Research & Science
The science behind APSA-80 and Nutriplant AG has been tested by 41 leading universities and 28 independent agricultural stations across 30 states, 5 provinces, and 8 countries. Here is what they found.
How APSA-80 Works
Water is a polar molecule. When its hydrogen bonds form surface tension, spray droplets bead on waxy leaves and compacted soil instead of penetrating. Every dollar you spend on herbicide, fertilizer, and irrigation is affected by this one physical property.
Pure water has a surface tension of approximately 72 dynes/cm. On a waxy plant leaf or hydrophobic soil, this tension causes water to form discrete droplets that bead, run off, and evaporate — taking your pesticide or nutrient inputs with them. Air pockets beneath the bead prevent absorption entirely.
APSA-80 is an 80% active nonionic surfactant. One end of each surfactant molecule is soluble in oily and waxy substances; the other end is water-soluble. When added to spray solution, these molecules align at the water-wax interface and physically pull the layers together — breaking surface tension and causing the droplet to spread flat across the leaf surface.
With APSA-80 in solution, spray droplets spread evenly across the entire leaf surface. Air pockets are eliminated. The pesticide stays in contact with the leaf and penetrates the surface faster and more evenly — dramatically improving the efficiency of every post-emergent herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide application you make.
In soil, reduced surface tension allows water to penetrate compacted layers and hydrophobic zones that normally resist infiltration. The IRF measured a 44% increase in infiltration rate and a 70.5% increase in sorptivity. Roots follow moisture — when APSA-80 draws water 18+ inches deep, corn roots break through compaction layers to reach it, naturally relieving compaction as they grow.
Contact herbicides kill on direct contact with plant surfaces — coverage percentage is everything. Systemic herbicides must be absorbed and translocated to the root zone. Both mechanisms benefit enormously from APSA-80's improved coverage. In Glyphosate studies on Bermuda grass, 10-week control was 90% with APSA-80 vs 5% without. In atrazine studies, crabgrass control jumped from 57% to 86%.
Most competitive adjuvants accelerate corrosion in metal pumps, tanks, and spray equipment. APSA-80 is formulated with a unique noncorrosive chemistry — 28-day steel panel tests show it is up to 97% less corrosive than competing brands. It also keeps pesticides suspended in solution, reducing tank separation and nozzle clogging — cleaning your equipment while you spray.
Surface Tension Data
When APSA-80 is added to distilled water at a concentration of approximately 2,000 ppm (5 oz per 20 gallons), water surface tension drops by more than half. The chart below shows this relationship from independent laboratory testing.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Three main categories of spray adjuvants exist: nonionic surfactants, crop oil concentrates, and fertilizer adjuvants (ammonium sulfate). Each has strengths and weaknesses. Here is how they compare across the factors that matter most to your operation.
| Feature | APSA-80™ | Crop Oil Concentrate | Ammonium Sulfate | Generic Surfactant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient level | 80% — university standard | 15–20% emulsifier | N/A — fertilizer | Varies widely |
| Surface tension reduction | ✓ 72 → <29 dynes/cm | ~ Partial | ✗ pH adjust only | ~ Variable |
| Soil water penetration | ✓ +44% infiltration (IRF) | ✗ Not primary function | ✗ No | ~ Limited |
| Herbicide activation | ✓ Broad spectrum | ✓ Broad spectrum | ✓ Glyphosate / velvetleaf | ~ Limited |
| Crop phytotoxicity risk | ✓ Low — safest option tested | ✗ Higher — hot humid days | ~ Low | ~ Variable |
| Equipment corrosion | ✓ Less corrosive than water | ~ Generally safe | ~ Generally safe | ~ Varies |
| Biodegradable | ✓ Yes — nonionic | ✗ Petroleum-based | ~ Partially | ~ Varies |
| Compaction relief | ✓ +70.5% sorptivity (IRF) | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Satisfaction guarantee | ✓ 180-day full guarantee | ✗ Typically none | ✗ Typically none | ✗ Typically none |
| Cost per acre | ~$2.04 | ~$2.50–$4.00 | ~$1.00–$1.50 | ~$1.50–$3.00 |
| Yield (soybean trial w/ Storm) | 31.4 bu/acre — highest | 27.3 bu/acre | 24.6 bu/acre — lowest | Not tested |
† Soybean yield comparison from independent trial using Storm herbicide at 1.5 pt/acre. APSA-80 at 0.25% or 1 qt/100 gal. Air temperature 74°F, 56% relative humidity, dry soil. Results may vary. Source: APSA-80 Technical Research Brochure.
IRF Field Data
The Irrigation Research Foundation in Yuma, Colorado conducted a series of multi-year independent studies on APSA-80 and Nutriplant AG performance. These are not manufacturer-sponsored studies — they are independent third-party field research.
Herbicide Efficacy Data
Research across multiple herbicide and weed combinations shows consistent improvement in weed control when APSA-80 is added to the spray solution. These studies were conducted by leading universities across 30 states.
† All herbicide efficacy data sourced from independent university studies and the APSA-80 Technical Research Brochure. Results represent specific study conditions and may vary based on weed pressure, weather, application timing, and herbicide formulation used.
Nutriplant AG Science
Nutriplant AG's 6-4-3 NPK formula with 16 peptides and amino acids is designed to be applied when crops are at peak responsiveness — at critical phenological stages when the plant's metabolic demand for micronutrients exceeds what the root system can reliably supply. It supplements your existing NPK program; it does not replace it.
Nutriplant AG stimulates the plant's own antioxidant defense systems, reducing oxidative damage caused by heat, cold, drought, and other abiotic stress events. Crops treated at key growth stages show measurably stronger stems, deeper root systems, and faster recovery after stress events compared to untreated controls.
The peptides and amino acids in Nutriplant AG directly support chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthetic efficiency. Enhanced photosynthesis during vegetative and reproductive growth stages translates to greater dry matter accumulation, stronger grain fill, and improved final yield quality — particularly important in high-yield, high-input corn and soybean systems.
Applied foliarly, Nutriplant AG bypasses soil nutrient availability challenges — compacted soil, pH extremes, and competitive ion interference — delivering micronutrients directly to plant cells at the point of use. The 16 peptides serve as natural chelating agents, improving the absorption and translocation of both macro and micronutrients within the plant.
When applied alongside APSA-80, Nutriplant AG amplifies root development at the cellular level while APSA-80 creates the soil conditions for those roots to grow deeper. IRF field data shows combined program yields of 17+ additional bushels per acre — consistently more than either product used alone.
Timing is critical for foliar programs. Nutriplant AG is most effective applied at V4–V6 on corn (rapid vegetative growth), at VT/tassel (reproductive transition), and on soybeans at V4 and R1 (flowering). These windows represent periods of maximum cellular division and micronutrient demand — when a small input produces a disproportionately large response.
Nutriplant science incorporates four decades of research spanning agronomy, plant physiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry — plus real-world grower experience across multiple continents. The product formula has been continuously refined based on field data from 41 university testing sites. What remains constant: the core approach of supporting cellular-level metabolic function at critical growth stages.
A 15-minute conversation about your acreage, crops, and soil type — and I'll put together a customized ROI projection based on the IRF data above.