WO2025248459A1 - Weeding method for non-crop applications using a combination of imidazolinonoes and n-phenylimides - Google Patents

Abstract

The application refers to a method for controlling weeds in a non-crop area comprising contacting the weeds or their locus with an agriculturally effective amount of: i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and ii) an N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof.

Description

WEEDING METHOD FOR NON-CROP APPLICATIONS USING A COMBINATION OF IMIDAZOLINONOES AND N-PHENYLIMIDES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present application relates to a method for controlling weeds in a non-crop area comprising contacting the weeds or their locus with an agriculturally effective amount of, an imidazolinone herbicide and an N-phenylimide herbicide.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many aquatic plants are troublesome weeds in aquatic environments, such as irrigation canals and reservoirs, and may cover extensive areas. The growth of such weeds depends on many factors, for example the nature of the substrate (soil, artificial), the regularity and rate of water flow, the availability of nutrients and, for submerged species, sufficient light penetration to ensure adequate photosynthesis. Irrigation canals and shallow reservoirs generally provide suitable conditions for the growth of aquatic weeds, which may therefore become a serious problem and interfere with the planned utilization of the water.

Among the problems caused by aquatic plants are increased water loss through evapotranspiration or the provision of suitable habitats for the vectors of diseases, such as malaria and schistosomiasis. Additional problems caused by weeds are decreased flow velocities and discharge capacity, as well as increased siltation. These can result in shortages of irrigation water, specially at the tail of canals or waterlogging around clogged drains. Such weeds can even spread beyond the canals into the crops with which the water is irrigated, or into any other sites where the water is applied.

Combinations of herbicides or mixtures of one or more herbicides with other active ingredients are typically used to broaden spectrum of control, to minimize the doses of chemicals used, to retard the development of resistance and to reduce the cost of the treatment through additive effect. Although many combinations of one herbicide agent with one or more active ingredients have been studied, a synergistic effect is rarely attained.

Practical experience has shown that the repeated and exclusive application of an individual active ingredient in the control of weeds leads in many cases to a selection of those weeds which have developed natural or adapted resistance against the active compound in question. Effective control of these weeds with the active compound in question is then no longer possible.

Therefore, there is a need for active ingredients that help prevent or overcome resistance. To reduce the risk of weeds becoming resistant to certain active compounds, mixtures of different active ingredients are nowadays conventionally employed for controlling weeds. By combining judiciously active compounds having different mechanisms of action, it is possible to ensure successful control over a relatively long period of time.

However, choosing the correct combination is not an easy task. The efficacy of the control provided by these combinations is not always satisfactory, or it can create additional toxicological and/or environmental effects. Random pesticidal formulations and combinations do not exert a satisfactory controlling effect in most of the cases, and therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new pesticidal combinations having satisfactory controlling effects with more than one active ingredient.

It is an object of the present application to provide methods using judiciously selected active ingredients which have improved activity against harmful weeds. It is an object of the present application to provide methods that effectively control weeds in aquatic environments such as canals or water reservoirs. It is a further object of the present application to provide methods that effectively control weeds in aquatic environments such as canals or water reservoirs, without leaving significant traces of the active ingredients used.

SUMMARY

Considering the above, it is an object of the present application to provide a method for controlling weeds in a non-crop area comprising contacting the weeds or their locus with an agriculturally effective amount of: i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof, also referred to in the present application as "imidazolinone herbicide"; and ii) an N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof, also referred to in the present application as "N-phenylimide herbicide".

The method of the present application surprisingly provides a synergistic efficacy between the active ingredients, whether being applied simultaneously, that is jointly, or separately, or in succession; that is, allowing better control of weeds than it is possible with the individual compounds alone.

The method can combine an imidazolinone herbicide and an N-phenylimide herbicide, wherein said imidazolinone herbicide is selected from a group consisting of imazamox, imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, imazaquin and imazamethabenz, esters or salts thereof.

The method can combine an N-phenylimide herbicide and an imidazolinone herbicide wherein said N-phenylimide herbicide is selected from a group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, pentoxazone, trifludimoxazin, tiafenacil, fluthiacet, epyrifenacil, flumiclorac, cinidon and butafenacil, esters or salts thereof. Furthermore, the simultaneous (jointly or separately) application of the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide or their successive application allows enhanced effective control of weeds in non-crop areas destined to hold water, such as canals or water reservoirs.

