AU714633B2 - Herbicidal composition - Google Patents

Description

-1 HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION This invention relates to herbicidal treatments and compositions using a mixture of a the herbicide butroxydim and an ammonium salt which show synergistic or other activity enhancing effects.

Butroxydim is 5-(3-butyryl-2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-[l- (ethoxyimino)propyl]-3-hydroxycyclohex-2-en- l-one, a herbicide of the general class of cyclohexanedione compounds disclosed in European Patent No. 85529. It has been found to be useful in the selective control of graminaceous weeds. Herbicidal compositions of butroxydim with other herbicides are disclosed in W09304581 and EP444769. WO 9314632 discloses granular compositions containing butroxydim.

Ammonium salts are not herbicidal at normal application rates and indeed they are used as fertilisers to enhance plant growth.

The applicants have found that the application of a mixture of butroxydim in combination with an ammonium salt produces a greater herbicidal effect against weed species than would be expected taking into account the activities of each of the compounds alone, and does not adversely affect the phytotoxicity towards the crop species.

Mixtures of butroxydim and other post-emergence broad leaved herbicides such as bentazone and fomesafen often show antagonism. The applicants have found that the addition of an ammonium salt to certain herbicidal mixtures reduces antagonism and improves weed control.

According to the present invention there is provided a herbicidal preparation comprising butroxydim and an ammonium salt, the butroxydim and the ammonium salt being in an amount producing a synergistic herbicidal effect Suitable ammonium salts include ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium citrate, diammonium phosphate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate.

A preferred ammonium salt is ammonium sulphate.

The preparations of the invention have useful herbicidal activity. They are capable of controlling the growth of a variety of plants including grass weed species in a wide range of situations such as agriculture and horticulture, forestry and amenity. They may uused on a wide range of broad leafed crops such as soya, beans, peanuts, cotton AMENDED SHEET

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-2 and sunflowers. The compounds are preferably applied to the above ground parts of growing plants (post-emergence application).

In another aspect therefore, the invention provides a process of inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants, by applying to the plants, or to the locus thereof, butroxydim and an ammonium salt, the butroxydim and the ammonium salt being in an amount producing a synergistic herbicidal effect.

The rate of application required to inhibit the growth of unwanted plants will depend on, for example, the particular species of plants the composition is desired to control.

However, as a general guide, an amount of from 0.001 to 1.0 kilogram preferably from 0.01 to 0.25 kilograms butroxydim and even more preferably 0.01 to 0.1 kilograms per hectare, is usually suitable. The ratio of the butroxydim to the ammonium salt applied is suitably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:2000 preferably from 1:1 to 1:50 and even more preferably from 1:1 to 1:10.

The butroxydim and the ammonium salt are suitably administered in the form of compositions.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a herbicidal composition comprising butroxydim and an ammonium salt and a solid or liquid diluent.

The ratio of butroxydim to the ammonium salt in the composition is preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:2000 preferably from 1:1 to 1:50 and even more preferably from 1:1 to 1:10.

The composition has been found to be particularly useful in post-emergence application to soya.

Preferably the composition also comprises a surface active agent or adjuvant.

The compositions of the invention may be solid compositions in the form of dispersible powders or grains comprising in addition to the active ingredient, a wetting agent to facilitate the dispersion of the powder or grains in liquids. Such powders or grains may include fillers, suspending agents and the like.

Liquid compositions include solutions, dispersions and emulsions containing the active ingredient preferably in the presence of one or more surface active agents. Water or organic liquids may be used to prepare solutions, dispersions, or emulsions of the active ingredient.

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<v oIPEA/EP WO 98/03068 PCT/GB97/01693 -3 The liquid compositions of the invention may also contain one or more corrosion inhibitors for example lauryl isoquinolinium bromide.

Surface active agents may be of the cationic, anionic or non-ionic type. Suitable agents of the cationic type include for example quaternary ammonium compounds, for example cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. Suitable agents of the anionic type include for example soaps, salts of aliphatic mono-esters of sulphuric acid, for example sodium lauryl sulphate; and salts of sulphonated aromatic compounds, for example dodecylbenzenesulphonate, sodium, calcium and ammonium lignosulphonate, butylnaphthalene sulphonate, and a mixture of the sodium salts of diisopropyl- and triisopropyl-naphthalenesulphonic acid.

