RU2848225C1 - Method of weed control - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: method for controlling weeds comprises treating soil having a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65% with columnar pyroxasulphone crystals or an agrochemical composition obtained by pulverising a powder or suspension containing columnar pyroxasulphone crystals.

EFFECT: high herbicidal effect over a long period of time.

4 cl, 2 tbl, 4 ex

Description

AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for controlling weeds using columnar pyroxasulfone crystals. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for controlling weeds characterized in that the pyroxasulfone crystals in this form are applied to soil having a specific soil texture to achieve a high herbicidal effect.

LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002]

Pyroxasulfone is a known herbicidal active ingredient (Patent Document 1) and is commercially available in several countries, including Japan. Pyroxasulfone is known to exhibit strong herbicidal activity against grassy weeds such as barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), green foxtail (Setaria viridis), annual bluegrass (Poa annua), alpine sorghum (Sorghum halepense(L.) Pers.), foxtail equal (Alopecurus myosuroides), Italian chaff (Lolium multiflorum), hard chaff (Lolium Rigidum), wild oats (Avena fatuaL.), Beckmannia (Beckmannia syzigachne) and wild oats (Avena sativaL.); and amaranth weeds; broadleaf weeds such as knotweed (Persicaria lapathifolia), white goosefoot (Chenopodium album), chickweed (Stellaria mediaL.), Theophrastus's rope-maker (Abutilon theophrasti), prickly pectoral (Sida spinosa), Sesbania rossula (Sesbania exaltata), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.), bindweed (Ipomoea nil(L.) Roth), false bedstraw (Galium spuriumvar.echinospermon), Persian speedwell (Veronica persica), ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia), deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and violet Manchu (Viola mandshurica); and perennial and annual sedge-flowered weeds, such as cyperus rotundus (Cyperus rotundus), chufa (Cyperus esculentus), Killingia brevifolia (Kyllinga brevifoliavar.leiolepis), Asian cypress (Cyperus microiria) and syt iria (Cyperus iria); and has a broad herbicidal spectrum (Non-patent document 1).

[0003]

In general, soil tillage is a method of application using a herbicide, where the method is effective in fields. Although soil tillage can be expected to provide long-term pest control, its herbicidal effect varies depending on environmental conditions after field application. For example, soil type and rainfall after herbicide application are factors that modify the herbicidal effect, and the herbicidal effect may decrease depending on the combination of soil type and rainfall.

[0004]

On the other hand, depending on the production method, the resulting pyroxasulfone crystals exhibit different X-ray powder diffraction spectra, reflecting characteristics of a columnar or acicular form. Furthermore, it is known that differences in crystal form cause differences in wettability, redispersibility, and the like (Patent Document 2).

[0005]

However, it was not known that the difference in the crystalline form of pyroxasulfone caused the difference in herbicidal effect.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0006]

[Patent Document 1] WO 02/062770 A1

[Patent Document 2] WO 2021/002484 A2

NON-PATENT DOCUMENT

[0007]

[Non-Patent Document 1] Yoshihiro Yamaji, Hisashi Honda, Masanori Kobayashi, Ryo Hanai, Jun Inoue. “Weed Control efficacy of a novel herbicide, pyroxasulfone”, 2014, Volume 39, Issues 3, Pages 165-169

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008]

The object of the present invention is to create a more effective method for controlling weeds in the case where the soil is treated with pyroxasulfone.

PROBLEM SOLVING TOOLS

[0009]

As a result of intensive research, the author of the present invention found that the object can be achieved by treating soil with columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone for soil having a certain composition, thereby completing the present invention.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention are as follows.

[0011]

[1] A method of weed control characterized by treating soil with a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65% with columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone.

[0012]

[2] A method of controlling weeds, characterized by treating soil with a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65% with an agrochemical composition obtained by a step of pulverizing a powder or suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone.

[0013]

[3] The method as described in paragraph 2 above, wherein the agrochemical composition is a wettable powder, a wettable granule, an aqueous suspension or an oil suspension.

[0014]

[4] A method according to any of the above described in paragraphs 1-3, where the total amount of precipitation during the first 7 days after soil treatment is at least 15 mm.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015]

According to the present invention, a high herbicidal effect can be achieved by treating the soil with pyroxasulfone under given conditions.

METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016]

The present invention uses pyroxasulfone. This name is the ISO name (common name according to the International Organization for Standardization). Its chemical name is 3-[5-(difluoromethoxy)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-4-ylmethylsulfonyl]-4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-1,2-oxazole.

[0017]

Two types of crystal shapes, acicular crystals and columnar crystals, are known as pyroxasulfone crystal shapes. These shapes, along with their production methods, are described in Patent Document 2. In this document, the term "columnar" for a crystal shape means that when a rectangle is inscribed in the orthogonal projection of the crystal to be observed, the ratio of the long and short sides of the rectangle is from 1:1 to 1:10, preferably from 1:1 to 1:5. The term "acicular" for a crystal shape means that the long side of the rectangle is 10 times longer than the short side. The shape of pyroxasulfone crystals can be observed using means such as optical or electron microscopy, and the observation method is not particularly limited. The columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone used in the present invention may contain a mixture of needle-shaped crystals, but when out of 10 randomly selected crystals, it is preferable that 8 or more crystals have a columnar shape.

[0018]

The columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone used in the present invention can be obtained by a known method such as a crystallization method. Examples of the method include a concentration method, a weak solvent addition method, a vapor diffusion method (including a sessile drop method, a hanging drop method, and a sandwich drop method), a batch method (including an oil batch method), a dialysis method, a liquid-liquid diffusion method (counter diffusion method), a cooling method, a pressure method, a melting-quenching method, a thermal cycling method, a suspension stirring method, and an ultrasonic method. One preferred embodiment of the method for producing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in the present invention is a concentration method that uses a pyroxasulfone solution containing: a solvent containing an organic solvent as a main component; and pyroxasulfone as a solute; wherein the organic solvent is evaporated from the pyroxasulfone solution to precipitate pyroxasulfone. Another preferred embodiment of the method for producing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in the present invention is a method of adding a weak solvent, which uses a solution of pyroxasulfone containing: a solvent that contains an organic solvent as a main component; and pyroxasulfone as a solute; wherein a weak solvent of pyroxasulfone is added to the solution of pyroxasulfone to precipitate pyroxasulfone.

[0019]

The term "evaporation" means removing some or all of the organic solvent contained in the solvent from the solution by evaporation, using evaporation or boiling. By evaporating the organic solvent contained in the pyroxasulfone solution, the solution is concentrated to supersaturation. As a result, the pyroxasulfone, which becomes excess relative to the solvent, precipitates as crystals. Evaporation can be carried out at normal pressure, or under reduced or elevated pressure, as desired. Evaporation can be carried out at room temperature or with the system heated or cooled, as desired.

[0020]

The term "weak solvent" refers to a solvent with low solubility for the solute. When adding a weak solvent to a pyroxasulfone solution, the solubility of pyroxasulfone decreases as the amount of weak solvent added increases, leading to supersaturation. As a result, pyroxasulfone, which becomes excess relative to the solvent, precipitates as crystals. The addition of the weak solvent can be performed at room temperature or with the system heated or cooled, as desired.

[0021]

In any embodiment of the method for producing columnar pyroxasulfone crystals in the present invention, it cannot be said that any organic solvent can be used arbitrarily, and the choice of organic solvent is extremely important. An incorrect choice of organic solvent will result in the inability to obtain columnar pyroxasulfone crystals with the characteristic pattern detectable in the desired X-ray powder diffraction spectrum.

[0022]

In the method in which the pyroxasulfone of the present invention is precipitated by evaporating an organic solvent, examples of the organic solvent that can be used include at least the following: aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives (such as benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene and nitrobenzene), halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as dichloromethane and tetrachloroethylene), alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol andrubs-butanol), nitriles (such as acetonitrile and propionitrile), carboxylic acids (such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid), esters of carboxylic acids (such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate and its isomers and pentyl acetate and its isomers), ethers (such as tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, di-rubs-butyl ether, cyclopentyl methyl ether, methyl-third-butyl ether, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and diglyme), ketones (such as methyl isopropyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone), amides (such asN,N-dimethylformamide andN,N-dimethylacetamide), ureas (such asN,N'-dimethylimidazolidinone and tetramethylurea), sulfoxides (such as diethyl sulfoxide) and sulfones (such as sulfolane); and arbitrary combinations thereof in arbitrary ratios; in particular, nitriles, carboxylic acids, carboxylic esters, ketones, amides and dihalogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

[0023]

Among them, examples of preferred organic solvents include the following: C2 _{- C5} alkanenitrile, _C1 - _C4 carboxylic acids, _C1 - _C4 alkyl _C1 - _C4 carboxylate, _C1 - _C4 alkyl _C1 - _C4 alkyl ketone, N,N -di( _C1 - _C4 alkyl) _C1 - _C4 alkanamide and _C1 - _C4 dihaloalkane; specifically, acetonitrile, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, N,N -dimethylformamide, N,N -dimethylacetamide and dichloromethane.