The combination of the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide, as mentioned above, can be formulated together with at least one agriculturally acceptable carrier, to form a ready-mix formulation.

The present application further provides the use of a combination comprising an imidazolinone herbicide and an N-phenylimide herbicide for controlling weeds in a non-crop environment, for example, in non-crop areas destined to hold water, such as canals or water reservoirs.

The combination of the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide can be applied as a tank-mix comprising water and an effective amount of said combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION

Definitions

Prior to setting forth the present subject matter in detail, it may be helpful to provide definitions of certain terms used herein. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this subject matter pertains.

As used herein, the term "active ingredient" includes, but is not limited to, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

As used herein, the term "herbicide" refers to an active ingredient capable of controlling unwanted plants or weeds.

As used herein, the terms "control" or "controlling" are meant to include, but are not limited to, any killing, growth regulating, inhibiting or interfering with the normal life cycle of a weeds.

As used herein, the term "effective" when used to describe a method for controlling, means that the method provides a good level of control. In some cases, the control must be selective, controlling the undesired weeds without significantly interfering with the normal growth and development of other plants. In other cases, such a burn down or bare ground application, the control must be total, and all plants must be controlled.

As used herein, the term "bare ground" (sometimes also referred to as total vegetation management or TVM) refers to a non-crop application intended to remove all plants or plant material from a locus. Bare ground applications are sometimes also referred to as industrial applications.

As used herein, the term "effective amount" when used in connection with an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients refers to an amount thereof that, when ingested, contacted with or sensed, is sufficient to achieve a good level of control or activity without significantly harming other plants.

As used herein, the term "effective amount" when used in connection with a non-active component, i.e. an additive, such as a polymer or an organic carrier, refers to an amount of the additive that is sufficient to perform its function within the formulation.

As used herein, the term "agriculturally acceptable" means a substance which is known and accepted in the art for the formation of compositions for agricultural or horticultural use.

As used herein, the term "agriculturally acceptable inert additives" is defined as any substance that itself is not an active ingredient but is added to the formulation to improve its properties, such as stability, flowability, density, etc. Examples of such additives are carriers, solvents, pH modifiers (e.g. acids or bases), thickening agent, sticking agents, surfactants, anti-oxidation agent, anti-foaming agents and thickeners.

As used herein, the term "adjuvant" is broadly defined as any substance that itself is not an active ingredient, but which enhances or is intended to enhance the effectiveness of the pesticide with which it is used. Adjuvants may be understood to include, but are not limited to, spreading agents, penetrants, compatibility agents, and drift retardants. They are typically used to dilute ready mix formulations prior to application in the field, although some formulations include built-in adjuvants.

As used herein, the term "ready mix" or "ready mixture" means a formulation that may be applied to plants directly after dilution. The formulation comprises one or more active ingredients. The term "mixture" refers, but is not limited to, a combination in any physical form, e.g., blend, solution, alloy, or the like.

As used herein, the term "tank mix" refers to the mixture of two or more active ingredients or formulation that are mixed shortly before application. Tank mixtures can therefore be formed by mixing one or more formulations (each comprising one or more active ingredients) with water. Alternatively, as mentioned above, tank mixtures may comprise the mixture of one or more formulations (each comprising one or more active ingredients) with one or more adjuvants.

As used herein the term "plant" or "crop" includes reference to whole plants, plant organs (e.g. leaves, stems, twigs, roots, trunks, limbs, shoots, fruits etc.), plant cells, or plant seeds. This term also encompasses plant crops such as fruits. The term "plant" may also include the propagation material thereof, which may include all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers, which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. It may also include spores, corms, bulbs, rhizomes, sprouts, basal shoots, stolons, and buds and other parts of plants, including seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil.

As used herein, the term "locus" includes the habitat, breeding ground, plant, propagation material, soil, area, material or environment in which a pest is growing or may grow.

As used herein, the term "herbicide-resistant" or "herbicide resistant" refers to an individual weed that survives a herbicide application that would kill a normal population of the same species. Such resistance can be naturally acquired or introduced through genetic engineering methods.

The term "a" or "an" as used herein includes the singular and the plural, unless specifically stated otherwise. Therefore, the terms "a," "an" or "at least one" can be used interchangeably in this application.

Throughout the application, descriptions of various embodiments use the term "comprising"; however, it will be understood by one of skill in the art, that in some specific instances, an embodiment can alternatively be described using the language "consisting essentially of" or "consisting of".

