Development and testing of pesticide formulations with thermoplastic polymers

Thermoplastic polymers, mainly ethylene-vinyl acetate co-polymers (EVA), were used to prepare controlled release formulations of pesticides. EVA films with the incorporated herbicides desmetryn and atrazine successfully suppressed weed growth in field trials with white cabbage and sweet corn, respectively, at amounts of application comparable or even lower than those necessary with conventional techniques. The transfer of desmetryn from polymer films into the vapour phase was determined in the laboratory and found to be negligible compared with the release into water coming into contact with the films. Other examples of experimental applications of EVA formulations were control of aquatic weeds with the herbicides terbutryn and simetryn, root zone application of carbofuran in rice and cotton cultivation and the combined attraction and elimination of tsetse flies. (author). 7 refs, 4 figs, 2 tabs