[0024]

In the above embodiment, the solvent contained in the pyroxasulfone solution may also contain water. Thus, the solvent may be a water-containing solvent. However, to achieve sufficiently high solubility of pyroxasulfone in a water-containing solvent, the solvent preferably contains an organic solvent as its main component. The term "contains a particular component as its main component" as used herein means that the component's content constitutes at least one-third of the total components contained in the composition in question.

[0025]

Among the solvents described above, examples of the preferred solvents include the following: _C1 - _C4 alcohol/ _C2 - _C5 alkanenitrile mixed solvents, water-containing _C2 - _C5 alkanenitrile, _C1 - _C4 carboxylic acid, _C1 - _C4 alkyl _C1 - _C4 carboxylate, N,N -di( _C1 - _C4 alkyl) _C1 - _C4 alkanamide, and C1- _C4 dihaloalkane/ _C1 - _C4 alcohol mixed solvents; specifically, acetonitrile/methanol mixed solvents, water _- containing acetonitrile, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, N,N -dimethylformamide, N,N -dimethylacetamide, and dichloromethane/ethanol mixed solvents.

[0026]

On the other hand, among the organic solvents listed above, examples of solvents that should not be used alone include the following: chloroform, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, trifluoroethanol, and carbon sulfide. However, methods in which these organic solvents are used in combination with other organic solvents, as well as methods in which aqueous solvents containing these organic solvents and water are used, are not excluded.

[0027]

In the method in which a weak solvent is added to precipitate columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in the present invention, examples of the organic solvent that can be used include at least the following: aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives (such as benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene and nitrobenzene), halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as dichloromethane and tetrachloroethylene), alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol and tert -butanol), nitriles (such as acetonitrile and propionitrile), carboxylic acids (such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid), carboxylic acid esters (such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, butyl acetate and its isomers and pentyl acetate and its isomers), ethers (such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, diisopropyl ether, dibutyl ether, di- tert -butyl ether, cyclopentyl methyl ether, methyl- tert -butyl ether, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and diglyme), ketones (such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone), amides (such as N,N -dimethylformamide, N,N -dimethylacetamide and N- methylpyrrolidone), ureas (such as N,N'- dimethylimidazolidinone and tetramethylurea), sulfoxides (such as dimethyl sulfoxide and diethyl sulfoxide) and sulfones (such as sulfolane); and arbitrary combinations thereof in arbitrary ratios; in particular, nitriles, ketones and carboxylic esters.

[0028]

Among them, examples of preferred organic solvents include the following: C ₂ -C ₅ alkane nitrile and C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl C ₁ -C ₄ carboxylate; in particular, acetonitrile, acetone and ethyl acetate.

[0029]

In the above embodiment, the solvent contained in the pyroxasulfone solution may also contain water. Thus, the solvent may be a water-containing solvent. However, to achieve sufficiently high solubility of pyroxasulfone in a water-containing solvent, the solvent preferably contains an organic solvent as its main component.

[0030]

The weak solvent used in the above embodiment is a solvent in which the solubility of pyroxasulfone at 20°C is not more than 50 g/L, and examples of the weak solvent include at least the following: ethers (such as diethyl ether, methyl tert -butyl ether, anisole and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran), carboxylic acid esters (such as isopropyl acetate), ketones (such as methyl isobutyl ketone), aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as cyclohexane and heptane), alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol and tert -butanol), aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives (such as toluene and xylene) and water; in particular, alcohols.

[0031]

The weak solvent is preferably a weak solvent compatible with the solvent contained in the pyroxasulfone solution. The weak solvent is preferably a C ₁ -C ₄ alcohol, more preferably ethanol or isopropanol, and particularly preferably ethanol.

[0032]

Among the combinations of the solvent contained in the pyroxasulfone solution and the weak solvent, combinations containing the following are particularly preferred: acetonitrile and ethanol; acetone and ethanol; or ethyl acetate and ethanol.

[0033]

In any of the above cases, the seed crystal can be used to obtain columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in the present invention.

[0034]

In one embodiment, the pyroxasulfone solution may be a reaction solution used for the pyroxasulfone synthesis reaction. The method for synthesizing pyroxasulfone is not particularly limited. Pyroxasulfone can be synthesized by a known method. The method for synthesizing pyroxasulfone is preferably a method comprising step (iii) in Patent Document 2.

[0035]

In powder X-ray analysis by the transmission method using the Cu-Kα line, the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone thus obtained preferably exhibit a spectrum having peaks at diffraction angles 2θ in at least the ranges of 17.8 to 17.9°, 18.0 to 18.1°, and 19.9 to 20.0°, and the peak in the range of 19.9 to 20.0° is preferably the highest of the three peaks.

[0036]

In cases where columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone are used as the herbicide-active component, the crystals can be used separately, but from the point of view of safety, convenience, etc., it is preferable to process the crystals into an agrochemical composition containing an agrochemical adjuvant, that is, into an agrochemical composition, before use.

[0037]

The columnar pyroxasulfone crystals used in the present invention can be processed into various forms of agrochemical formulations using known, conventional formulation methods. The present invention also includes such agrochemical formulations (which may be referred to hereinafter as agrochemical formulations of the present invention). The agrochemical formulations of the present invention can be obtained by grinding a powder or suspension containing the columnar pyroxasulfone crystals.

[0038]

Examples of the form of the agrochemical composition used in the present invention include, but are not limited to, methods for spraying the compositions on agricultural land and the like, such as powder compositions and granular compositions; and types of compositions that are suspensions prepared by suspending in spray water, where the suspensions are to be sprayed on agricultural land and the like, such as wettable powders, wettable granules, aqueous suspensions and oil suspensions.

[0039]

Preferred examples of the form of the agrochemical formulation include formulation variants that are suspensions prepared by suspending in sprayable water, where the suspensions are intended for spraying on agricultural lands and the like, such as wettable powders, wettable granules, aqueous suspensions and oil suspensions.

[0040]

In one embodiment, more preferred specific examples of the form of the agrochemical composition include solid compositions such as wettable powders and wettable granules.

[0041]

Even more preferred specific examples of solid compositions include wettable powders.

[0042]

In another embodiment, more preferred specific examples of the form of the agrochemical composition include liquid compositions such as aqueous suspensions and oil suspensions.

[0043]

Even more preferred specific examples of liquid compositions include aqueous suspensions.

[0044]

Wettable powders are solid powder compositions containing an agrochemically active component (in the present invention, columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone) and, as agrochemical adjuvants, a surfactant and a solid carrier. The methods for producing wettable powders are not limited.

[0045]

Wettable granules are granular solid compositions containing an agrochemically active component (in the present invention, columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone) and, as agrochemical adjuvants, a surfactant and a solid carrier. The methods for producing wettable granules are not limited.

[0046]

Aqueous suspensions are aqueous liquid compositions containing an agrochemically active component (in the present invention, columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone) and, as agrochemical adjuvants, a surfactant and water. The methods for producing aqueous suspensions are not limited.

[0047]

Oil suspensions are liquid oil compositions containing an agrochemically active component (in the present invention, columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone) and, as agrochemical adjuvants, a surfactant and an oil dispersion medium. A weak solvent for the agrochemically active component is preferably used as the oil dispersion medium. The methods for producing oil suspensions are not limited.

[0048]

The amount and ratio of the included surfactant can be appropriately set by those skilled in the art. One type of surfactant may be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary surfactants may be used. Examples of the surfactant include, but are not limited to, nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene castor oils, polyoxyalkylene hydrogenated castor oils, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyalkylene arylphenyl ethers, sorbitan monoalkylates, acetylene alcohols and acetylenediol and their alkylene oxide adducts; cationic surfactants such as tetraalkylammonium salts, alkylamines and alkylpyrimidinium salts; anionic surfactants such as alkyl aryl sulfonic acid salts such as alkyl benzene sulfonates and their condensate, dialkyl sulfonic acid salts, dialkyl succinic acid salts, aryl sulfonic acid salts and their condensates, alkyl sulfuric acid ester salts, alkyl phosphoric acid ester salts, alkyl aryl sulfuric acid ester salts, alkyl aryl phosphoric acid ester salts, lignin sulfonic acid salts, polycarboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether phosphoric acid salts, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether sulfuric acid salts such as polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether sulfates, polyoxyalkylene aryl ether phosphoric acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl aryl ether sulfuric acid salts, and polyoxyalkylene alkyl aryl ether phosphoric acid salts and; amphoteric surfactants such as alkyl betaines, alkylamine oxides, alkylimidazolinium betaines, amino acids and lecithins; silicone-based surfactants such as polyether-modified silicones; and fluorine-based surfactants such as perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid and fluorinated telomeric alcohols.

