TYBSc SEM -III Paper –V (INDUSTRIAL) 1.

Agrochemicals THEORY 2013 Pattern

Introduction:
Agrochemicals is a generic term for the various chemical products
used in agriculture. e. g. pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and
nematocides), synthetic fertilizers, hormones and other chemical growth
agents and concentrated stores of raw animal manure.
Agrochemicals are looked upon as a vehicle for improved crop
production technology. Present day chemical and mechanical agriculture is
skillful planting on biologically inactive and physically deteriorated soils.

Precautions Using Agrochemicals:

Many agrochemicals are toxic and in bulk storage may pose
significant environmental and health risks, particularly in the event of
accidental spills. Significant penalties can result from misuse, including
improper storage resulting in spillage.
On farms, proper storage facilities and labeling, emergency clean-
up equipment and procedures and safety equipment, application and disposal
are often subject to mandatory standards and regulations.
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Scope of Agrochemicals:
Today's progress in agriculture, science and technology make it
possible for India to achieve its current level of scientific and technological
excellence and its high standard of living. The great challenge facing mankind
in the 21st century is to produce basic necessities of food, feed, fibre and fuel.
One of the factors to meet these requirements in some extent is to
improve the agricultural yield. India is the fourth largest producer of
agrochemicals globally, after U.S., Japan and China.
Industry structure:
In India, there are about 125 technical grade manufacturer, 800
formulators. Over 145000 distributors, 60 technical grade pesticides are being
manufactured indigenously.
The Indian agrochemicals market is characterized by low capacity
utilization. India due to its inherent strength of low cost manufacturing and
qualified low cost manpower is a net exporter of pesticides to countries such as
USA, some European and African countries.

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Key Segments:
India manufactures and exports following agrochemicals insecticides,
fungicides, herbicides, bio-pesticides, plant growth regulators, nematocides,
rodenticides, fumigants etc. Key market participants include – United
phosphorus Ltd., BASF India Ltd. etc. Top ten companies control almost 80 %
of the market.
Key Trends:
Market trends focus on developing environmentally safe pesticides by the
industry as well as the government. A nationwide programme for
‘Development and Production of Neem Products’ as ‘Environment Friendly
Pesticides’ has been initiated by Department of Chemicals.
Technology trends Increased R & D expected for development of new
molecules and low dosage, high potency molecules. Focus on R & D in Bio-
pesticides segment with increasing preference for environmental safe products
in the market.

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Growth forecast and Drivers:
Since the Indian agriculture sector is highly dependent on
monsoons, the market for agrochemicals is expected to grow at a
conversative growth rate of 7.5 % to reach USD 1.95 Bn by
FY14.
Key Market Drivers
➢ Growth is demand for food grains
➢ Limited farmland availability and growing exports
➢ Growth of horticulture and floriculture
➢ Increasing awareness

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Key Opportunities:
Scope for increase in usage: By educating farmers and
conducting special training programmes regarding the need to use
agrochemicals, Indian companies can hope to increase pesticide
consumption.
Huge export potential: The excess production capacity is a
perfect opportunity to increase exports by utilizing India’s low
cost producer status.
Patent expiry: Between 2009 to 2014 many molecules are likely
to go off patent throwing the market open for generic players.
Product Portfolio Expansion: Threats like genetically modified
seeds, integrated pest management, organic farming etc. can be
turned into opportunities if the industries re-orients itself to
better address the need of its consumers and broadens its
product offering to include a range of agro-inputs instead of only
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Meaning of terms and examples:
Pesticides: Pesticide is any agent that has capacity to
kill or prevent pests from attack. e.g. DDT, BHC,
Malathion, Parathion, 2, 4-D etc.
Classification of pesticides:
Insecticides Plant growth
Alogicides
regulator

Herbicides Bactericide Arboricide

Fungicides Nematocides Antiseptics

Rodenticides Limacides Ascarcides

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Insecticides: It is an agent which kills insects. e.g. DDT,
BHC, endosulfon etc.
Classification of Insecticides:

Stomach Arsenates
According to the
mode of action

Contact DDT, BHC, Aldrin

Chloropicrin,
Fumigants
Naphthalene
Geranial,
Attractants
Metaaldehyde
Mosquito coil,
Repellents
Mothballs

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Classification of Insecticides:
According to the chemical nature and source of supply

Naturally Synthetic
Inorganic
occurring organic
Insecticides
insecticides insecticides

Lead
(Plant DDT, BHC,
arsenate,
Origin) Aldrin,
Calcium
Nicotinides, Endosulfan,
arsenate,
Pyrethrum, Malathion,
Paris green,
Rotenoids Parathion.
NaF

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Herbicides: Herbicides is a chemical compound used to
control or destroy unwanted plants.
Classification of Herbicides:
According to the mode of action

Selective Herbicides Non selective Herbicides

It is used to kill the
weeds only without It destroys all crops
damaging crop, some and vegetation. They
of these interfering used to clear waste
with the growth of ground, industrial sites
weeds. and railways by killing
e.g. 2,4-D, Dalapon, all plant material.
Paraquat, Alachlor etc.
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 Classification of Herbicides:
According to their effect on weeds

Systematic or Translocated Contact Herbicides

• They kill only the part

• They move along of plant to which they
vascular system of are applied but not
plants acting on their translocated in the
entire organisms. plant.
• Complete coverage is • Complete coverage is
not needed essential in weed
control.