As used herein the term "ha" refers to hectare.

As used herein the term "A" refers to Acre (0.404686 ha).

As used herein the term "fl oz" refers to US fluid ounce (29.5735 ml).

As used herein, the term "g" refers to gram, and "L" or "I" refers to liter.

As used herein, the term "surfactant" means an agriculturally acceptable material which imparts emulsifiability, stability, spreading, wetting, dispersibility or other surface-modifying properties. Examples of suitable surfactants include non-ionic, anionic, cationic and ampholytic surfactants.

For purposes of better understanding the present teachings and in no way limiting the scope of the teachings, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. In this regard, use of the term "about" herein specifically includes ±10% from the indicated values in the range. In addition, the endpoints of all ranges directed to the same component or property herein are inclusive of the endpoints, are independently combinable, and include all intermediate points and ranges.

Unless otherwise specified, references to percentages of a component present in a combination are by weight (wt.) percentages of the component with respect to the total weight of the combination.

It is further understood that where a parameter range is provided, all integers within that range, and tenths thereof, are also provided by the subject matter. For example, "0.1% to 50%" includes 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.3 %, 0.4 % etc. up to 50 %. When a ratio herein is to be "X:l or higher", it is meant that the ratio is Y:l, where Y is X or greater, and when a ratio is herein to be "X:l or lower", it is meant that the ratio is Z:l, where Z is X or less. The same logic follows for ratios that are "1:X or higher" and "1:X or lower".

Pesticidal Combinations

It has been surprisingly found that by combining an imidazolinone herbicide and an N- phenylimide herbicide, combinations are produced that exhibit a broad spectrum of control and high efficacy against a very wide range of weeds, as well as a long residual effect. The combinations and compositions of the present application are based in part on the finding that application of the combination of the present application to a locus or area where weed control is desired results in improved control thereof.

The combinations described herein provide an herbicidal activity that is higher than the sum (according to Colby equation) of the activities of each of the individual herbicides when applied at the same rate. Such a combination allows the reduced dosages of the individual herbicides, reducing the possibility of contaminating the locus of application, for example, non-crop areas destined to hold water, that is potential aquatic environments. In the case of aquatic environments, the reduced dosage has the added benefit of reducing the periods of time before the levels of residual herbicide allow for the further use of water.

The combinations used in the methods disclosed herein may comprise an N-phenylimide herbicide selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, pentoxazone, trifludimoxazin, tiafenacil, fluthiacet, epyrifenacil, flumiclorac, cinidon and butafenacil, esters or salts thereof.

The combinations used in the methods disclosed herein may comprise an imidazolinone herbicide selected from the group consisting of imazamox, imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, imazaquin and imazamethabenz, esters or salts thereof.

The combinations used in the methods disclosed herein may comprise an N-phenylimide herbicide selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, pentoxazone, trifludimoxazin, tiafenacil, fluthiacet, epyrifenacil, flumiclorac, cinidon and butafenacil, esters or salts thereof; and an imidazolinone herbicide is selected from the group consisting of imazamox, imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, imazaquin and imazamethabenz, esters or salts thereof.

For example, the combinations may comprise an N-phenylimide herbicide selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, and esters or salts thereof. Also, the combinations may comprise imazamox and esters or salts thereof.

Preferably, the combination used in the methods comprise flumioxazin or a salt thereof and imazamox or a salt or an ester thereof, preferably flumioxazin and an ammonium salt of imazamox. Preferably, the herbicides applied in the method of the present application only consist of flumioxazin or a salt thereof and imazamox or a salt or an ester thereof, preferably flumioxazin and an ammonium salt of imazamox.

The weight ratio between imidazolinone herbicide and N-phenylimide herbicide varies depending upon various conditions such as the type of the formulation, weather conditions, the type of crop and the type of pests. Typically, the weight ratio imidazolinone herbicide:N-phenylimide herbicide is from about 1:100 to 100:1, for example 1:50 to 50:1, or 1:25 to 25:1, or 1:10 to 10:1, or 1:8 to 1:1, or 1:1 to 1:8, 1:1 to 1:6.

Method of Use

The present application provides a method for the control of weeds by contacting the weeds or their locus with an effective amount of any one of the combinations or the compositions disclosed herein so as to thereby control the weeds.

