What are the application forms of alkyl glycosides in the agricultural field?

2025-08-05 15:12:27

As a new type of non-ionic Surfactant, alkyl glycoside (APG) has gradually expanded its application in the agricultural field from traditional auxiliaries to multi-functional preparations, relying on its excellent biodegradability (degradation rate ≥ 90%), low toxicity (LD50 > 5000mg/kg) and environmental compatibility. Its molecular structure contains both hydrophilic glucose groups and hydrophobic alkyl chains, which can improve the use efficiency of pesticides and fertilizers by reducing surface tension and enhancing interfacial adsorption, and also have certain biological activities. The following systematically analyzes the application forms and technical characteristics of alkyl glycosides in agriculture from the dimensions of pesticide auxiliaries, plant growth regulation, soil improvement, feed addition, etc.

Key auxiliaries in pesticide formulations: the dual role of synergism and detoxification

In the field of pesticides, alkyl glycosides are mainly used as emulsifiers, dispersants and wetting agents. Their unique molecular structure enables them to adapt to various formulations and reduce the ecological risks of traditional auxiliaries.

The green emulsifier for emulsifiable concentrate formulations is a typical application scenario of alkyl glycosides. Traditional emulsifiable concentrates rely on benzene solvents and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) emulsifiers, which have the problems of high toxicity and serious pollution. After replacing APEO with alkyl glycosides, the emulsification stability can be maintained (the emulsion does not stratify after 24 hours of placement), and the amount of organic solvents can be reduced by more than 50%. For example, in 20% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate, adding 8%-10% APG0810 (carbon chain length 8-10) can control the emulsion particle size at 2-5μm, significantly improving the adhesion rate of the liquid on crop leaves (30%-40% higher than traditional emulsifiable concentrates). Field tests show that this green emulsifiable concentrate has a control effect of 92% on aphids, and the acute contact toxicity to bees is reduced to 1/3 of the original.

In terms of dispersing and wetting auxiliaries for suspension concentrates, alkyl glycosides can stabilize pesticide particles through steric hindrance. In 40% pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate, adding 3%-5% APG1214 (carbon chain 12-14) can increase the zeta potential of particles to more than 30mV, and the suspension rate remains ≥ 90% (stored at 25℃ for 30 days). Its hydrophilic groups can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, enhancing the spreading property of the liquid on the leaf surface (the contact angle decreases from 75° to below 35°), which is especially suitable for crops with thick waxy layers (such as grapes and citrus). Compared with lignosulfonate, alkyl glycosides can reduce the foaming property of suspension concentrates (the foam height is reduced by 40%), avoiding "drift" loss during spraying.

The film-forming and penetrating auxiliaries for seed coatings are another important application. After compounding alkyl glycosides with polyvinyl alcohol, a uniform protective film (film thickness 5-10μm) can be formed, which is both breathable and waterproof. Adding 2%-3% APG0608 to corn seed coatings can make the coating uniformity reach more than 95% without affecting the seed germination rate (≥90%). Its penetration can help fungicides (such as fludioxonil) in the seed coating penetrate the seed epidermis, and the control effect on seedling diseases is increased by 15%-20%. In addition, the low irritation of alkyl glycosides can avoid the damage of traditional auxiliaries to the seed embryo, increasing the root length of seedlings by 10%-15%.

Fertilizer efficiency enhancement system: promoting absorption and reducing loss

The application of alkyl glycosides in fertilizers focuses on improving nutrient utilization efficiency, achieving "reduction and efficiency increase" by improving the solubility, permeability and adsorption of fertilizers.

In terms of solubilizing and stabilizing auxiliaries for liquid fertilizers, alkyl glycosides can solve the precipitation problem of trace elements in foliar fertilizers. In compound foliar fertilizers containing chelated iron and zinc, adding 1%-2% APG1012 can increase the solubility of trace elements by 2-3 times, and the solution has no precipitation after 1 month of placement. Its surface active effect can enhance the adhesion time of foliar fertilizer on leaves (from 2 hours to 6 hours), promote absorption through stomatal penetration, and increase the iron content in crop leaves by 25%-30%. In drip irrigation fertilizers, alkyl glycosides can reduce the surface tension of the solution (from 72mN/m to 30-35mN/m), reducing the risk of dripper clogging (the clogging rate is reduced by more than 60%).

