Round-up / Glyphosate

[WVBill]

Is there any way to extend the life of Round-up/Glyphosate once it's in the sprayer.

Sometimes when I mix up a 15 Gal sprayer tank I don't use it all. When I come back to use it in a week or two it has formed gelatenous globs in the tank and clogs the filter screen.

Anything I can add to keep that from happening?

 

[tulenutn2o]

Find somewhere to use it up, like the driveway. Or a neighbors place.

 

[Chuck52]

In my experience, glyphosate remains effective for an extended period after it is diluted for use. I've used some that sat over the winter, and clearly froze when the temps got to -5. It still worked. Remember that it is sold in various concentrations, that is, dilutions. So long as it is kept in a decent storage container, I see no obvious chemical reason why it would quickly degrade.

Chuck

 

[MossRoad]

In my experience, glyphosate remains effective for an extended period after it is diluted for use. I've used some that sat over the winter, and clearly froze when the temps got to -5. It still worked. Remember that it is sold in various concentrations, that is, dilutions. So long as it is kept in a decent storage container, I see no obvious chemical reason why it would quickly degrade.

Chuck

He's not asking if it will remain effective... he's asking how to stop it from globbing up his sprayer if he lets is sit for a week or so.

 

[Chuck52]

Ah yes, sorry I missed the point. Maybe I use a different formulation because I don't seem to see the globbing behavior.

Chuck

 

[om21braz]

The RoundUp QuikPro (granular / dissolves in water) does'nt seem to be too bad if left in the sprayer for a while. Check link out.

http://quikpro.com/download/QuikPROBrochure.pdf

 

[Redbug]

I have never had my Roundup glob up in a tank like yours Bill. I wonder why yours is doing that? Do you leave it in the sun? Only a week or two? That's got me bamboozled. Are you adding any surficants, or sulfate?

It's got to be the water. Where are you drawing the water from? Aside from globbing up...water drawn from a ditch, etc., is not good to mix with glyphosphate. The impurities will interact with the chemical and reduce it's effectivness. It's best from a well or tap.

 

[schmism]

i use glyphosate and 2-4d mix in my backpack and have left a gallon or so extra sit for a week or more in the sun on a number of occasions with no clogging/plugging/gelling issues.....

 

[mustangsallysdad]

Seems everyone is too busy telling you how they don't have a problem with their glyphosate to help you with your problem. So...glyphosate is a sodium or calcium based product, so it is readily soluble in water...sounds to me like the problem is the surfactant used in whatever brand you are using (helps it stick to the foliage). I would think that a little hot water and some agitation would fix it. I wouldn't worry too much about a pint or quart of hot water in a 15 gallon sprayer diluting it to the point of making it ineffective. I make this statement by assuming and reading between the lines that you are using a concentrate. If not, I wouldn't add any more water than necessary. I use a generic sodium glyphosate concentrate and have had the same problem you describe with the surfactant coming out of solution after sitting for awhile.

 

[HickoryNut]

Every generic brand I've tried gels up after a week, the high-dollar Roundup super-concentrate has never gone bad after sitting for over a month. So I use generic early in the season when I'm using lots of it then keep Roundup in the tank from about now thru July for touch up jobs.

Any trace of Roundup or 2-4d left in your tank when you mix some MSMA crabgrass herbicide or the other way around will also make a gelatinous mess.

 

[Pilot]

Another "never had a problem" here. But I wonder is it some kind of mold build up? I would think it would be visible, but maybe not.

Maybe a thorough rinse with a little dilute bleach will cure the problem? Slosh it around to be sure it goes everywhere, then spray it out to make sure the pump and plumbing get it also.

 

[WVBill]

Well, thanks for the ideas.

What I've been using is Tractor Supply "GroundWork" Super weed & Grass Killer (Glyphosate 50%). It's at least 30% less expensive than the RoudUp Brand.

It's in a Tractor Supply (Fimco, I think) 15 Gal sprayer. It sits in the barn between uses so it's not in the direct sun.

I've tried agitating the leftover by sloshing the tank for a few minutes but it didn't seem to help.

I guess I'll just be more diligent in using up the whole tank in the future.

 

[clemsonfor]

I ve had that problem with the walmart generic glyphosate called grass killer or whatever. I think i get it after 2-4 weeks. i just spray it out or pour it out.

 

[techwrtr2]

I've not had the problem myself, but then I haven't used the generic products either. Sounds like something I need to keep in mind however.

 

[kenmac]

I had have the same problem . I just strain it , throw the blobs away and use the liquid. I have no idea why it does it. If I let mine sit for a week it will do it

 

[Alan L.]

I use a generic form of Glyphosate from Tractor Supply, and it definitely clogs the screen after sitting.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

It could be a problem with pH of the water. This type of problem happens if pH gets off. I used to manage a farm where we conducted chemical research. pH was always a concern and we had to adjust the pH to exact specifications to get many chemicals to behave properly. Long term mixed storage with poor pH can cause gooey globs of some nasty stuff.

 

[Pilot]

Interesting thought on the pH. Our pH is very low for well water, in the low 5 range. So maybe high pH is the problem--obviously low pH is not.

We don't have Tractor Supply around here and I use Buccaneer brand, which is another generic, 43%. It comes with a surfactant, which is good.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

My system treats my water to base, so Ph isn't the problem...it's the surfactant coming out of solution...most of the surfactants used today are silicone based liquids...I believe, if you examine the blobs, you will find that they are silicone.

 

[ToadHill]

My bet is that you use the sprayer for more than one product. I used to do commercial spraying and we always washed the rig out between products. It is common for some products to form a "Goo" if mixed, sometime it happens right away and some time it takes a while for it to happen.