In an embodiment, the combination of the present application may be applied pre-sowing or post-sowing, pre-emergence, or early-post -emergence of the crop. The combination may be applied via in furrow spray, foliar application, broadcast, basal application, soil application, soil incorporation or soil injection, for example, by foliar application (e.g. foliar broadcast application or foliar spot treatment application).

For example, the combination can be applied in non-crop areas which include but are not limited to, canals, including irrigation canals, commercial areas, residential areas, lawns, ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, parks, livestock areas, warehouses, food storage facilities, grain bins, turfgrass, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallow land, rights-of-way, golf courses, parks, along roadsides, power-lines, pipelines, railways, forests, well sites, and equipment yards.

The methods described herein are particularly useful for bare ground applications, particularly for non-crop areas related to aquatic areas or potentially aquatic areas. Preferably the method of the present application involves the application of i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and ii) an N- phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof, in a canal, preferably an irrigation canal.

A cross section of a canal can be divided in slope A, slope B, slope C and slope D, which correspond, respectively, to a) the bottom of the canal receiving the water when flowing, b) the slope inside of the canal running from above the high water mark to the top of the slope (that is, the slope running from slope A to slope C), c) the area at ground level by the canal (i.e. outside the canal) along its path, typically an area where a vehicle can drive, and d) other areas and elevations outside canal besides slope C (e.g. other ditches and elevations). The slope C (any area at ground level or above) can be a simple flat area along the sides of the canal and can be accompanied by a section of slope D, such as different elevations and features, such as an elevated bank that may create a berm (distance at ground level from the base of the elevated bank to the beginning of the slope B), drains and/or other roadways.

The methods described herein can be applied to slope A, slope B, slope C and/or D of an irrigation canal. Preferably, the method comprises the following steps (a) and (b):

(a) removing water flow from a canal; and then

(b) adding i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and ii) an N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof (drawn down treatment).

When treating canals, a drawn down treatment is one where the flow of water is stopped, and then the canal is treated. Thus, it is not necessary that the canal is completely dry, but that the flow of water is removed; occasional pools of water may still be present when putting step (b) into practice. The method may comprise a step (c) comprising keeping the canal free of water flow after step (b) for a first period of at least 1 day, for example, at least 15 days, for example, 1 to 30 days, for example, for a period of 5 to 25, or 10 to 20 days, preferably 12 to 17 days. The method may further comprise a step (d) that comprises allowing water to flow through the canal for a second period of time, wherein during said second period of time the water is not used for crop irrigation. Said second period of time can be of at least 1 day, for example, at least 15 days, for example, 1 to 30 days, for example, 5 to 25, or 10 to 20 days, preferably 13 to 18 days. The process may additionally, or alternatively to the second period of time, comprise allowing water to flow through the canal without allowing said water to be used for crop irrigation until the concentration in the water of the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof in weight is below 100 ppb (parts per billion in weight), preferably below 75 ppb, preferably below 60 ppb, preferably below 55 ppb.

