What is one of the types of adjuvants included in pesticide formulations?

Surfactants are a type of adjuvant commonly included in pesticide formulations to enhance the effectiveness of the active ingredients. They facilitate the spreading and wetting of the pesticide on the target surface, improve the mixture’s stability, and help in the penetration of the pesticide into plant tissues or other surfaces. By reducing the surface tension of the spray solution, surfactants allow for better coverage, ensuring that the pesticide adheres effectively to the target pest or plant.

In contrast, while stabilizers, preservatives, and thickeners may also play important roles in formulations, they do not serve the same primary function as adjuvants do in enhancing the application and performance of pesticides. Stabilizers are often used to maintain the efficacy of the pesticide over time, preservatives extend shelf life by preventing degradation, and thickeners modify the viscosity of the solution for better application characteristics, but none of these fulfill the crucial role of improving the wetting and spreading characteristics during application like surfactants do.