[0049]

The amount and ratio of the included solid carrier can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. One type of solid carrier can be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary solid carriers can be used. Examples of the solid carrier include, but are not limited to, mineral powders such as bentonite, talc, clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, amorphous silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate; organic substances such as saccharides, including glucose, sugar, and lactose, carboxymethyl cellulose and its salts, starch, dextrin and its derivatives, microcrystalline cellulose, and urea; and water-soluble inorganic salts such as sodium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, and potassium chloride.

[0050]

The amount and ratio of the included oil dispersion medium can be appropriately set by those skilled in the art. One type of oil dispersion medium can be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary oil dispersion medium can be used. Examples of the oil dispersion medium include, but are not limited to, animal fats such as whale oil, cod liver oil, musk oil and mink oil; vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, maize oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, thistle oil, walnut oil, peanut oil, olive oil, papaya oil, camellia oil, palm oil, sesame oil, rice bran oil, peanut oil, tung oil, sunflower oil and castor oil; fatty acid esters such as methyl oleate, rapeseed methyl esters and rapeseed ethyl esters; and mineral oils such as paraffins, olefins, alkyl benzenes (including toluene, xylene, mesitylene and ethyl benzene), alkyl naphthalenes (including methyl naphthalene, dimethyl naphthalene and ethyl naphthalene), kerosene and phenyl xylyl ethane.

[0051]

In addition, the agrochemical composition used in the present invention may contain, if desired, agrochemical adjuvants, such as binding agents such as starch, alginic acid, glycerol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyurethane, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutene, polyvinyl alcohol, glazing gum, liquid paraffin, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate and polysaccharide thickeners (including xanthan gum, acacia and guar gum); lubricating agents such as calcium stearate, talc and silicon dioxide; cryoprotectants such as water-soluble substances with a relatively low molecular weight (including urea and table salt) and water-soluble polyhydric alcohols (including propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol and glycerol); dyes such as Brilliant Blue FCF, Cyanine Green G and Eriogreen G; antiseptics such as sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, parachlorometaxylenol, butyl parahydroxybenzoate, sodium dehydroacetate, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-propane-1,3-diol and 1, 2-benzisothiazolin-3-one; pH adjusting agents such as inorganic acids (including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid), organic acids (including citric acid, phthalic acid and succinic acid), organometallic salts (including sodium citrate and potassium hydrogen phthalate), inorganic metal salts (including disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and sodium borate), hydroxides (including sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide) and organic amines (including triethanolamine); and antifoaming agents such as silicone-based antifoaming agents (including dimethylpolysiloxane and polyphenylsiloxane), fatty acids (including myristic acid) and metal salts of fatty acids (including sodium stearate). When the agrochemical composition of the present invention is a liquid solution, it may contain a thickening agent if desired. Examples of thickening agents include, but are not limited to, the materials described above as solid carriers and binding agents. When these agrochemical adjuvants are used in the agrochemical composition of the present invention, the amounts and ratios of the adjuvants included can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art.

[0052]

The agrochemical composition used in the present invention may optionally contain a toxicity-reducing agent. When a toxicity-reducing agent is used, the amount and ratio of the included agent can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. A single toxicity-reducing agent may be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of toxicity-reducing agents may be used. Examples of the toxicity reducing agent include, but are not limited to, benoxacor, furilazole, dichlormid, dicyclonone, DKA-24 (N1,N2-diallyl-N2-dichloroacetylglycinamide), AD-67 (4-dichloroacetyl-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane), PPG-1292 (2,2-dichloro-N-(1,3-dioxan-2-ylmethyl)-N-(2-propenyl)acetamide), R-29148 (3-dichloroacetyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine), cloquincet-mexyl, naphthalene anhydride (1,8-naphthalene anhydride), mefenpyr-diethyl, mefenpyr, mefenpyr-ethyl, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, MG-191 (2-dichloromethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxane), ciometrinil, flurazole, fluxofenim, isoxadifen, isoxadifen-ethyl, oxabetrinil, cyprosulfamide, lower alkyl-substituted benzoic acid, TI-35 (1-dichloroacetylazepane), and N-(2-methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfonamide (chemical name, CAS registry number: 129531-12-0).

[0053]

The agrochemical composition used in the present invention may optionally contain an additional herbicidal active ingredient separate from the columnar pyroxasulfone crystals. Where an additional herbicidal active ingredient is included, the amount and ratio of the included component can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. One type of additional herbicidal active ingredient may be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of optional additional herbicidal active ingredients may be used. Examples of the additional herbicidal active ingredient include, but are not limited to, ioxynil, aclonifen, acrolein, azaphenidine, acifluorfen (including its salts with sodium or the like), azimsulfuron, asulam, acetochlor, atrazine, anilofos, amicarbazone, amidosulfuron, aminotrol, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, amiprofos-methyl, ametryn, alachlor, alloxydim, isouron, isoxachlorotol, isoxaflutole, isoxaben, isoproturon, ipfencarbazone, imazaquin, imazapic (including its salts with amine or the like), imazapyr (including its salts with isopropylamine or the like), imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, indaziflam, indanofan, eglinazine-ethyl, esprocarb, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethalfluralin, ethidimuron, ethoxysulfuron, ethoxyfen-ethyl, ethofumesate, etobenzanide, endothal-disodium, oxadiazone, oxadiargyl, oxaziclomefon, oxasulfuron, oxyfluorfen, oryzalin, orthosulfamuron, orbencarb, oleic acid, cafenstrole, carfentrazone-ethyl, carbutylate, carbetamide, quizalofop (quizalofop-ethyl), quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, quinoclamine, quinclorac, quinmerac, cumiluron, klacifos, glyphosate (including its salts with sodium, potassium, ammonium, amine, propylamine, isopropylamine, dimethylamine, trimesium or the like), glufosinate (including its salts with amine, sodium or the like), glufosinate-P-sodium, clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, clopyralid, clomazone, chlomethoxifen, clomeprop, chloransulam-methyl, chloramben, chloridazone, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlorthiamide, chlorphthalim, chlorflurenol-methyl, chlorprofam, chlorbromuron, chloroxuron, chlortoluron, ketospiradox (including its salts with sodium, calcium, ammonium or the like), saflufenacil, sarmentine, cyanazine, cyanamide, diuron, Diethyl ethyl, dicamba (including its salts with amine, diethylamine, isopropylamine, diglycolamine, sodium, lithium or the like), cycloate, cycloxydim, diclosulam, cyclosulfamuron, cyclopyranil, cyclopyrimorate, dichlobenil, diclofop-P-methyl, diclofop-methyl, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, diquat, dithiopyr, siduron, dinitramine, cinidon-ethyl, cinosulfuron, dinoseb, dinoterb, cyhalofop-butyl, diphenamide, difenzoquat, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, simazine, dimethachlor, dimetamethrin, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, simethrine, dimepiperate, dimefuron, cinmethylin, sweep, sulcotrione, sulfentrazone, sulfosate, sulfsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sethoxydim, terbacil, daimuron, thaxtomin A, dalapon, thiazopyr, thiafenacil, thiencarbazone (including its sodium salt, methyl ester and the like), thiocarbazil, thiobencarb, thidiazimine, thifensulfuron-methyl, desmedipham, desmethrine, tetflupyrolimet, thenylchlor, tebutam, tebuthiuron, tepraloxydim, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, terbumetone, topramezone, tralkoxydim, triaziflam, triasulfuron, triafamone, tri-allate, triethazine, triclopyr, triclopyr-butothyl, trifludimoxazine, tritosulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, trifluralin, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, tribenuron-methyl, tolpyralat, naptalam (including its salts with sodium or the like), naproanilide, napropamide, napropamide-M, nicosulfuron, neburon, norflurazon, vernolate, paraquat, galauxifen-benzyl, galauxifen-methyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-ethothyl, halosaphen, halosulfuron-methyl, biclozone, picloram, picolinafen, bicyclopyrone, bispyribac-sodium, pinoxaden, bifenox, piperofos, pyraclonil, pyrasulfotol, pyrazoxyfene, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazolinate, bilanafos, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyridafol, Pyrithiobac sodium, pyridate, pyriftalide, pyributicarb, pyribenzoxime, pyrimisulfan, pyriminobac-methyl, pyroxsulam, fenisofam, fenuron, fenoxasulfone, fenoxaprop (including its methyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters), fenoxaprop-R (including its methyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters), fenquinotrione, fentiaprop-ethyl, fentrazamide, phenmedipham, butachlor, butafenacil, butamifos, butylate, butenachlor, butralin, butroxydim, flazasulfuron, flamprop (including its methyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters), flamprop-M (including its methyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters), primisulfuron-methyl, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-R-butyl, fluazolate, fluometuron, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, flucarbazone-sodium, fluchloralin, flucetosulfuron, flutiacet-methyl, flupirsulfuron-methyl-sodium, flufenacet, flufenpyr-ethyl, flupropanate, flupoxam, flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumetsulam, fluridone, flurtamone, fluroxypyr, flurochloridone, pretilachlor, procarbazone-sodium, prodiamine, prosulfuron, prosulfocarb, propaquizafop, propachlor, propazine, propanil, propyzamide, propisochlor, propylisulfuron, profame, profluazole, propoxycarbazone sodium, profoxydim, bromacil, brompirazon, prometryn, prometon, bromoxynil (including its esters with butyric acid, octanoic acid, heptanoic acid and the like), bromofenoxime, bromobutide, florasulam, florpyrauxifen, hexazinone, petoxamide, benazolin, penoxsulam, heptamaloxyloglucan, beflubutamide, beflubutamide-M, pebulate, pelargonic acid, bencarbazone, pendimethalin, benzphenedizone, bensulide, bensulfuron-methyl, benzobicyclone, benzofenap, bentazone, pentanochlor, pentoxazone, benfluralin, benfuresate, fosamine, fomesafen, foramsulfuron, mecoprop (including its salts with sodium, potassium, isopropylamine, triethanolamine, dimethylamine or the like), mecoprop-P-potassium, mesosulfuron-methyl, mesotrione, metazachlor, metazosulfuron, metabenzthiazuron, metamitron, metamifop, DSMA (methanirsonate disodium), methiozolin, methyldimuron, metoxuron, metosulam, metsulfuron-methyl, metobromuron, metobenzuron, metolachlor, metribuzin, mefenacet, monosulfuron (including its methyl, ethyl and isopropyl esters), monolinuron, molinate, iodosulfuron, iodosulfulon-methyl-sodium, iofensulfuron, iofensulfuron-sodium, lactofen, lancotrione, linuron, rimsulfuron, lenacil, TCA (2,2,2-trichloroacetic acid) (including its salts with sodium, calcium, ammonia or the like), 2,3,6-TBA (2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid), 2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid), 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) (including its salts with amine, diethylamine, triethanolamine, isopropylamine, sodium, lithium or the like), ACN (2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone), MCPA (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid), MCPB (2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxybutyric acid) (including its sodium salt, ethyl ester and the like), 2,4-DB (4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid), DNOC (4,6-dinitro-O-cresol) (including its salts with amine, sodium or the like), AE-F-150944 (code number), HW-02 (code number), IR-6396 (code number), MCPA-thioethyl, SYP-298 (code number), SYP-300 (code number), EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate), S-metolachlor, S-9750 (code number) and MSMA.

