination of components: humic dressing (0.04% solution), coupled with pesticides. If you prepare the mixture correctly, it will be able to increase the yield of cabbage by about 10-15%.

To effectively protect grapes from mildew, oidium, as well as leafhoppers and thrips larvae, it will be necessary to prepare a tank mixture with other components. We are talking about such components:

• "Acrobat";
• Collis;
• "Fastak".

You can also resort to another effective combination of drugs:

• Ridomil;
• Tiovit;
• "Jet";
• "Karate".

The yield of grapes from the use of the listed compositions can increase by 10%.

Effective tank mixes can be prepared for many other crops, for example, for roses, strawberries, cucumbers, conifers, and so on. For each plant, it is advisable to use certain components of the mixture so that it turns out to be effective and safe. For example, for processing strawberries, you can combine "Topaz", "Aktara" and "Zircon" - you get a mixture of various pests and diseases on berry crops.

For roses, you can use another tank combination, which includes the preparations "Skor", "Topaz" and "Tanrek".

Of course, the listed recipes do not end with effective tank mixes. There are many more effective combinations that have a beneficial effect on plant health. In recipes, combinations with Fitosporin, Fitoverm, Horus and many other drugs can be used. Very effective mixtures are obtained in which the compositions "Bitoxibacillin", "Tiovit Jet" or "Siliplant" are provided. In addition to the use of such drugs, the tank mixture may contain colloidal sulfur, boric acid, urea and all sorts of safe biological products.

Plants must be properly treated with the mixtures in question. There are several important factors to which it is advisable to pay special attention:

• wind speed should be less than 4 m / s;
• optimal air temperature - + 12-14 degrees Celsius;
• permitted humidity level - no more than 60%;
• spraying of plantings must be carried out in the morning after the dew dries or with the onset of the evening;
• processing of crops should be carried out exclusively in clear weather;
• if there is a probability of precipitation in the near future, then it should be minimal;
• the water that will be used to prepare the tank mix must be warm enough (from +10 to +25 degrees), clean, soft, without additional impurities.

For some plants, such procedures are needed in the summer, while for others - in the spring or autumn. Spraying times also vary. For example, many crops need to be processed after leaf pruning, after fruiting, or simply at different stages of growth, as is the case with grapes.

If the treatment period is determined, you need to know exactly about all the rules for spraying crops.

• The first step is to fill the sprayer tank with 1/3 or 2/3 water of the optimum temperature and hardness.
• Then it is necessary to pour in the prepared mother liquors.
• Next, all the ingredients introduced will need to be mixed well.
• The prepared composition can be used exclusively for spraying healthy plantings that have not received any damage due to the harmful effects of frost or dry conditions.
• In the course of spraying the plants, the mixers must be constantly functioning. This is a prerequisite that cannot be neglected.
• When the processing of the cultures is completed, all residues of the used solution will need to be drained from the tank, and the tank itself will be rinsed with maximum care.

When preparing tank mixtures, as well as using them for the purpose of processing planted plants, summer residents must adhere to certain safety measures. This should not be neglected in any case. Consider what kind of measures it is important to follow.

• One of the most serious requirements is the inadmissibility of inhaling the vapors of the mixture being prepared. The user must prepare the tank mixture very carefully, as well as use it.
• It is necessary to properly prepare the mother liquors.
• Great care should be taken when combining different chemicals with each other. It is imperative to make sure that they do not conflict with each other. Above, one of the ways to check the compatibility of the chemical components of the mixture was described.
• All of the listed procedures, together with spraying crops, are required to be carried out only with the use of personal protective equipment. It is especially important to thoroughly protect the respiratory organs. For this, it is advisable to use a quality respirator. Protecting your eyes is equally important. For these purposes, you must use special goggles. Some summer residents prefer to work without this tool, but this should not be done in any case. It is advisable to put on special rubber gloves on your hands, and rubber boots on your legs.To protect the body from all possible troubles, it makes sense to use special protective suits.
• If an aggressive composition unexpectedly gets on the skin, this place will need to be rinsed with clean water as soon as possible.

Consider a few general recommendations regarding the preparation and use of tank mixes.

• If you want to significantly reduce costs, it makes sense to use multicomponent solutions. It is recommended to choose the right preparations for the preparation of mixtures.
• You need to know that a wrongly made tank mix can demonstrate its phytotoxicity not immediately, but after some time. For example, this process can be triggered by an increase in temperature.
• Many fungicides cannot be combined with alkaline solutions. In such combinations, it makes sense to add components with a neutral reaction.
• If you have planned to prepare the tank mixture yourself using special preparations, it is advisable to study the instructions for use. Usually it indicates what you can and what you can not mix with this or that composition.
• There are drugs that can be combined with almost any pesticide. We are talking about funds "Agrolekar" and "Benomil".
• Very often summer residents add laundry soap to various solutions and compositions. If we are talking about a tank mixture, then it is recommended to supplement it only with ordinary soap or baby shampoo. These components are neutral.
• It is necessary to spray the plants with the considered mixtures so that they fall only on the leaf plates. Compositions should not drain from them onto the soil layer.
• To get rid of all residues of previously used mixtures, it is recommended to dig a hole of sufficient depth closer to the edge of the garden. This is where the leftovers should be poured.
• When independently preparing tank mixtures, it is allowed to connect preparations that are based on living microorganisms. But at the same time, you should know that they are best combined with growth stimulants and suitable feeding.

You will learn the basic principles of preparing a tank mix further.