The method of the present application can control Grass and broadleaf weeds, as well as filamentous algae. The weeds that can be treated with the method of the present application are, for example, selected from the group consisting of Nightshade, black (Solatium nigrum); Nightshade, Eastern black (Solanum ptycanthum); Nightshade, hairy (Solanum sarrachoides); Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum); Pennycress, field (Thlaspi arvense); Phragmites (Phragmites australis); Pigweed, prostrate (Amaranthus blitoides); Pigweed, redroot (Amaranthus retroflexus); Pigweed, smooth (Amaranthus hybridus); Pigweed, spiny (Amaranthus spinosus); Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris); Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria); Purslane, common (Portulaca oleracea); Radish, wild (Raphanus raphanistrum); Ragweed, common (Ambrosia artemisiifolia); Ragweed, giant (Ambrosia trifida); Rocket, London (Sisymbrium irio); Rocket, yellow (Barbarea vulgaris); Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.); Sedge, purple (Cyperus rotundus); Sedge, yellow (Cyperus esculentus); Shepherdspurse (Capsella bursa-pastoris); Smartweed, ladysthumb (Polygonum persicaria, Persicaria maculosa); Smartweed, Pennsylvania (Polygonum pensylvanicum, Persicaria pensylvanica); Smartweed, swamp (Polygonum coccineum, Persicaria amphibia); Spike rush (Eleocharis spp.); Spurge, prostrate (Euphorbia maculata); Sunflower, common (Helianthus annuus); Swinecress (Coronopus didymus); Tansymustard, green (Descurainia pinnata); Taro (Taro spp.); Thistle, Russian (Salsola iberica); Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum); Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti); Water primrose (Ludwigia spp.); Wetland nightshade (Solanum tampicense); Whitetop/Hoary cress (Cardaria draba); Willoweed, panicle (Epilobium brachycarpum); Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli); Mallow, Venice (Hibiscus trionum); ; Sida, prickly (Sidaspinosa); Goosegrass (Eleusine indica); nettle, burning or nettle, stinging (Urtica urens); Lambsquarters, common (Chenopodium album); horseweed (Conyza canadensis);; Signalgrass (Brachiariaplatyphylla); knotweed, prostrate (Polygonum ov/cu/ore);Morningglory, entireleaf (Ipomoea hederacea var. integriluscula); Morningglory, ivyleaf (Ipomoea hederacea); Morningglory, red/scarlet (Ipomoea coccinea); Morningglory, smallflower (Jacguemontia tamnifolia); Morningglory, tall (Ipomoea purpurea); buckwheat, wild (Polygonum convolvulus); Mallow, little (Malva parviflora); Sowthistle, annual (Sonchus oleraceus); Poinsettia, wild (Euphorbia heterophylla); Ryegrass, annual (Lolium multiflorum); Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria); Phyllanthus, longstalked (Phyllanthus tenellus); Purslane, common (Portulaca oleracea); Plantain, buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata); Mallow, little (Malva parviflora); Crabgrass, southern (Digitaria ciliaris); Crabgrass, large (Digitaria sanguinalis); Crabgrass, smooth (Digitaria ischaemum); Foxtail, bristly (Setaria verticillata); Foxtail, giant (Setaria faberi); Foxtail, green (Setaria viridis); Foxtail, yellow (Setaria pumila); Squirreltail fescue (Vulpia bromoides); Toadrush (Juncus bufonius); Turnip weed (Rapistrum rugosum); Mustard spp. (Brassica spp.); Radish, wild (Raphanus raphanistrum); ; Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus); Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus); Watermilfoil, Eurasian (Myriophyllum spicatum); Milfoil, variable-leaf (Myrophyllum heterophyllum); Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aguaticum); Pondweed, sago (Stuckenia pectinate); Pondweed, American (Potamogeton nodosus); Pondweed, Illinois (Potamogeton illinoensis); naiad, southern (Najas guadalupensis); Salvinia spp. (Salvinia spp.); Bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus); Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum); Cattails (Typha spp.); Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata); Alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides); Lotus, American (Nelumbo lutea); Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.); Spatterdock (Nuphar lutea); Bladderwort (Utricularia spp.); Hyacinth, water (Eichhornia crassipes); Lettuce, water (Pistia stratiotes); Watershield (Brasenia schreberi); Lily, water (Nymphaea spp.)and Cane, giant (Arundo donax).

The ratio of application of the combination used in the method of the present application varies depending upon various conditions such as the type of formulation, weather conditions, the type of crop, the desired effect, and the type of weeds. For example, the application rates of the sum of the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof and the N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof can be from 1 g/ha to 2000 g/ha, for example from 50 to 1500, or from 100 to 1400, or from 200 to 1300. For example, the application rates of the sum of the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof and the N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof can be from 500 g/ha to 1500 g/ha, for example from 600 to 1400, or from 650 to 900, or from 650 to 800 g/ha.

The imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide can be applied simultaneously, that is jointly or separately, or in succession, in any order. For example, the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide are added jointly or in succession. In one example, the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide are prepared separately, and the individual formulations are applied as is, or diluted to predetermined concentrations. Alternatively, the imidazolinone herbicide and the N- phenylimide herbicide are prepared separately, and the formulations are mixed when diluted to a predetermined concentration. In another example, the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide are formulated together, and the formulation is applied as it is, or the formulation is diluted to a predetermined concentration.

For example, the application rate of the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof can be from 1 to 1000 g/ha, for example from 50 to 800, or from 75 to 500, or from 100 to 300, or from 125 to 375 g/ha. For example, the application rate of the N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof can be from 1 to 1000 g/ha, for example from 50 to 700, or from 75 to 500, or from 100 to 300, or from 150 to 300 g/ha.