[0054]

The agrochemical composition used in the present invention may optionally contain an active pest control component in addition to the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone. When an active pest control component is included, the amount and ratio of the included component can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. A single type of active pest control component may be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary active pest control components may be used. Examples of the active ingredient for pest control include, but are not limited to, acrinathrin, azadirachtin, azamethiphos, azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, acequinocil, acetamiprid, acetoprole, acephate, azocyclotin, abamectin, afidopyropene, afoxolaner, amidoflumet, amitraz, alanycarb, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, allethrin [including its d-cis-trans isomer and d-trans isomer], isazophos, isamidophos, isocarbophos, isoxathion, isocycloseram, isofenphos-methyl, isoprocarb, ivermectin, imicyafos, imidacloprid, imiprothrin, indoxacarb, esfenvalerate, ethiofencarb, ethion, ethiprole, ethylenedi Bromide, Etoxazole, Etofenprox, Etoprofos, Ethrimfos, Emamectin Benzoate, Endosulfan, Empenthrin, Oxazosulfil, Oxamyl, Oxydemeton-methyl, Oxydeprofos, Omethoate, Cadusafos, Kappa-tefluthrin, Kappa-bifenthrin, Cadetrin, Carangin, Cartap, Carbaryl, Carbosulfan, Carbofuran, Gamma-BNS, Xylylcarb, Quinalphos, Kinoprene, Chinomethionate, Coumaphos, Cryolite, Clothianidin, Clofentezine, Chromafenozide, Chlorantraniliprole, Chlorethoxyphos, Chlordane, Chlorpicrin, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Chlorfenapyr, Chlorfenvinphos, Chlorfluazuron, Chlormephos, chlorprallethrin, cyanophos, diafenthiuron, diamidefos, cyantraniliprole, dienochlor, cyenopyrafen, dioxabenzophos, diphenolan, cyclaniliprol, dicrotophos, dichlorfenthion, cycloprothrin, dichlorvos, dichlormesothiaz, 1,3-dichloropropene, dicofol, dicyclanil, disulfoton, dinotefuran, dinobuton, cyhalodiamide, cyhalothrin [including its gamma isomer and lambda isomer], cyphenothrin [including its 1R-trans isomer], cyfluthrin [including its beta isomer], diflubenzuron, cyflumetofen, diflavidazine, cyhexatin, cypermethrin [including its alpha isomer, beta isomer, theta isomer and zeta isomer], Dimpropyridaz, Dimethylvinphos, Dimefluthrin, Dimethoate, Silafluofen, Cyromazine, Spinetoram, Spinosad, Spirodiclofen, Spirotetramat, Spiropidion, Spiromesifen, Sulcofuron Sodium, Sulfluramide, Sulfoxaflor, Sulfotep, Diazinon, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Tioxazafen, Thiodicarb, Thiocyclam, Thiosultap, Thionazine, Thiofanox, Thiometon, Ticlopirazoflor, Tetrachlorantraniliprole, Tetrachlorvinphos, Tetradifon, Tetraniliprol, Tetramethylfluthrin, Tetramethrin, Tebupirimphos, Tebufenozide, Tebufenpyrad, Tefluthrin, Teflubenzuron, Demeton-S-methyl, Temephos, Deltamethrin, terbufos, tralomethrin, transfluthrin, triazamate, triazophos, trichlorfon, triflumuron, triflumesopyrim, trimetacarb, tolfenpyrad, naled, nitenpyram, novaluron, noviflumuron, Verticillium lecanii, hydroprene, sporesPasteuria penetrans, vamidothion, parathion, parathion-methyl, halfenprox, halofenozide, bioallethrin, bioallethrin S-cyclopentenyl, bioresmethrin, bistrifluron, hydramethylnon, bifenazate, bifenthrin, piflumide, piperonyl butoxide, pymetrozine, pyraclofos, pyrafluprole, pyridafenthion, pyridaben, pyridalyl, pyrifluquinazone, pyriprole, pyriproxyfen, pirimicarb, pyrimidifen, pyriminostrobin, pirimiphos-methyl, pyrethrin, famphur, fipronil, fenazaquin, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenoxycarb, fenothiocarb, phenothrin [including its 1R-trans isomer], fenobucarb, fenthion, phenthoate, fenvalerate, Fenpyroximate, Fenbutatin Oxide, Fenpropathrin, Fonofos, Sulfuryl Fluoride, Butocarboxim, Butoxycarboxim, Buprofezin, Furathiocarb, Prallethrin, Fluacrypyrim, Fluazaindolizine, Fluazuron, Fluensulfone, Sodium Fluoroacetate, Fluxamethamide, Flucycloxuron, Flucythrinate, Flusulfamide, Fluvalinate [including its tau isomer], Flupyradifurone, Flupyrazophos, Flupyrimine, Flufiprole, Flufenerim, Flufenoxystrobin, Flufenoxuron, Fluhexafon, Flubendiamide, Flumethrin, Fluralaner, Prothiofos, Protrifenbut, Flonicamid, Propaphos, Propargite, Profenofos, Broflanilide, Brofluthrinate, profluthrin, propetamphos, propoxur, flometoquin, bromopropylate, hexythiazox, hexaflumuron, Paecilomyces tenuipes, Paecilomyces fumosoroceus, heptafluthrin, heptenophos, permethrin, benclothiaz, benzpyrimoxane, bensultap, benzoximate, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, Beauveria tenella, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria bronniartii, phoxim, phosalon, fosthiazate, phosphietan, phosphamidon, phosmet, polynactins, formetanate, phorate, malathion, milbemectin, mecarbam, mesulfenphos, methoprene, methomyl, metaflumizone, metamidophos, metham, methiocarb, methidathione, methyl isothiocyanate, methyl bromide, methoxychlor, methoxyfenozide, methotrin, metofluthrin, epsilon-metofluthrin, metolcarb, mevinphos, meperfluthrin, Monacrosporium phymatophagum, monocrotophos, momfluorothrin, epsilon-momfluorothrin, litlur-A, Litlur-B, Aluminum Phosphide, Zinc Phosphide, Phosphine, Lufenuron, Rescalure, Resmethrin, Lepimectin, Rotenone, Fenbutatin Oxide, Calcium Cyanide, Nicotine Sulfate, (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl=acetate, (Z)-11-Hexadecenal, (Z)-11-Hexadecenyl=acetate, (Z)-9,12-Tetradecadienyl=acetate, (Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol, (Z, E)-9,11-Tetradecadienyl=acetate, (Z, E)-9,12-Tetradecadienyl=acetate,Bacillus popilliae,Bacillus subtillis,Bacillus sphaericus,Bacillus thuringiensissubsp.Aizawa,Bacillus thuringiensissubsp.Israelensis,Bacillus thuringiensissubsp.Kurstaki,Bacillus thuringiensissubsp.Tenebrionis,Bt proteins (Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Fa, Cry2Ab, mCry3A, Cry3Ab, Cry3Bb, and Cry34/35Ab1), CL900167 (code number), DCIP (bis-(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) ether), DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane), DEP (dimethyl 2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethylphosphonate), DNOC (4,6-dinitro-o-cresol), DSP (O, O-diethyl-O-[4-(dimethylsulfamoyl)phenyl]-phosphorothioate), EPN (O-ethyl-O-4-(nitrophenyl)phenylphosphonothioate), nuclear polyhedrosis virus inclusion bodies, NA-85 (code no.), NA-89 (code no.), NC-515 (code number), RU15525 (code number), XMC, Z-13-icosen-10-one, ZXI8901 (code number), 2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[(5-trifluoromethylthio)pentyloxy]phenyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfoxide (chemical name, CAS registry number: 1472050-04-6), 2,4-dichloro-5-{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethoxy}phenyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfoxide (chemical name, CAS registry number: 1472052-11-1), 2,4-dimethyl-5-[6-(trifluoromethylthio)hexyloxy]phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfoxide (chemical name, CAS Registry Number: 1472050-34-2), 2-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenoxy}-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (Chemical Name, CAS Registry Number: 1448758-62-0), 3-chloro-2-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenoxy}-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine (Chemical Name, CAS Registry Number: 1448761-28-1), 4-fluoro-2-methyl-5-(5,5-dimethylhexyloxy)phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl sulfoxide (Chemical Name, CAS Registry Number: 1472047-71-4) and NI-30 (code number).