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Fungicides:
Fungicides are biocidal chemical compounds or
biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or
fungal spores.
Fungicides are sprayed or dusted on plants to kill
fungal diseases called rusts, mildews (destructive
growth of small fungi that appears on plant during
warm, damp weather), smuts (a disease of corn) and
moulds (growth of very small fungi).

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Classification of Fungicides:
According to their effect on fungi

Systematic or translaminar
Contact fungicides fungicides

They distribute the

fungicide from the
They are not taken up upper sprayed leaf
into the tissue, and surface to the lower
protect only the plant unsprayed surface.
where the spray is They are taken up and
deposited. redistributed through
the xylem vessels.
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Classification of Fungicides:
According to the chemical nature and source of apply

Inorganic fungicides Organic fungicides

Made from metal These are compounds

compounds e. g. containing C, H and O
Bordeaux mixture, elements. e. g.
copper oxychloride, formaldehyde chlorine,
sulphur compounds zineb, Benomyl,
(lime sulphur) etc. Dithiocarbamate etc.

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Rodenticides:
Rodenticides are pest control chemicals intended to kill rodents (Rat,
Mice, Rabbit which cuts things with strong front teeth).
e. g. Warfarin, Sodium monofluroacetate, Zinc phosphide etc.
Plant growth regulators:
Plant hormones are chemical compounds that influence the growth
and differentiation of plant cells, tissues and organs. e. g. Gibberellic acid,
Indole acetic acid, cytokinins, zeatin, kinetin etc.

Applications:
➢ They increase the early germination of seeds and stimulate root
development.
➢ Accelerate ripening of fruits and grains.
➢ Prevents fruit from dropping off from plants.
➢ Produce seedless fruits and control sprouting of potatoes.

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Classification of Plant growth regulators:
Auxins: Stimulate cell elongation and influence a host of other developmental
responses such as root initiation, auxiliary buds, flowers and fruits. e. g. Indol
3-acetic acid.
Cytokinins: Stimulate cell division and induce shoot bud formation in tissue
culture. e. g. Zeatin, adenine, kinetin etc.
Gibberellins: Stem elongation and flowering. e. g. GA3 and GA4+7
Abscisis Acid: Regulates seed germination, storage protein synthesis and
modulating water stress.
Ethylene: Significant impact on development of root and shoots.
Pesticide formulations:
Pesticide active ingredient by themselves may not mix well with water, may
be chemically unstable, may be difficult to handle and store and may be
difficult to apply for good pest control. To make active ingredient useful other
ingredients are added into it called pesticide formulation.
Pesticide formulation may consist of –
❖ Active ingredient that control the target pest.
❖ The carrier, such as organic solvent or mineral clay.
❖ Surface active ingredients, such as stickers and spreaders.
❖ Stabilizers, dyes and chemicals that improve its activity.
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Abbreviations used to describe the formulation:
Wettable Low odour
WP LO
Power Formulator
Liquid
Water
WS LC concentrati
solubility
on
Water
Emulsifiable
WSL soluble EC
concentrate
liquid
Water
concentrate
WSG soluble CG
Granules
Granules
Termiticide Soluble
TC DS
Connection dust
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Process of formulation:
Sources: The ingredient come from many sources. e. g. nicotine, pyrethrum
and rotenone extracted from plants. Others have minerals origin, some are
derived from microbes. However majority of active ingredients are made in
laboratory.
Solubility: Some pesticide active ingredients dissolve readily in water, others
only in oils. Some are relatively insoluble.

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Difference among the various types of formulations:
Solution: True solution does not require agitation to keep its various parts from
settling.
Suspension: The label directs user to shake well before using, so as to disperse evenly.
Emulsion: It have milky appearance. The active ingredient is dissolved in oil based
solvent. An emulsifier helps to prevent the emulsion from separating.
Liquid formulations: Liquid formulations generally mixed with water, in some instances
organic solvents may used.
Dry or solid formulations: a) Ready to used
b) Mixed with water and applied as spray.

Slow release pesticide formulations:

Polymers of Lactic and Glycolic acids: Thermoplastic polymers and copolymers of
glycolic and lactic acid are employed as slow release encapsulating agents.
Advantages:
a) These polymers releases pesticides slowly with degradation in natural material.
(Glycolic acid, Lactic acid, Water & CO2).
b) Easy to fabricate and controls run off into streams.
c) Aliphatic compounds have excellent physical properties but sensitive to moisture.
d) Polylactic acid (PLA) and poly glycolic acid (PGA) are used in absorbable
prosthetic devices.

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Preparation of Polylactic acid (PLA):
Method 1: The monomer, d,l-lactide, was prepared from d,l-lactic acid and
polymerized. The resulting PLA was ground to powder and mixed with
powdered urea and molded into pallets at 130 oC. It contains 25 % urea. The
polymer slowly biodegrades 0.5 to 1 % per day.

Method 2: Sodium salt of 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid(2,4-D) was hand

mixed with powdered PLA and mixture pressed into pallets.

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