Formulations

Thus, for example, the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide can be applied as a single "ready-for-use" form, or in a combined spray combination composed from separate formulations of each single active ingredient, such as a "tank-mix" form. It is preferred that the combination for application of the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide is in the form of a ready-for-use formulation (ready-mix formulation). This ready-mix formulation can be obtained by combining the active ingredients in an effective amount with an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a surfactant or other application-promoting adjuvant customarily employed in formulation technology.

Thus, it is preferred that the method comprises the steps of (i) providing the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide, preferably in the form of a ready-mix formulation that consists of the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide; (ii) preparing a tank-mixture comprising the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide, preferably a tank mixture wherein the imidazolinone herbicide and the N-phenylimide herbicide are the only herbicides; and (iii) applying the tank mixture of step (ii) over a non-crop area.

The combination used in the method of the present application may comprise at least one additional component selected from the group of surfactants, solid diluents and liquid diluents. Such compositions can be formulated using agriculturally acceptable carriers, surfactants or other applicationpromoting adjuvants customarily employed in formulation technology and formulation techniques that are known in the art.

Examples of suitable solid carriers potentially useful in the present compositions include but are not limited to mineral earths such as silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, sericite, attaclay, limestone, bentonite, lime, chalk, bole, mirabilite, loess, clay, dolomite, zeolite, diatomaceous earth, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, and sodium sulfate; ground synthetic materials; fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, and nutshell meal; cellulose powders; and other solid carriers.

Examples of suitable liquid carriers potentially useful in the present compositions include but are not limited to water; aromatic hydrocarbons such as alkylbenzenes and alkylnaphthalenes; alcohols such as cyclohexanol, and decanol; ethylene glycol; polypropylene glycol; dipropropylene glycol; N,N- dimethylformamide; dimethylsulfoxide; dimethylacetamide; N-alkylpyrrolidones such as N-methyl-2- pyrrolidone; paraffins; various oils such as olive, castor, linseed, tung, sesame, corn, peanut, cotton-seed, soybean, rape-seed, or coconut oil; fatty acid esters; ketones such as cyclohexanone, 2-heptanone, isophorone, and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone; and the like.

The composition may be employed or prepared in any conventional form, for example, as wettable powders (WP), emulsion concentrates (EC), microemulsion concentrates (MEC), water-soluble powders (SP), water-soluble concentrates (SL), suspoemulsion (SE), oil dispersions (OD), concentrated emulsions (BW) such as oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, sprayable solutions or emulsions, capsule suspensions (CS), suspension concentrates (SC), suspension concentrates, dusts (DP), oil-miscible solutions (OL), seed-dressing products, granules (GR) in the form of microgranules, spray granules, coated granules and absorption granules, granules for soil application or broadcasting, water-soluble granules (SG), water-dispersible granules (WDG), ULV formulations, microcapsules or waxes. These individual formulation types are known in the art.

Examples of suitable surfactants include, but are not limited to, non-ionic, anionic, cationic and ampholytic types such as alkoxylated fatty alcohols, ethoxylated polysorbate (e.g. tween 20), ethoxylated castor oil, lignin sulfonates, fatty acid sulfonates (e.g. lauryl sulfonate), phosphate esters such as phosphate esters of alcohol alkoxylates, phosphate esters of alkylphenol alkoxylates and phosphate esters of styrylphenol ethoxylates, condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of naphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, alkylarylsulfonates, ethoxylated alkylphenols and aryl phenols, polyalkylene glycols, sorbitol esters, alkali metal, sodium salts of lignosulphonates, tristyrylphenol ethoxylate phosphate esters, aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, graft copolymers and polyvinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate copolymers. Other surfactants known in the art may be used as desired.

Other ingredients, such as wetting agents, anti-foaming, adhesives, neutralizers, thickeners, binders, sequestrates, fertilizers, biocides, stabilizers, buffers or anti-freeze agents, may also be added to the present compositions in order to increase the stability, density, and viscosity of the described compositions.

Aqueous use forms can be prepared from emulsion concentrates, suspensions, pastes, wettable powders or water-dispersible granules by adding water. To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the components of the compositions either as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, can be homogenized in water by means of a wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. Alternatively, it is also possible to prepare concentrates comprising active ingredient, wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if desired, a solvent or oil, which are suitable for dilution with water.

