Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage

Abstract The agrochemical run‐off associated with crop control is an unintended consequence of droplet rebound from plant foliage, which negatively affects crop performance and the environment. This is most critical in water‐based formulations delivered on plant surfaces that are typically waxy and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mamata Bhattarai, Hedar Al‐Terke, Kai Liu, Zhangmin Wan, Petri Kilpeläinen, Alistair W. T. King, Alexey Khakalo, Jiayun Xu, Chunlin Xu, Robin H. A. Ras, Bruno D. Mattos, Orlando J. Rojas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416686
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850190918903136256
author Mamata Bhattarai
Hedar Al‐Terke
Kai Liu
Zhangmin Wan
Petri Kilpeläinen
Alistair W. T. King
Alexey Khakalo
Jiayun Xu
Chunlin Xu
Robin H. A. Ras
Bruno D. Mattos
Orlando J. Rojas
author_facet Mamata Bhattarai
Hedar Al‐Terke
Kai Liu
Zhangmin Wan
Petri Kilpeläinen
Alistair W. T. King
Alexey Khakalo
Jiayun Xu
Chunlin Xu
Robin H. A. Ras
Bruno D. Mattos
Orlando J. Rojas
author_sort Mamata Bhattarai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The agrochemical run‐off associated with crop control is an unintended consequence of droplet rebound from plant foliage, which negatively affects crop performance and the environment. This is most critical in water‐based formulations delivered on plant surfaces that are typically waxy and nonwetting. This study introduces an alternative to synthetic surfactants and high molecular weight polymers that are used as spreading agents for agrochemicals. Specifically, biopolymeric adjuvants (hemicelluloses and oligomeric lignin) extracted from wood by pressurized hot water are shown for their synergistic pinning capacity and surface activity that can effectively suppress droplet rebound from hydrophobic surfaces. Hemicellulose and lignin mixtures, alongside several model compounds, are investigated for understanding the dynamics of droplet impact and its correlation with biomacromolecule formations. The benefit of utilizing lean solutions (0.1 wt.% concentration) is highlighted for reducing droplet rebounding from leaves, outperforming synthetic systems in current use. For instance, a tenfold deposition improvement is demonstrated on citrus leaves, because of a significantly suppressed droplet roll‐off. These results establish the excellent prospects of wood extracts to improve crop performance.
format Article
id doaj-art-eefa9daf72cf4bf9a4b7b48abf0ba5f0
institution OA Journals
issn 2198-3844
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advanced Science
spelling doaj-art-eefa9daf72cf4bf9a4b7b48abf0ba5f02025-08-20T02:15:07ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-05-011217n/an/a10.1002/advs.202416686Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant FoliageMamata Bhattarai0Hedar Al‐Terke1Kai Liu2Zhangmin Wan3Petri Kilpeläinen4Alistair W. T. King5Alexey Khakalo6Jiayun Xu7Chunlin Xu8Robin H. A. Ras9Bruno D. Mattos10Orlando J. Rojas11Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandDepartment of Applied Physics Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandDepartment of Applied Physics Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandDepartment of Chemical & Biological Engineering Department of Chemistry Department of Wood Science Bioproducts Institute The University of British Columbia Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3 CanadaProduction Systems Biomass Fractionation Technologies Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE) Viikinkaari 9 Helsinki 00790 FinlandBioinspired Materials Cellulose Coatings and Films VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Tietotie 4E Espoo FI‐02044 FinlandBioinspired Materials Cellulose Coatings and Films VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Tietotie 4E Espoo FI‐02044 FinlandLaboratory of Natural Materials Technology Åbo Akademi University Henrikinkatu 2 Turku FI‐20500 FinlandLaboratory of Natural Materials Technology Åbo Akademi University Henrikinkatu 2 Turku FI‐20500 FinlandDepartment of Applied Physics Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandDepartment of Bioproducts and Biosystems School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandDepartment of Bioproducts and Biosystems School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University Espoo FI‐00076 FinlandAbstract The agrochemical run‐off associated with crop control is an unintended consequence of droplet rebound from plant foliage, which negatively affects crop performance and the environment. This is most critical in water‐based formulations delivered on plant surfaces that are typically waxy and nonwetting. This study introduces an alternative to synthetic surfactants and high molecular weight polymers that are used as spreading agents for agrochemicals. Specifically, biopolymeric adjuvants (hemicelluloses and oligomeric lignin) extracted from wood by pressurized hot water are shown for their synergistic pinning capacity and surface activity that can effectively suppress droplet rebound from hydrophobic surfaces. Hemicellulose and lignin mixtures, alongside several model compounds, are investigated for understanding the dynamics of droplet impact and its correlation with biomacromolecule formations. The benefit of utilizing lean solutions (0.1 wt.% concentration) is highlighted for reducing droplet rebounding from leaves, outperforming synthetic systems in current use. For instance, a tenfold deposition improvement is demonstrated on citrus leaves, because of a significantly suppressed droplet roll‐off. These results establish the excellent prospects of wood extracts to improve crop performance.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416686adhesionagrochemical spreadingcrop protectiondroplet bouncinghemicellulosesleaves, lignin
spellingShingle Mamata Bhattarai
Hedar Al‐Terke
Kai Liu
Zhangmin Wan
Petri Kilpeläinen
Alistair W. T. King
Alexey Khakalo
Jiayun Xu
Chunlin Xu
Robin H. A. Ras
Bruno D. Mattos
Orlando J. Rojas
Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
Advanced Science
adhesion
agrochemical spreading
crop protection
droplet bouncing
hemicelluloses
leaves, lignin
title Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
title_full Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
title_fullStr Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
title_full_unstemmed Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
title_short Wood Biomolecules as Agricultural Adjuvants for Effective Suppression of Droplet Rebound from Plant Foliage
title_sort wood biomolecules as agricultural adjuvants for effective suppression of droplet rebound from plant foliage
topic adhesion
agrochemical spreading
crop protection
droplet bouncing
hemicelluloses
leaves, lignin
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202416686
work_keys_str_mv AT mamatabhattarai woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT hedaralterke woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT kailiu woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT zhangminwan woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT petrikilpelainen woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT alistairwtking woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT alexeykhakalo woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT jiayunxu woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT chunlinxu woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT robinharas woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT brunodmattos woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage
AT orlandojrojas woodbiomoleculesasagriculturaladjuvantsforeffectivesuppressionofdropletreboundfromplantfoliage