Reducing fines from an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle is provided in the disclosed methods. The agricultural spray comprises water, an agricultural composition such as a pesticide, at least one oil emulsion drift reduction adjuvant, and at least one spontaneous emulsion drift reduction adjuvant. The agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets having a diameter less than about 105 μm, about 150 μm, and/or about 210 μm compared to an agricultural spray neither or only one of the oil emulsion drift reduction adjuvant and the spontaneous emulsion drift reduction adjuvant.

Disclosed herein are improved soils for use in agriculture and other fields. The improved soils include atmospheric water harvesting networks which more efficiently hydrate the soil, reducing the need for external water inputs in germination and growth stages.

This invention relates to a horticulture additive comprising: (1) a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a multi-branched polymer comprising at least one of an oxygen-containing and a nitrogen-containing polyfunctional base compound having at least three branches attached thereto, and (2) a humectant. The horticulture additive is advantageous for increasing plant survival of plants treated therewith when exposed to reduced watering conditions.

This invention relates to a horticulture additive comprising: (1) a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a multi-branched polymer comprising at least one of an oxygen-containing and a nitrogen-containing polyfunctional base compound having at least three branches attached thereto, and (2) a humectant. The horticulture additive is advantageous for increasing plant survival of plants treated therewith when exposed to reduced watering conditions.

Methods of increasing soil water content are described. The methods may include applying a soil enhancement agent to the soil, where the soil enhancement agent includes one or both of (i) lactobionic acid and (ii) at least one salt of lactobionic acid. Treated soils with increased soil water content are also described. The treated soils may include a soil enhancement agent absorbed into the soil. The soil enhancement agent may include at least one salt of a lactobionic acid. Cations from the at least one salt of a lactobionic acid may aggregate at least a portion of the particles in the soil.

Methods of increasing soil water content are described. The methods may include applying a soil enhancement agent to the soil, where the soil enhancement agent includes one or both of (i) lactobionic acid and (ii) at least one salt of lactobionic acid. Treated soils with increased soil water content are also described. The treated soils may include a soil enhancement agent absorbed into the soil. The soil enhancement agent may include at least one salt of a lactobionic acid. Cations from the at least one salt of a lactobionic acid may aggregate at least a portion of the particles in the soil.

Provided is a method and mixture for treating a hydrophobic surface. The mixture comprises a wetting agent comprising;

a compound of Formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein:
R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, aryl(C.sub.1-24)alkyl, —C(═O)—R.sup.1, C(═O)—NHR.sup.1, and C(═O)—O—R.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, C.sub.1-24 arylalkyl; A is an organic moiety derived from the group consisting of alkylene oxides having 4-12 carbon atoms and aryl epoxides having 8-12 carbon atoms; x=1-300; y=0-200; z=0-200; and
with the proviso that R and R′ cannot be H or ether functionality at the same time; and a compound of Formula II:

[R.sup.2O—(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.x—(CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O).sub.y].sub.z—P(O)(OM).sub.3-z  Formula II

where R.sup.2 is C1-C24 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl; x=0-20; y=0-20; z=1 or 2 and M is H, Na, K, Ca, Mg or Li.

Provided is a method and mixture for treating a hydrophobic surface. The mixture comprises a wetting agent comprising;

a compound of Formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein:
R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, aryl(C.sub.1-24)alkyl, —C(═O)—R.sup.1, C(═O)—NHR.sup.1, and C(═O)—O—R.sup.1 wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-24 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1-24 alkylaryl, C.sub.1-24 arylalkyl; A is an organic moiety derived from the group consisting of alkylene oxides having 4-12 carbon atoms and aryl epoxides having 8-12 carbon atoms; x=1-300; y=0-200; z=0-200; and
with the proviso that R and R′ cannot be H or ether functionality at the same time; and a compound of Formula II:

[R.sup.2O—(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.x—(CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O).sub.y].sub.z—P(O)(OM).sub.3-z  Formula II

where R.sup.2 is C1-C24 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl; x=0-20; y=0-20; z=1 or 2 and M is H, Na, K, Ca, Mg or Li.

An improved mineral oil is useful in protecting sod during the harvesting, transporting, and reestablishment of the sod. The improved mineral oil mimics the cuticular wax of the sod plant. It is applied to a plot of sod one (1) or more times before harvesting the sod so that the improved mineral oil is generally aborbed by the sod plants. A solution including the improved mineral oil and copper pigment in water with an emulsifier may be used. Methods for protecting sod during the harvesting, transporting, and reestablishment of the sod using of the improved mineral oil are described.

A method for wetting and/or conditioning soil comprises applying a soil treatment composition containing hydrolysed protein to the soil. The soil treatment composition preferably contains a surfactant selected from ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EO/PO) block copolymer and/or an alkyl polyglycoside. The soil treatment composition may also contain an additional alkoxylate surfactant.