[0055]

The agrochemical composition used in the present invention may optionally contain an active disease control component in addition to the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone. When an active disease control component is included, the amount and ratio of the included component can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. A single type of active disease control component may be used alone, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary active disease control components may be used. Examples of the active ingredient for controlling the disease include, but are not limited to, azaconazole, acibenzolar-S-methyl, azoxystrobin, anilazine, amisulbrom, aminopyrifen, amethoctradine, aldimorph, isothianil, isopyrazam, isofetamide, isoflucipram, isoprothiolane, ipconazole, ipflufenoquine, ipfentrifluconazole, iprodione, iprovalicarb, iprobenfos, imazalil, iminoctadine-trialbesylate, iminoctadine-triacetate, imibenconazole, inpirfluxam, imprimatin A, imprimatin B, edifenphos, etaconazole, ethaboxam, ethirimol, ethoxyquine, etridiazole, enestroburin, enoxastrobin, epoxiconazole, organic oils, oxadixyl, Oxazinilasole, Oxathiapiproline, Oxycarboxin, Oxine-copper, Oxytetracycline, Oxpoconazole fumarate, Oxolinic acid, Copper dioctanoate, Octhilinone, Ofurace, Orysastrobin, O-phenylphenol, Kasugamycin, Captafol, Carpropamide, Carbendazim, Carboxin, Carvone, Quinoxyfen, Quinofumeline, Chinomethionate, Captan, Quinconazole, Quintozene, Guazatine, Cufraneb, Coumoxystrobin, Kresoxim-methyl, Clozylacon, Chlozolinate, Chlorothalonil, Chloroneb, Cyazofamid, Dietofencarb, Diclocymet, Dichlofluanid, Dichlobenthiazox, Diclomezine, Dicloran, Dichlorfen, dithianone, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, zineb, dinocap, dipimethytrone, diphenylamine, difenoconazole, cyflufenamide, diflumetorim, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, simeconazole, dimethyrimol, dimethyl disulfide, dimethomorph, cymoxanil, dimoxystrobin, ziram, silthiopham, streptomycin, spiroxamine, sedaxane, zoxamide, dazomet, tiadinil, thiabendazole, thiram, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, tifluzamide, teknazen, teklofthalam, tetraconazole, debacarb, tebuconazole, tebufloquin, terbinafine, dodine, dodemorph, triadimenol, triadimefon, triazoxide, trichlamide, triclopyricarb, tricyclazole, triticonazole, tridemorph, triflumizole, trifloxystrobin, triforin, tolylfluanid, tolclofos-methyl, tolnifanid, tolprocarb, nabam, natamycin, naftifine, nitrapyrin, nitrotal-isopropyl, nuarimol, copper nonylphenol sulfonate, Bacillus subtilis(strain: QST 713), validamycin, valiphenalate, picarbutrazox, bixafen, picoxystrobin, pidiflumetofen, bitertanol, binapacryl, biphenyl, piperaline, gimexazole, pyraoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyraziflumide, pyrazophos, pyrapropoin, pyramethostrobin, pyriophenone, pyrizoxazole, pyridaclomethyl, pyrifenox, pyributicarb, piribencarb, pyrimethanil, pyroquilone, vinclozolin, ferbam, famoxadone, phenazine oxide, fenamidone, phenaminstrobin, fenarimol, fenoxanil, ferimzone, fenpiclonil, fenpicoxamide, fenpirazamine, fenbuconazole, fenfuram, fenpropidine, fenpropimorph, fenhexamide, folpet, phthalide, bupirimate, fuberidazole, blasticidin-S, furamethpir, furalaxyl, furancarboxylic acid, fluazinam, fluindapir, fluoxastrobin, fluoxapiproline, fluopicolide, fluopimomide, fluopyram, fluorimide, fluxapyroxad, fluquinconazole, furconazole, furconazole-cis, fludioxonil, flusilazole, flusulfamide, flutianil, flutolanil, flutriafol, flufenoxystrobin, flumetover, flumorph, proquinazid, prochloraz, procymidone, prothiocarb, prothioconazole, bronopol, propamocarb hydrochloride, propiconazole, propineb, probenazole, bromuconazole, flometoquin, florylpicoxamide, hexaconazole, benalaxyl, Benalaxyl-M, Benodanil, Benomyl, Pefurazoate, Penconazole, Pencycuron, Benzovindiflupyr, Benthiazole, Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl, Penthiopyrad, Penflufen, Boscalid, Fosetyl (Aluminum, Calcium, Sodium), Polyoxin, Polycarbamate, Bordeaux mixture, Mancozeb, Mandipropamide, Mandestrobin, Maneb, Myclobutanil, Mineral oils, Mildiomycin, Metasulfocarb, Metam, Metalaxyl, Metalaxyl-M, Metiram, Methyltetraprol, Metconazole, Metominostrobin, Metrafenone, Mepanipyrim, Mefentrifluconazole, Meptyldinocap, Mepronil, Iodocarb, Laminarin, Phosphorous acid and salts, copper oxychloride, silver, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sulfur, oxyquinoline sulfate, copper sulfate, (3,4-dichloroisothiazol-5-yl)methyl 4-(tert-butyl)benzoate (chemical name, CAS registry number: 1231214-23-5), BAF-045 (code number), BAG-010 (code number), UK-2A (code number), DBEDC (dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid bisethylenediamine copper [II] complex salt), MIF-1002 (code number), NF-180 (code number), TPTA (triphenyltin acetate), TPTC (triphenyltin chloride), TPTH (triphenyltin hydroxide) and non-pathogenicErwinia carotovora.

[0056]

The agrochemical composition used in the present invention may optionally contain an active plant growth regulator in addition to the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone. When an active plant growth regulator is included, the amount and ratio of the included component can be appropriately determined by those skilled in the art. A single type of active plant growth regulator may be used, or a combination of two or more types of arbitrary active plant growth regulators may be used. Examples of the plant growth regulating active ingredient include, but are not limited to, 1-methylcyclopropene, 1-naphthylacetamide, 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene, 4-CPA (4-chlorophenyacetic acid), benzylaminopurine, ancymidol, aviglicine, carvone, chlormeequat, cloprop, cloxiphonac, cloxiphonac potassium, cyclanilide, cytokinins, daminozide, dikegulac, dimethipine, ethephon, ephopoleon, ethicosate, flumetralin, flurenol, flurprimidol, pronitridine, forchlorfenuron, gibberellins, inabenfide, indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, mepiquat chloride, n-decanol, paclobutrazol, prohexadione calcium, prohydrojasmone, sintofen, thidiazuron, triacontanol, trinexapac-ethyl, uniconazole, uniconazole-P, 4-oxo-4-(2-phenylethyl)aminobutyric acid (chemical name, CAS registry number: 1083-55-2) and calcium peroxide.