Typically, the concentration of active ingredients in the formulation is about 0.1-99 wt. %, about 0.1-95 wt. %, or about 0.1-90 wt. %, based on the total weight of the formulation. For example, the concentration of active ingredients in the formulation is about 1-70 wt. %, based on the total weight of the formulation, for example about 1-50 wt. %, or about 1-40 wt. %, or about 1-30 wt. %or about 1-20 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition. For example, it is possible that the concentration of active ingredients in the formulation is about 1-10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the formulation. Thus, for example, the concentration of active ingredients in the formulation can be from about 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5% to about 90%, 93%, 95%, 98%, 99% based on the total weight of the formulation. The remaining components in the formulation are for example the carrier and additives.

As noted above, the methods described herein exhibit a synergistic effect. A synergistic effect exists wherever the action of a combination of active components is greater than the sum of the action of each of the components alone, as measured according to the Colby equation. Therefore, a synergistically effective amount (or an effective amount of a synergistic composition or combination) is an amount that exhibits greater pesticidal activity than the sum of the activities of the individual components.

The following representative examples illustrate the practice of the present application in some of its embodiments but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. Other embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and examples.

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLES

A synergistic effect exists whenever the action of an active ingredient combination is greater than the sum of the actions of the individual components.

In the field of agriculture, it is often understood that the term "synergy" is as defined by Colby S. R. in an article entitled "Calculation of the synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations" published in the journal Weeds, 1967, 15, p. 20-22.

The purely additive action expected for a given combination of two active components based on their individual performance can be calculated as follows:

E = X + Y- XY/100 in which E represents the purely additive expected effect, e.g. percentage of pest control, for the combination of the active ingredients at defined doses, X is the effect, e.g. percentage of pest control, observed for the first compound at a defined dose, and Y is the effect, e.g. percentage of pest control, observed for the second compound at a defined dose. When the percentage of control observed for the combination is greater than E, there is a synergistic effect. When the percentage of control observed for the combination is equal to E, there is an additive effect and wherein the percentage of control observed for the combination is lower than E, there is an antagonistic effect.

In the trials performed in the present application different areas were sprayed with the amounts indicated in Table 1 below. After 4 months the percentage of bare ground was measured with respect to the non-treated area. A percent of 100% bare ground means that complete control is observed, and no plants have grown. Flumioxazin and imazamox were added as a tank mix. Flumioxazin was added as Promenade® SC (42% of flumioxazin). Imazamox was added as IMOX (12.1% of imazamox).

The mixture of flumioxazin and imazamox showed a clear synergistic effect in creating and maintaining bare ground; in some cases (e.g. entries 8 and 11 with flumioxazin + imazamox or [6 + 32] or [12 + 32], respectively) even more than double the expected effect. The high percentages of bare ground after 4 months are a clear sign of strong synergistic residual effect.

While the present disclosure may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been described by way of example in detail herein. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1.- A method for controlling weeds in a non-crop area comprising contacting the weeds or their locus with an agriculturally effective amount of i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and ii) an N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof.

2.- The method according to claim 1, wherein the herbicides are added jointly or sequentially.

3.- The method according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the application rates of the sum of the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof and the N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof is from 500 g/ha to 1500 g/ha.

4.- The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the non-crop area is a canal.

5.- The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, for the control of weeds in an irrigation canal that comprises removing water flow from the canal; adding i) an imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and ii) an N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof.

6.- The method according to claim 5 wherein the imidazolinone herbicide, esters or salts thereof; and the N-phenylimide herbicide, esters or salts thereof are added simultaneously to slope A, slope B and slope C of the canal.

7.- The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the N-phenylimide herbicide is selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, pentoxazone, trifludimoxazin, tiafenacil, fluthiacet, epyrifenacil, flumiclorac, cinidon and butafenacil, esters or salts thereof.

8.- The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said imidazolinone herbicide is selected from the group consisting of imazamox, imazapyr, imazapic, imazethapyr, imazaquin and imazamethabenz, esters or salts thereof.

9.- The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the N-phenylimide herbicide is selected from the group consisting of flumioxazin, saflufenacil, and esters or salts thereof.

10.- The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said imidazolinone herbicide is selected from the group consisting of imazamox and esters or salts thereof.

11.- The method according to any of the previous claims, comprising imazamox, esters or salts thereof and flumioxazin, esters or salts thereof.

12.- The method according to any of the previous claims, comprising the ammonium salt of imazamox and flumioxazin.

13.- The method according to any of the previous claims, consisting of imazamox, esters or salts thereof, and flumioxazin, esters or salts thereof.

14.- The method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the combination exhibits a synergistic effect.