Agrochemicals

Agrochemicals are chemical products used in agriculture to protect crops from pests and diseases, manage weeds, and promote plant growth or yield. They encompass several distinct groups, including pesticides, fertilizers, plant growth regulators, and various adjuvants and conditioning agents applied to crops, soils, or seeds. Their use is aimed at increasing crop efficiency and quality while reducing postharvest losses.

Pesticides are substances designed to suppress or eliminate agricultural pests. They include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, rodenticides, and microbial pesticides. Applications vary from protecting leaves and fruits to soil treatment. Notable examples include glyphosate as a broad-spectrum herbicide and chlorpyrifos as an organophosphate insecticide, though regulatory status and safety concerns have led to tighter controls in many regions.

Fertilizers supply essential nutrients to crops. They include macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and micronutrients such as zinc and boron. Fertilizers can be applied to soil or directly to leaves or seeds, and they come in forms like granular, liquid, or slow-release formulations. Balanced nutrition supports growth, yield, and crop quality.

Plant growth regulators and related products modify plant development, flowering, ripening, and stress responses. They include natural or synthetic hormones and growth modifiers such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. Desiccants and safeners are sometimes used to improve harvest timing or crop safety. Adjuvants, surfactants, and carriers improve product performance.

Regulation and stewardship: Agrochemicals are subject to testing and registration in many countries to assess risks to human health and the environment. Use is guided by label instructions, with emphasis on integrated pest management, resistance management, and environmentally responsible practices to minimize non-target effects, contamination, and residues.