Is this a substitute for the product label and a jar test?

No. This is a general planning reference based on widely published agronomic guidance. The product label is the legally binding source, and a small jar test of your actual products and water is the only way to confirm a specific physical mix is stable.

Why does glyphosate show antagonism with some products?

Glyphosate can be antagonised when tank-mixed with certain contact and ALS herbicides, and hard water cations such as calcium and magnesium can bind it. Ammonium sulfate is often added to condition water and reduce that antagonism. The reference flags these cases.

What does an amber flag mean?

Amber means the combination is commonly used but carries a caveat, such as a required water conditioner, a specific mixing order, reduced efficacy on certain weeds, or a crop-stage restriction. Read the note and verify against the labels before mixing.

Does compatibility depend on water quality and temperature?

Yes. Hard or alkaline water, very cold water, and high product concentration all increase the chance of antagonism or precipitation. The reference notes water conditioning where it matters, but you should still match conditions to your actual situation.

What mixing order reduces problems?

A common order is water conditioners and AMS first, then dry formulations (WDG/WP), then suspensions, then emulsifiable concentrates, then surfactants and oils last, with full agitation throughout. Always follow any order specified on the labels of the products you are using.

What is the Tank-Mix Partner Compatibility Reference?

Pick two agrochemical active ingredients and see a general compatibility flag plus notes on antagonism, precipitation, and adjuvant needs from an embedded reference. A planning aid for crop advisors before mixing multi-product loads. Runs in your browser. It runs free in your browser on Gera Tools, with nothing uploaded.

Tank-Mix Partner Compatibility Reference

Name: Tank-Mix Partner Compatibility Reference
Creator: Gera Tools
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Get one useful tool a week

Like this tool? Enter your email and we'll send you one genuinely useful Gera tool a week — plus a link to come back to this one. No spam, one-click unsubscribe any time.

Before pouring two or more agrochemicals into the same sprayer, you want a quick read on whether they play well together. This reference pairs common active ingredients and returns a general compatibility flag with notes on antagonism, precipitation, and water-conditioning needs, so you know where to focus a jar test before committing a full tank load.

How it works

The tool looks up your two selected active ingredients in an embedded matrix of well-documented agronomic interactions. Each pairing returns one of three flags:

Green: generally compatible and routinely tank-mixed in commercial practice.
Amber: usable with a caveat such as a required water conditioner, a specific mixing order, a crop-stage restriction, or a note on reduced efficacy against certain weeds.
Red: a recognised antagonism or physical incompatibility — avoid or test very carefully with a jar test before any field use.

The matrix is symmetric, so the order you pick the two products does not change the result. Pairings not in the reference return a neutral “no specific note — run a jar test” message rather than a false guarantee.

Common antagonism patterns

Understanding why incompatibilities arise helps you catch problems beyond what the matrix explicitly covers:

Glyphosate antagonism: glyphosate’s uptake can be reduced when tank-mixed with certain contact herbicides (like diquat) or ALS inhibitors, and its activity is further suppressed by hard-water cations (calcium, magnesium) binding to the molecule. Ammonium sulfate (AMS) at 1.7–2.3 kg per 100 litres of water conditions the solution and restores activity. The matrix flags these cases.

Physical precipitation: some emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations and water-dispersible granules (WDG) from different manufacturers flocculate when combined, especially in cold or alkaline water. Precipitation can block nozzle screens, cause uneven application, and reduce the effective dose of both products.

pH-sensitive hydrolysis: certain compounds break down quickly in alkaline solution. Organophosphate insecticides are a known example: mixing them in alkaline water or with alkaline tank partners accelerates hydrolysis, reducing efficacy before application.

Recommended mixing order

Following a consistent tank-filling sequence reduces most physical compatibility problems regardless of which combination the matrix flags:

Fill the tank to half volume with water.
Add water conditioners and AMS first with agitation running.
Add wettable powders (WP) and water-dispersible granules (WDG).
Add suspension concentrates (SC) and flowables.
Add emulsifiable concentrates (EC).
Add soluble liquids (SL).
Add surfactants, crop oils, and adjuvants last.
Top up with water, maintain agitation.

Apply the same order for the specific products as required by their individual labels, which always take precedence.

Notes and limits

This is a planning aid, not a binding clearance. Real-world compatibility depends on exact formulations, adjuvants, water hardness and pH, water temperature, and product concentration. Always read every product label, observe the most restrictive instruction across the combination, and run a jar test with your actual products and local water before committing a full tank load. The product label is the legal authority.