Cotton Defoliation – Protecting your Investment in Yield
Key Points
Agrion Crop Solutions’s cotton range of BIOPEST™, ENHANCE™ and CROPSHIELD™ have been developed specifically to improve the performance of cotton specific chemistry and in the case of BIOPEST™ provide standalone pest control.
- ENHANCE™
Higher emulsifier loaded products like ENHANCE™ facilitate rapid defoliation and are fit for the 0.5L/ ha use rate. - CROPSHIELD™
Fit for the 1L/ha use rate as a DC-Tron® replacement. - BIOPEST™
Use as a Canopy® equivalent for standalone control of sucking pests and in tank mixtures with glyphosate.
Our independently conducted defoliation research aims to provide simplified solutions and solid replicated data to prove the performance of our products.
(Source: Cotton Defoliation Evaluation Trial Report – Neels Van Rensburg Kapun – Dalby, Queensland (March 2014).
Defoliation – All Oils Are Not the Same
The Agrion Crop Solutions cotton product range has been developed for specific tasks. BIOPEST™, due to its unique base oil and formulation, is specifically designed to be safe for use in-crop for control of sucking pests and suppression of chewing insects.
Our defoliation products ENHANCE® and CROPSHIELD® have specific characteristics such as higher emulsifier loadings which make them more effective carriers in assisting defoliation active ingredients.
Other products in the market are recommended for season long usage – in early season mixtures with glyphosate for sucking pest control, as carriers for insecticides mid-season and for standalone sucking pest control – but are they really effective as defoliants? We set out with our independent large scale and replicated trial work to find out.
Large Scale Demonstrations
During the last few seasons, Agrion Crop Solutions engaged independent collaborators to conduct a number of large-scale demonstration trials to showcase the use of our defoliation products ENHANCE® and CROPSHIELD®. From Emerald to Hay, whether applied by air or ground, our products performed as well and in many cases were superior to other commonly used products.
Replicated Trails
Agrion Crop Solutions has engaged independent research companies to carry effectivement of our defoliation products ENHANCE® and CROPSHIELD®.
(Source: USDA droplet survival study Agrion Crop Solutions).
CROPSHIELD® Product Overview
Trials conducted on dryland and irrigated cotton crops over the many years have all shown that CROPSHIELD® performs equally as well as current defoliation oils such as DC-Tron Cotton®, ENHANCE®. CROPSHIELD® has been trialled with Dropp Liquid®, Dropp UltraMax® and other Thidiazuron defoliation products.
- 1 L/ha rate in combination with registered cotton defoliants.
- Compatible with Dropp Liquid® and Dropp UltraMax®.
- Compatible with Prep®.
- Field tested for both dryland and irrigated crops.
- Emulsifiable, narrow range petroleum spray oil.
- Active constituent 838 g/L petroleum oil.
- Cost competitive when compared to other equivalent products on the market.
- Available in bulk – 1000L, 205L or 20L containers to suit all requirements, minimising surplus at the end of the season.
- Full supported by Agrion Crop Solutions’s dedicated specialist team.
(Source: Griffiths Agriculture SAC12LB235 Brymaroo QLD).
ENHANCE® Product Overview
ENHANCE® is a highly refined paraffinic oil with non-ionic surfactants. It has been developed through extensive research for use as a quality oil at cotton defoliation at half the rate of DC-Tron Cotton® or other similar products.
- Premium crop oil concentrate.
- Premium cotton defoliation aid.
- Used at 0.5L/ha for defoliation.
- Endorsed by Bayer for use with Dropp Liquid®, Dropp Ultra Max® and Prep® and will be supported by Bayer in the field.
- Can be used for both aerial and ground rig application.
- Made in Australia for Australian conditions.
- Can reduce the potential of clogging or blockage of spray nozzles.
- After defoliation is over, ENHANCE® can be used as an adjuvant with a number of herbicides during allow or crop weed control.
- Rate of 0.5 – 1L/ha when used as a herbicide adjuvant.
- Superior droplet control of herbicides by altering the spray solution characteristics.
- Offering extreme stability under low water rates.
- Increasing the amount of canopy deposition by the applied spray.
- Increasing coverage by modifying the surface characteristics of plant cuticular wax.
- Enhancing the degree and rate that some pesticides are absorbed by plant tissue, even in dry conditions.
References
- CGS 2013 Defoliation Report – Claire Welsh – Goondiwindi, Queensland (March 2013)
- Cotton Defoliation Evaluation trial Report – Neels Van Rensburg Kapun – Dalby, Queensland (March 2014)
- Griffiths Agriculture SAC12LB235 – Brymaro, Queensland (March 2012)
- Kalyx KA14-141 – Wee Waa, NSW (April 2014)
Disclaimer and Copyright
This document should act as a guide only and no purchase or usage decisions should be made based on the information provided without obtaining independent, expert advice. Agrion Crop Solutions and contributors do not necessarily recommend or endorse any products or manufacturers referred to. Agrion Crop Solutions Pty Ltd will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information contained in this document. More information is available from Agrion Crop Solutions via agrion.com.au or 1800 778 247, or by contacting your local reseller.
© 2025 Agrion Crop Solutions Pty Ltd All Rights Reserved. Agrion Crop Solutions and the GREEN S icon, ENHANCE, CROPSHIELD, PLANTOCROP, BIOPEST, XSEED, ANTIEVAP, STIFLE, SE14 and LURE H2O are registered trademarks of Agrion Crop Solutions Pty Ltd.