In the application of coating modifiers for slow-release fertilizers, alkyl glycosides are used as emulsifiers in the preparation of coating materials. In polyurethane-coated urea, adding 5%-8% APG1216 can make the coating material disperse more uniformly, the membrane pore diameter is controlled at 1-3μm, the nitrogen release period is extended from 60 days to 90 days, and the release rate fluctuation range is ≤5%. Compared with traditional paraffin coatings, the degradation rate of this improved coating in soil is increased to 40% (after 6 months), reducing plastic residue pollution. Field tests show that the use of slow-release fertilizers improved by alkyl glycosides can increase rice yield by 8%-10% and nitrogen use efficiency by 12%-15%.

The compounding auxiliary of biostimulants is an emerging application direction. When alkyl glycosides are compounded with humic acid and amino acids, they can form a stable system through intermolecular hydrogen bonds, improving the activity of biostimulants. Adding 0.5%-1% APG0814 to liquid fertilizers containing humic acid can increase the dispersion degree of humic acid by 50% and the absorption efficiency of humic acid by crop roots by 30%. This compound system can promote the synthesis of proline in crops and enhance drought resistance — under drought conditions, the relative water content of wheat leaves is 15%-20% higher than that of the control group.

Plant protection and growth regulation: direct action and indirect regulation

Alkyl glycosides are not only auxiliaries, but also have certain biological activities, which can play a role by affecting plant physiological processes or pest and disease behaviors.

The auxiliary role in pest control is reflected in the destruction of the waxy layer on the surface of pests. APG1016 (carbon chain 10-16) has a dissolving effect on the body surface of piercing-sucking pests such as red spiders and scale insects. When compounded with abamectin (ratio 1:5), it can shorten the lethal time of the agent to pests from 48 hours to 24 hours, and the control effect is increased to more than 90%. In fungal control, alkyl glycosides can enhance the permeability of the liquid to the fungal cell membrane, increase the inhibition rate of azoxystrobin on downy mildew by 20%-25%, and extend the duration by 3-5 days.

The indirect effect of plant growth regulation is achieved by improving photosynthesis. Spraying 0.1%-0.2% APG0812 solution on cucumber seedlings can increase leaf stomatal conductance by 20%-30%, chlorophyll content by 10%-15%, and net photosynthetic rate by about 15%. Its mechanism may be related to reducing the surface tension of leaves and improving the efficiency of stomatal opening and closing, promoting the diffusion of CO₂ to mesophyll cells. Test data show that this treatment can increase the early yield of cucumbers by 10%-12% and the vitamin C content of fruits by 8%-10%.

The application of stress resistance improvement is prominent in crops in saline-alkali land. Alkyl glycosides can reduce the surface tension of soil solution and promote the absorption of water by roots. In cotton planting in saline-alkali land, foliar spraying of 0.3% APG1214 can increase the content of osmotic adjustment substances (such as betaine) in cotton leaves by 25%, reduce the relative conductivity of leaves by 15%-20%, and increase the number of bolls per plant by 1-2. In addition, alkyl glycosides can also alleviate heavy metal stress. In cadmium-contaminated soil, they can reduce the absorption of cadmium by rice through complexation (the cadmium content in grains is reduced by 30%-40%).

Soil improvement and ecological restoration: improving structure and reducing pollution

The application of alkyl glycosides in soil focuses on improving physical properties and assisting in repairing pollution, and their biodegradability ensures that they do not cause secondary pollution.

In terms of soil structure improvers, alkyl glycosides can reduce the surface tension between soil particles and promote the formation of aggregate structures. Adding 0.1%-0.2% APG0810 (based on soil quality) to sandy soil can increase the content of aggregate structures larger than 0.25mm by 15%-20% and the soil water holding capacity by 20%-25%. The glucose groups in its molecules can form hydrogen bonds with soil colloids, enhancing the stability of aggregates and improving the soil's anti-erosion ability by more than 30%. In arid areas, this improvement can increase the distribution depth of wheat roots by 10-15cm and improve water use efficiency.