[0057]

A preferred embodiment of the agrochemical composition according to the present invention, when the form is a wettable powder, comprises columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in an amount of 10 to 90% by weight, a surfactant in an amount of 5 to 20% by weight and a solid carrier in an amount of 5 to 85%, based on the agrochemical composition. In addition, the composition optionally comprises an additional herbicidal active component in an amount of 0 to 80% by weight, a binding agent in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight, a dye in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, an antifoaming agent in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight and a toxicity reducing agent in an amount of 0 to 80% by weight.

[0058]

A method for producing a wettable powder includes the steps of: pulverizing a powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; and mixing all raw materials for homogenization. Agrochemical adjuvants can be added partially or completely during the aforementioned pulverization step, or part or all of them, for example, a surfactant, can be added after the pulverization step. A specific method for producing a wettable powder includes, for example, a method comprising the step of grinding a powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone and the step of mixing all raw materials, including the ground columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, a surfactant, and a solid carrier, for homogenization. Known conventional methods and apparatuses can be used at any step.

[0059]

A preferred embodiment of the agrochemical composition, when the form is a wettable granule, includes columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in an amount of 10 to 90% by weight, a surfactant in an amount of 5 to 20% by weight and a solid carrier in an amount of 5 to 85% in the agrochemical composition. In addition, the composition optionally includes an additional herbicidal active component in an amount of 0 to 80% by weight, a binding agent in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight, a dye in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, an antifoaming agent in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight and a toxicity reducing agent in an amount of 0 to 80% by weight.

[0060]

One embodiment for producing a wettable granule includes the following steps: pulverizing a powder or suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; mixing all raw materials to homogenize them with the addition of a specified amount of water; granulating the mixed product obtained in the preceding step; and drying the granulated product obtained in the preceding step. Agrochemical adjuvants may be added partially or completely during the milling step described above or after the milling step. If a suspension is added, for example, at least a portion of the surfactant may be included in the suspension. A specific method for producing wettable granules includes, for example, a method comprising the step of grinding a powder or suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, the step of mixing all raw materials containing the ground columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, a surfactant, and a solid carrier for homogenization with the addition of a certain amount of water, the step of granulating the mixed product obtained in the preceding step, and the step of drying the granulated product obtained in the preceding step. Known conventional methods and apparatus may be used in any of the steps.

[0061]

A preferred embodiment of the agrochemical composition, when the form is an aqueous suspension, includes columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in an amount of 5 to 65% by weight, a surfactant in an amount of 5 to 10% by weight and water in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight in the agrochemical composition. In addition, the composition optionally includes an additional herbicidal active component in an amount of 0 to 50% by weight, a cryoprotector in an amount of 0 to 15% by weight, a dye in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, an antiseptic in an amount of 0 to 3% by weight, a pH regulating agent in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight, an antifoam in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, a thickener in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight and a toxicity reducing agent in an amount of 0 to 50% by weight. In addition, the composition may include an oil dispersion medium in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight in order to improve the pharmacological effect, regulate the specific density, and/or the like.

[0062]

One embodiment of producing an aqueous suspension comprises the steps of: pulverizing a suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; and mixing all raw materials for homogenization. Another embodiment comprises the steps of: pulverizing a powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; and mixing all raw materials for homogenization. Agrochemical adjuvants can be added partially or completely during the pulverization step described above or after the pulverization step. In the case of adding a suspension, it is preferable that, for example, the suspension is prepared by pre-adding at least part of the water together with at least part of the surfactant. A specific method for producing an aqueous suspension includes, for example, a method comprising the step of pulverizing a suspension or powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, and the step of mixing all raw materials containing crushed columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, a surfactant, and water for homogenization. Known conventional methods and apparatuses can be used at any step.

[0063]

A preferred embodiment of the agrochemical composition, when the form is an oil suspension, includes columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone in an amount of 5 to 65% by weight, a surfactant in an amount of 5 to 10% by weight and an oil dispersion medium in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight in the agrochemical composition. In addition, the composition optionally includes an additional herbicidal active component in an amount of 0 to 50% by weight, a cryoprotector in an amount of 0 to 15% by weight, a dye in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, an antiseptic in an amount of 0 to 3% by weight, a pH regulating agent in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight, an antifoam in an amount of 0 to 1% by weight, a thickener in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight and a toxicity reducing agent in an amount of 0 to 50% by weight.

[0064]

One embodiment of producing an oil suspension comprises the steps of: pulverizing a suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; and mixing all raw materials for homogenization. Another embodiment comprises the steps of: pulverizing a powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone; and mixing all raw materials for homogenization. Agrochemical adjuvants can be added partially or completely during the pulverization step described above or after the pulverization step. However, in the case of adding a suspension, it is preferable that the suspension is prepared by pre-adding at least a portion of the oil suspension medium together with at least a portion of the surfactant. A specific method for producing an oil suspension includes, for example, a method comprising the step of pulverizing a suspension or powder containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, and the step of mixing all raw materials containing crushed columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone, a surfactant, and an oil suspension medium for homogenization. At any stage, you can use well-known traditional methods and devices.

[0065]

It is important that the weed control method of the present invention include a soil treatment step, which consists of treating the soil using the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone of the present invention, as described above. The columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone can be milled. The columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone can also be processed into agrochemical compositions, as described above. The soil treatment step is preferably carried out by spraying the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone of the present invention before the emergence of the weeds to be controlled. The weed control method of the present invention can be applied to both non-agricultural and agricultural land, but is preferably applied to agricultural land, especially fields. The method of spraying the soil is not limited, and spraying can be carried out in a conventional, generally accepted manner, depending on the form of the agrochemical composition.

[0066]

The soil to be treated by the method of the present invention has a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65%. The silt content of the soil is no more than 35%, preferably no more than 20%. Such clay content, silt content, and sand content can be measured, for example, by laser diffraction or the like. Examples of such soil include sand, clayey sand, and sandy loam. The above-mentioned soils are based on the soil composition classification according to the International Union of Soil Sciences.

[0067]

The soil to be treated by the method of the present invention preferably has a tendency to be moist. More specifically, the total amount of precipitation in the soil during the first 7 days after treatment with the columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone is preferably at least 15 mm, more preferably at least 30 mm, and particularly preferably at least 45 mm.

[0068]

In the weed control method of the present invention, the crop to be cultivated is not limited and is preferably a crop that can be grown in a field. The method is suitable for growing crops such as corn, rice, wheat, durum, barley, rye, triticale, spelt, durum wheat, oats, sorghum, cotton, soybeans, alfalfa, peanuts, kidney beans, lima beans, radiata beans, cowpeas, mung beans, mungo beans, navy beans, spur beans, mott beans, tepary beans, faba beans, peas, chickpeas, lentils, lupines, pigweed, buckwheat, sugar beet, rapeseed, canola, sunflower, sugarcane, cassava, Chinese yam, oil palm, Jatropha curcas , hemp, flax, quinoa, safflower, tea bush, mulberry and tobacco.

[0069]

The variety of crops to be grown in the weed control method of the present invention is not limited and includes plants that are resistant to a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD) inhibitor such as isoxaflutole, sulcotrione, mesotrione and pyrazolinate, to an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor such as imazethapyr, imazamox, thiencarbazone, thifensulfuron-methyl or tribenuron, to a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) inhibitor such as glyphosate, to a glutamine synthetase inhibitor such as glufosinate, to an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor such as sethoxydim or quizalofop, to a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor such as flumioxazine or epirifenacil, to a photosystem II inhibitor such as bromoxynil, and/or to a herbicide such as dicamba or 2,4-D, obtained by classical breeding and/or genetic recombination.

[0070]

Examples of crops that have been bred to resist resistance through classical breeding include canola, wheat, sunflower, rice, and corn, all resistant to imidazolinone-based herbicides that inhibit ALS, such as imazethapyr. These plants are already commercially available under the Clearfield brand name (registered trademark).