Suitable agents of the non-ionic type include, for example, the condensation products of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols such as oleyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol, or with alkyl phenols such as octyl-phenol, nonylphenol, and octylcresol. Other non-ionic agents are the partial esters derived from long chain fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, for example sorbitol monolaurate; the condensation products of the said partial esters with ethylene oxide and the lecithins.

The compositions which are to be used in the form of aqueous solutions, dispersions or emulsions are generally supplied in the form of a concentrate containing a high proportion of the active ingredient, the concentrate being diluted with water before use. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful when the water being used for dilution of the concentrate contains sodium bicarbonate These concentrates are usually required to withstand storage for prolonged periods and after such storage to be capable of dilution with water in order to form aqueous preparations which remain homogeneous for a sufficient time to enable them to be applied by conventional spray equipment.

The compositions of the invention may contain, in addition to carriers and surface active agents, various other constituents to increase their usefulness. They may contain, for example, buffering salts to maintain the pH of the composition within a desired range; antifreeze agents, for example urea or propylene glycol; adjuvants, for example oils and humectants; and sequestrants, for example citric acid and ethylenediaminetetracetic acid, which help to prevent the formation of insoluble precipitates when the compositions are diluted with hard water. Aqueous dispersions may contain anti-settling agents and anti-caking agents. The compositions may in general contain a dye or pigment to impart a 1 4characteristic colour. Agents for increasing viscosity may be added to reduce the formation of fine droplets during spraying, and thereby reduce spray drift. Other additives useful for particular purposes will be known to those skilled in the formation art.

In general, concentrates may conveniently contain from 10 to 90% and preferably from to 90% by weight of active ingredient Dilute preparations ready for use may contain varying amounts of the active ingredient, depending upon the purpose for which they are to be used; however, dilute preparations suitable for many uses contain between 0.01% and 1% by weight of the active ingredient.

The preparation of the invention is preferably presented in a single composition.

However they may be presented in a two pack-container, one compartment of which containing a composition comprising a butroxydim in combination with a solid or liquid diluent and the second compartment contains a composition comprising an ammonium salt optionally in combination with a solid or liquid diluent, the butroxydim and the ammonium salt being in an amount producing a synergistic herbicidal effect.

The contents of the two compartments can then be admixed, for example by mixing both in water prior to administration.

The compositions of the invention may comprise, in addition to a butroxydim and an ammonium salt may contain one or more compounds which possess biological activity for example herbicides, fungicides, insecticides (optionally with an insecticide synergist) and plant growth regulators. The other herbicide will generally be a herbicide having a complementary action in the particular application.

Examples of useful complementary herbicides include: A. benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazin-4-one-2,2-dioxides such as bentazone; B. hormone herbicides, particularly the phenoxy alkanoic acids such as 2,4-DB and benazolin; C. diphenylether herbicides such as lactofen, fluroglycofen or salts or ester thereof, nitrofen, bifenox, aciflurofen and salts and esters thereof, oxyfluorfen, fomesafen, chlornitrofen and chlomethoxyfen; D. phenoxyphenoxypropionate herbicides such as diclofop and esters thereof such as the methyl ester, fluazifop and esters thereof, haloxyfop and esters thereof,

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quizalofop and esters thereof and fenoxaprop and esters thereof such as the ethyl ester; E. cyclohexanedione herbicides such as alloxydim and salts thereof, sethoxydim, cycloxyidim, tralkoxydim, and clethodim; F. sulfonyl urea herbicides such as chlorimuron and esters such as the ethyl ester thereof; G. imidazolidinone herbicides such as imazaquin, imazamethabenz, imazapyr and isopropylammonium salts thereof, imazethapyr; Throughout the description and claims of the specification the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is S° not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

0 The following examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Butroxydim was formulated as a 25% wettable granule and mixtures with ammonium sulphate (AMS) prepared as tank mixtures. An oil/surfactant blend, TURBOCHARGE (available from Zeneca Ltd), was added to all treatments at a concentration of 0.25% in the final spray volume. All spray solutions were applied 20 through a track sprayer to various species as shown in Table I at a volume of 2001/ha.