In the application of auxiliary agents for heavy metal pollution remediation, alkyl glycosides enhance the bioavailability of heavy metals through complexation. In lead and cadmium contaminated soil, applying 0.5% APG1214 can increase the concentration of extractable lead in soil by 40%-50% and extractable cadmium by 30%-40%. Combined with hyperaccumulator plants (such as Pteris vittata), the remediation efficiency is increased by 25%-30%. Compared with chemical chelating agents such as EDTA, alkyl glycosides have moderate complexing strength, which will not cause heavy metal leaching pollution (lead content in groundwater ≤ 0.01mg/L), and can be degraded within 6 months to avoid long-term residues.

The osmotic regulator function of saline-alkali land improvement is significant. Alkyl glycosides can reduce the osmotic pressure of saline-alkali soil solution. In soil with pH > 9, spraying 0.3% APG1012 solution can reduce the surface conductivity of soil by 15%-20%, promoting seed germination (germination rate increased by 20%-25%). Its wetting effect can break the surface crust of saline-alkali soil, making rainwater or irrigation water more permeable (infiltration rate increased by 30%-40%) and reducing surface salt accumulation. Field tests show that after continuous use for 2 growing seasons, the yield of corn in saline-alkali land can be increased by 20%-25%.

Feed and breeding field: improving digestion and bacteriostatic effect

In agricultural breeding, alkyl glycosides, as feed additives or breeding environment improvers, can improve animal digestion and absorption through surface active effects, and inhibit harmful microorganisms.

The emulsifying and dispersing effect of feed additives can improve oil utilization. Adding 0.05%-0.1% APG0810 to broiler feed can reduce the emulsified particle size of oil in the feed to 1-2μm, increase fat digestibility by 10%-15%, reduce broiler abdominal fat rate by 5%-8%, and increase weight gain rate by 8%-10%. The glucose groups in its molecules can also promote the proliferation of intestinal probiotics (such as lactic acid bacteria), increasing the number of lactic acid bacteria in broiler intestines by 1-2 orders of magnitude and reducing the number of Escherichia coli by more than 50%.

In the application of water quality improvers in aquaculture, alkyl glycosides can reduce the surface tension of water and promote oxygen dissolution (dissolved oxygen content increased by 10%-15%). Sprinkling 0.1-0.2mg/L APG1214 in shrimp ponds can increase water transparency by 20%-30% and reduce excessive algae reproduction (chlorophyll a content reduced by 25%). Its bacteriostatic effect has a certain inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio (inhibition zone diameter 10-15mm), which can reduce the incidence rate of shrimp (incidence rate reduced by 15%-20%).

In terms of cleaning auxiliaries for breeding environment, alkyl glycosides can be used as green cleaning agents for disinfection of breeding facilities. When compounded with peracetic acid (ratio 3:1), the removal rate of biofilm on breeding cages can reach more than 90%, and the disinfection effect lasts 2-3 days longer than that of single peracetic acid. The skin irritation of this compound agent to operators (rabbit skin irritation index < 0.5) is significantly lower than that of traditional chlorine-containing disinfectants, and it can be quickly degraded in water (half-life < 24 hours).

Application prospects and technical challenges

The application of alkyl glycosides in the agricultural field shows a trend of "multi-functionalization and greenization", but their promotion still faces technical bottlenecks. In terms of formulation adaptation, alkyl glycosides with different carbon chain lengths have significant performance differences (for example, short-chain APG has strong wetting power, and long-chain APG has good emulsifying property), so they need to be accurately selected according to specific application scenarios; in terms of cost control, the current price of alkyl glycosides (15,000-30,000 yuan/ton) is higher than that of traditional auxiliaries, limiting large-scale application. In the future, through raw material localization (such as preparation from starch and vegetable oil), the cost is expected to be reduced by 30%-40%.

With the advancement of agricultural green development policies, the advantages of alkyl glycosides as "environmentally friendly" auxiliaries will become more prominent. It is expected that by 2030, their application proportion in pesticides and fertilizers will increase from the current 5%-8% to more than 20%, forming a full-chain green solution from field to table. At the same time, the research on the synergistic effect of alkyl glycosides with biostimulants and microbial agents will open up more application scenarios and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.