[0071]

Similarly, soybeans resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides that inhibit ALS, such as thifensulfuron-methyl, have been bred using classical breeding methods and are now commercially available under the trade name STS Soybean. Similarly, sorghum resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides that inhibit acetolactate synthase (ALS) has been bred using classical breeding methods and is now commercially available. Similarly, sugar beets resistant to thiencarbazone and resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides have been bred using classical breeding methods and are now commercially available. Similarly, there are useful plants that have been classically bred to be resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, such as trionoxime or aryloxyphenoxypropionate-based herbicides, and examples of such plants include SR maize (also known as "PoastProtected <registered trademark> corn") and quizalofop-resistant wheat. Plants bred to be resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors are described, for example, in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America," vol. 87, pp. 7175-7179 (1990). In addition, a mutant acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors is described in, for example, “Weed Science” vol. 53, pp. 728-746 (2005). By introducing such a mutant acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene into a plant by genetic recombination or by introducing a mutation associated with the acquisition of resistance to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) in agricultural crops, a plant resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors can be obtained. In addition, a plant resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors/herbicides can be obtained by introducing a nucleic acid introduced by a base substitution mutation into a plant cell using a method represented by the chimeraplasty method according to “Repairing the Genome’s Spelling Mistakes” (“Science”, vol. 285, pp. 316-318 (1999, Gura T.)) in order to induce a site-directed amino acid substitution mutation in a crop gene (acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)/herbicide target).

[0072]

Examples of useful plants that have been genetically engineered to be resistant include glyphosate-resistant varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa, which are already commercially available under trade names such as Roundup Ready (registered trademark), Roundup Ready 2 (registered trademark), and Agrisure GT (registered trademark). Similarly, glufosinate-resistant varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola have been genetically engineered and are already commercially available under trade names such as LibertyLink (registered trademark). Similarly, bromoxynil-resistant cotton has been genetically engineered and is already commercially available under the trade name BXN. Similarly, soybeans resistant to HPPD inhibitors have been produced by genetic recombination and are already commercially available as mesotrione- and glufosinate-resistant varieties under the trade name Herbicide-tolerant Soybean line, and as varieties resistant to the HPPD inhibitors glyphosate and glufosinate under trade names such as Credenz <registered trademark>. Similarly, corn, soybeans, and cotton resistant to 2,4-D or ACCase inhibitors have been produced by genetic recombination and are already commercially available under trade names such as Enlist <registered trademark>. Similarly, dicamba-resistant soybeans were developed through genetic recombination and are already commercially available as dicamba- and glyphosate-resistant varieties under trade names such as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend (registered trademark). Similarly, a soybean variety resistant to HPPD inhibitors such as isoxaflutole, due to resistance to the HPPD inhibitor obtained through genetic recombination, is also resistant to nematodes and has already been registered as GMB151 in the United States.

[0073]

Other plants with modified herbicide resistance are widely known, and examples of such plants include: alfalfa, apple, barley, eucalyptus, flax, grapes, lentils, rapeseed, peas, potatoes, rice, sugar beets, sunflowers, tobacco, tomatoes, turf, and wheat resistant to glyphosate (see, for example, US 5,188,642, US 4,940,835, US 5,633,435, US 5,804,425, and US 5,627,061); beans, cotton, soybeans, peas, potatoes, sunflowers, tomatoes, tobacco, corn, sorghum, and sugarcane resistant to dicamba (see, for example, WO 2008/051633, US 7,105,724, and US 5,670,454); soybean, sugar beet, potato, tomato and tobacco resistant to glufosinate (see, for example, US 6,376,754, US 5,646,024 and US 5,561,236); cotton, pepper, apple, tomato, sunflower, tobacco, potato, corn, cucumber, wheat, soybean, sorghum and cereals resistant to 2,4-D (see, for example, US 6,153,401, US 6,100,446, WO 2005/107437, US 5,608,147 and US 5,670,454); canola, corn, barnyard grass, barley, cotton, mustard greens, lettuce, lentils, melon, millet, oats, rapeseed, potato, rice, rye, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflowers, tobacco, tomatoes and wheat resistant to ALS-inhibiting herbicides (such as sulfonylurea herbicides and imidazolinone herbicides) (see, for example, US 5,013,659, WO 2006/060634, US 4,761,373, US 5,304,732, US 6,211,438, US 6,211,439 and US 6,222,100), especially imidazolinone herbicide-resistant rice that has certain mutations (such as S653N, S654K, A122T, S653(At)N, S654(At)K and A122(At)T) in the acetolactate synthase gene (see, for example, US 2003/0217381 A and WO 2005/020673); barley, sugarcane, rice, corn, tobacco, soybean, cotton, rapeseed, sugar beet, wheat and potato that are resistant to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides (such as isoxazole-based herbicides, including isoxaflutole; triketone-based herbicides, including sulcotrione and mesotrione; and pyrazole-based herbicides, including pyrazolinate) or diketonitrile, which is a degradation product of isoxaflutole (see, for example, WO 2004/055191, WO 1996/038567, WO 1997/049816 and US 6,791,014); and wheat, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets, canola, rice, corn, sorghum, sugar cane, and sugar beets resistant to PPO-inhibiting herbicides (see, for example, US 2002/0073443 A, US 2008/0052798 A, and “Pest Management Science” vol. 61, pp. 277-285 (2005)).

[0074]

Examples of plants that have been made herbicide resistant by conventional breeding or genomic selection technology include: Clearfield Rice, Clearfield Wheat, Clearfield Sunflower, Clearfield Lentils, and Clearfield Canola, which are resistant to imidazolinone-based ALS-inhibiting herbicides such as imazethapyr and imazamox; STS soybean, which is resistant to sulfonylurea-based ALS-inhibiting herbicides such as thifensulfuron-methyl; 'SR corn' corn, which is resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors such as trione oxime herbicides and aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides; 'ExpressSun <registered trademark>' sunflower, which is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides such as tribenuron; 'Provisia <registered trademark>' rice, which is resistant to acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitors such as quizalofop; 'Triazine Tolerant Canola' canola, which is resistant to photosystem II inhibitors; and 'Igrowth <registered trademark>' sorghum, which is resistant to imidazolinone herbicides.

[0075]

Examples of plants that have been made herbicide-resistant using genome editing technology include SU Canola (registered trademark), a canola resistant to sulfonylurea herbicides, developed using the Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) (registered trademark). Genome editing is a technology that sequence-specifically manipulates genetic information, enabling base sequence deletions, amino acid sequence substitutions, and the introduction of foreign genes. RTDS (registered trademark) stands for oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis in genome editing technology. It is a method that introduces mutations using Gene Repair OligoNucleotide (GRON), a chimeric DNA-RNA oligonucleotide, without cleaving the plant's DNA. Other plant examples include maize, in which herbicide resistance and phytic acid content were reduced by deleting the endogenous IPK1 gene using zinc finger nuclease (see, e.g., Nature, vol. 459, pp. 437–441 (2009)); and rice, in which herbicide resistance was conferred using CRISPR-Cas9 (see, e.g., Rice, vol. 7, p. 5 (2014)).

[0076]

Examples of plants that have been engineered to be herbicide-resistant using new plant breeding techniques include soybeans, in which the GM rootstock traits were transferred to the scion using grafting. Specific examples of soybeans include soybeans in which glyphosate resistance was engineered into non-transgenic soybean scion stock using Roundup Ready soybeans (registered trademark), which are resistant to glyphosate, as the rootstock (see “Weed Technology,” vol. 27, p. 412 (2013)).

[0077]

The "useful plants" described above also include plants modified to have the ability to synthesize, for example, a selective toxin known in the genus Bacillus, using the method of genetic recombination.

[0078]

Examples of insecticidal toxins expressed in such recombinant plants include: insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus cereus or Bacillus popilliae ; δ-endotoxin protein such as Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2, Cry14Ab-1, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, Cry3Bb1, and Cry9C, and insecticidal proteins such as VIP1, VIP2, VIP3, and VIP3A derived from Bacillus thuringiensis ; insecticidal proteins derived from nematodes; toxins produced by animals such as scorpion toxins, spider toxins, bee toxins, and insect-specific neurotoxins; filamentous fungal toxins; plant lectin; agglutinin; Protease inhibitors such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin inhibitors, cystatin inhibitors, and papain inhibitors; ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) such as ricin, maize RIP, abrin, saporin, and bryodin; steroid metabolizing enzymes such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-UDP glucosyltransferase, and cholesterol oxidase; ecdysone inhibitors; HMG-CoA reductase; ion channel inhibitors such as sodium channel inhibitors and calcium channel inhibitors; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors; stilbene synthase; bibenzyl synthase; chitinase; and glucanase.

[0079]

Examples of toxins expressed in such recombinant plants also include δ-endotoxin proteins such as Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2, Cry14Ab-1, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, Cry3Bb1, Cry9C, Cry34A, Cry34Ab, and Cry35Ab; hybrid toxins of insecticidal proteins such as VIP1, VIP2, VIP3, and VIP3A; partially deleted toxins; and modified toxins. Hybrid toxins are produced by a new combination of different domains of these proteins using a recombinant method. Notable examples of partially deleted toxins include Cry1Ab, the amino acid sequence of which is partially deleted. Modified toxins have one or more amino acids replaced from wild-type toxins.