TABLE I *00 Test species Growth stage at treatment Species code Digitaria sanguinalis 6.5 leaves, 3 tillers DIGSA Echinochloa utilis 5.5 leaves ECHUT Setaria viridis 4.5 leaves SETVI All species were grown in compost in 3" pots. The phytotoxicity was visually assessed at 21 days after application on a 0-100% scale where 0 indistinguishable from control and 100 complete kill.

The results are given in Table II.

C:My DonuamaU\nb\Sf pd\3.doc WO 98/03068 PCT/GB97/01693 TABLE II Rate AMS DIGSA ECHUT SETVI ga/ha CONC butroxydim 1 0 0 3 butroxydim 2 13 0 0 butroxydim 4 59 18 butroxydim 8 92 78 butroxydim 1 0.04 38 30 63 butroxydim 2 0.04 87 85 86 butroxydim 4 0.04 97 100 98 butroxydim 8 0.04 98 100 99 butroxydim 1 0.08 42 45 67 butroxydim 2 0.08 92 94 92 butroxydim 4 0.08 96 100 98 butroxydim 8 0.08 98 100 99 butroxydim 1 0.12 68 63 butroxydim 2 0.12 89 89 91 butroxydim 4 0.12 98 100 99 butroxydim 8 0.12 98 100 99 EXAMPLE 2 Butroxydim was formulated as a 25 wettable granule and mixtures with bentazone (as BASAGRAN, available from BASF) and/or ammonium sulphate (AMS) prepared as tank mixtures. An oil/surfactant blend, TURBOCHARGE (available from Zeneca Ltd), was added to all treatments at a concentration of 0.5% in the final spray volume. All spray solutions were applied through a track sprayer to various species as shown in Table III at a volume of 2001/ha.

WO 98103068 PCT/GB97/01693 -7- TABLE III Test species Growth stage Species at treatment code Digitaria sanguinalis 5.5-6.5 leaves, 3-4 tillers DIGSA Echinochloa crus-galli 5.5 leaves ECI-CG Brachiariaplantaginea 4.5-5.5 leaves, 1-2 tillers BRAPL-f All species were grown in compost in 3" pots. The phytotoxicity was visually assessed at 21 days after application on a 0- 100% scale where 0 indistinguishable from control and 100 complete kill.

The results are given in Table IV.

TABL IV Rate AMS BRAPL DLGSA ECHCG ga/ha CONC% butroxydim. 1 -3 5 3 butroxydim 2 23 92 butroxydim 4 100 96 98 butroxydim. I 1 5 0 Basagran 480 butroxydim 2 2 20 0 Basagran 480 WO 98/03068 WO 9803068PCT/GB97/01693 -8abutroxydim 4 -2 87 Basagran 480 butroxydim 8 42 92 84 Basagran 480 butroxydim 1 0.066 2 3 3 Basagran 480 butroxydim 2 0.066 3 40 38 Basagran 480 butroxydim 4 0.066 43 90 98 Basagran 480 butroxydim 8 0.066 100 99 100 Basagran 480 butroxydim 1 0.1 1 2 17 Basagran 480 butroxydim 2 0.1 14 67 Basagran 480 butroxydim 4 0.1 43 94 Basagran 480 butroxydim 8 0.1 100 98 99 Basagraxi 480 butroxydim 1 0.5 5 3 0 Basagran 480 butroxydim 2 0.5 3 18 13 Basagran 480 butroxydim 4 0.5 100 96 98 Basagran 480 butroxydim 8 0.5 100 97 99 Basagran 480

Claims (6)

1. A herbicidal preparation comprising butroxydim in combination with an ammonium salt, the butroxydim and the ammonium salt being in an amount producing a synergistic herbicidal effect.

2. A herbicidal preparation according to claim 1 containing an additional herbicide. 10

3. A herbicidal preparation according to claim 2 wherein the additional herbicide is bentazone.

4. A herbicidal preparation according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the *ammonium salt is ammonium sulphate.

5. A herbicidal preparation according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the preparation is in the form of a single composition.

6. A process for inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants, by applying to the 20 plants, or to the locus thereof, butroxydim and an ammonium salt, the butroxydim and the ammonium salt being in an amount producing a synergistic herbicidal effect. S S7. A herbicidal preparation according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore 25 described with reference to any of the examples. 66 DATED: 25 October, 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: ZENECA LIMITED C:My Docunialn\flo. Spc \31180 doc