[0080]

Examples of these toxins and recombinant plants capable of synthesizing these toxins are described, for example, in patent documents such as EP 0 374 753 A, WO 93/007278, WO 95/034656, EP 0 427 529 A, EP 0 451 878 A and WO 03/052073. Using the toxins contained in these recombinant plants, plants can be made resistant, especially to coleopteran pests, dipteran pests and lepidopteran pests.

[0081]

In addition, recombinant plants containing one or more insecticidal, insect pest-resistant genes, and expressing one or more toxins are already known, and some of them are commercially available. Examples of these recombinant plants include YieldGard <registered trademark> (a maize variety expressing the Cry1Ab toxin), YieldGard Rootworm <registered trademark> (a maize variety expressing the Cry3Bb1 toxin), YieldGard Plus <registered trademark> (a maize variety expressing Cry1Ab and the Cry3Bb1 toxins), Herculex I <registered trademark> (a maize variety expressing the Cry1Fa2 toxin and phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) to confer resistance to glufosinate), NuCOTN33B <registered trademark> (a cotton variety expressing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard I <registered trademark> (a cotton variety expressing the Cry1Ac toxin), Bollgard II <registered trademark> (a cotton variety expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab toxins), VIPCOT <registered trademark> (cotton variety expressing VIP toxin), NewLeaf <registered trademark> (potato variety expressing Cry3A toxin), NatureGard <registered trademark> Agrisure <registered trademark> GT Advantage (glyphosate resistance trait GA21), Agrisure <registered trademark> CB Advantage (corn borer Bt11 (CB) trait), and Protecta <registered trademark>.

[0082]

The beneficial plants described above also include plants that have been given the ability to produce an antipathogenic substance with selective action using genetic recombination techniques.

[0083]

Examples of the antipathogenic substance include PR proteins (PRPs, described in EP 0 392 225 A); ion channel inhibitors such as sodium channel inhibitors and calcium channel inhibitors (known examples of which include the KP1, KP4 and KP6 toxins produced by viruses); stilbene synthase; bibenzyl synthase; chitinase; glucanase; and substances produced by microorganisms such as peptide antibiotics, heterocycle-containing antibiotics and protein factors involved in plant disease resistance (which are called plant disease resistance genes and are described in WO 03/000906). Such antipathogenic substances and recombinant plants producing them are described, for example, in EP 0392225 A, WO 95/033818 and EP 0353191A.

[0084]

The beneficial plants described above also include crops with beneficial traits, such as oil component modification and amino acid enhancement, where the traits were imparted using genetic recombination techniques. Examples of such beneficial plants include VISTIVE (a registered trademark) (a low-linolenic acid soybean with reduced linolenic acid content) and high-lysine (high-oil) corn (corn containing increased amounts of lysine or oil).

[0085]

The beneficial plants described above also include crops in which beneficial traits, such as drought tolerance, have been imparted using genetic recombination techniques to maintain or improve yield. Examples of such beneficial plants include DroughtGard (registered trademark) (corn imparted with drought tolerance).

[0086]

The weed control method according to the present invention also demonstrates control effectiveness against the above-mentioned examples of weeds and similar species that have acquired resistance to existing herbicides. Furthermore, the weed control method according to the present invention can be used against plants that have acquired properties such as insect resistance, disease resistance, and herbicide resistance through genetic recombination, artificial crossing, or the like.

[0087]

In the present invention, plants rendered resistant by selection or genetic recombination include not only plants rendered resistant by classical crossbreeding or genetic recombination, but also plants rendered resistant by novel plant breeding methods (NBT), which combine traditional crossbreeding with molecular biological methods. NBT is a general term for breeding methods that combine molecular biological methods. New plant breeding techniques (NBT) are described, for example, in the book “Understanding of New Plant Breeding Techniques” (2013, Ryo Ohsawa and Hiroshi Ezura, International Academic Publishing Co., Ltd.) and the review article “Genome Editing Tools in Plants” (“Genes” vol. 8, p. 399 (2017, Tapan Kumar Mohanta, Tufail Bashir, Abeer Hashem, Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah, and Hanhong Bae)). Examples of new plant breeding techniques include genome selection technology and genome editing technology. Genome selection technology is an efficient breeding technology using genomic information and includes DNA marker-assisted selection (also called genomic marker or gene marker) and genomic selection. For example, DNA marker-assisted selection is a method that uses DNA markers—DNA sequences that mark positions in the genome where specific genes for beneficial traits are present—to select offspring carrying the desired genes for beneficial traits from a large number of crosses. DNA marker-assisted selection is characterized by the fact that using DNA markers to analyze seedlings in the offspring after crossing can effectively reduce the time required for selection.

[0088]

Genomic selection is a method in which a predictive formula is prepared based on phenotypes and genomic information obtained in advance, enabling trait prediction based on the predictive formula and genomic information without phenotype evaluation. This method can contribute to efficient breeding. New plant breeding techniques (NBT), for example, include cisgenesis/intragenesis, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, RNA-dependent DNA methylation, genome editing, grafting onto GM rootstock or scion, back selection, agroinfiltration, and seed production technology (SPT). Examples of tools for genome editing technology include zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), TALENs, CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPER/Cpf1, and meganuclease, which are capable of sequence-specific cleavage. In addition, there are sequence-specific genome modification methods such as CAS9 nickase and Target-AID, which were obtained by modifying the tools described above.

[0089]

Plants also include hybrid varieties that have a combination of many of the beneficial traits described above, such as classic herbicide traits or herbicide resistance genes, insecticidal insect resistance genes, genes producing anti-pathogen substances, oil component modification, traits that increase amino acid content, and drought-resistant traits.

EXAMPLES

[0090]

The present invention is described in detail below by means of examples and experimental examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0091]

[Example composition 1]

Clay is added to 50 parts by weight of columnar pyroxasulfone crystals obtained by the method described in Example 3-1 of Patent Document 2, 8 parts by weight of polycarboxylate, 5 parts of polyoxyethylene distyryl phenyl ether sulfate, and 1 part of alkyl benzene sulfonate to prepare a total of 100 parts by weight of the mixture. The mixture is stirred and ground using an impact mill to obtain a wettable powder.

[0092]

[Example composition 2]

Clay is added to 50 parts by weight of pyroxasulfone needle crystals, 8 parts by weight of polycarboxylate, 5 parts of polyoxyethylene distyrylphenyl ether sulfate, and 1 part of alkylbenzenesulfonate to produce a total of 100 parts by weight of the mixture. The mixture is mixed and ground using an impact mill to obtain a wettable powder.

[0093]

[Example 1]

In a greenhouse, at an average temperature of 25°C (maximum 30°C, minimum 25°C), a plastic pot measuring 11 cm x 11 cm x 11 cm (length x width x depth) is filled with sandy loam (sand 70.3%; silt 17.3%; clay 12.4%) and 15 seeds of Echinochloa crus-galli and 20 seeds of Amaranthus retroflexus are sown into it, followed by covering the seeds with the same soil to a thickness of 1 cm. Then, the wettable powder from Formulation Example 1 is weighed and selected so that the amount of pyroxasulfone per hectare is 22.5 g. The wettable powder is diluted with water and uniformly sprayed onto the soil surface using a compact sprayer with a spray volume of 200 l per hectare. On the day of treatment, the day after treatment, and two days after treatment, 10 mm of precipitation is artificially generated, for a total of 30 mm, using a rainfall machine. Echinochloa crus-galli and Amaranthus retroflexus plants are then grown, and on days 15, 20, and 29 after treatment, the growth status of the Echinochloa crus-galli and Amaranthus retroflexus plants is measured to determine the degree of growth inhibition as a percentage of the untreated groups. The same test is repeated three times, and the average of the replicates is calculated to obtain a typical value.

[0094]

[Comparative Example 1]

The test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the wettable powder of Formulation Example 2 was used instead of the wettable powder of Formulation Example 1, and the growth status of Echinochloa crus-galli plants and Amaranthus retroflexus plants were examined.

[0095]

The results of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.

[0096]

[Table 1] Growth inhibition rate in Echinochloa crus-galli (%) Day 15 Day 20 Day 29 Example 1 79 80 91 Comparative example 1 57 62 67

[0097]

[Table 2] Growth inhibition rate in Amaranthus retroflexus (%) Day 15 Day 20 Day 29 Example 1 83 94 98 Comparative example 1 53 68 76

Claims (4)

1. A method of weed control characterized by treating soil with a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65% with columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone. 2. A method for controlling weeds, characterized by treating soil with a clay content of less than 15% and a sand content of at least 65% with an agrochemical composition obtained by means of a stage of pulverization of a powder or suspension containing columnar crystals of pyroxasulfone. 3. The method according to paragraph 2, characterized in that the agrochemical composition is a wettable powder, a wettable granule, an aqueous suspension, or an oil suspension. 4. The method according to any of paragraphs 1-3, characterized in that the total amount of precipitation during the first 7 days after soil treatment is at least 15 mm.