阅读说明：本技术 除草混合物 (Herbicidal mixtures ) 是由 高婧思 A·麦金尼斯 于 2018-12-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明总体上涉及包含草铵膦组分和生长素除草剂组分的含水除草组合物。本发明进一步涉及制备这些组合物的方法和使用这些组合物控制有害植物的方法。(The present invention generally relates to aqueous herbicidal compositions comprising a glufosinate component and an auxin herbicide component. The invention further relates to methods of making these compositions and methods of using these compositions to control unwanted vegetation.)

1. An aqueous herbicidal concentrate composition comprising:

a glufosinate component;

an auxin herbicide component;

monocarboxylic acids and/or salts thereof; and

a surfactant component comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl aryl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, alkyl aryl ether sulfonates, alkyl polysaccharides, amidoalkylamines, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylamines, alkoxylated phosphate esters, and combinations thereof, wherein the total herbicide concentration of the composition is at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, at least about 20wt.%, at least about 25wt.%, at least about 30wt.%, at least about 35wt.%, at least about 40wt.%, at least about 45 wt.%, or at least about 50 wt.%.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the total herbicide concentration is from about 10wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 50 wt.%, or a combination thereof, About 30wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 90wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 80wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 70wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 60 wt.%, or about 35wt.% to about 50 wt.%.

3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the glufosinate component comprises a salt of glufosinate.

4. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the glufosinate component comprises an ammonium salt of glufosinate.

5. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the concentration of the glufosinate component is at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20wt.%, based on acid equivalent.

6. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the concentration of the glufosinate component is from about 5wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 25wt.%, based on acid equivalents, the glufosinate component, About 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 30wt.%, or about 20wt.% to about 25 wt.%.

7. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the auxin herbicide component comprises at least one auxin herbicide selected from the group consisting of: dicamba (3, 6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid); 2,4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid); 2,4-DB (4- (2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) butanoic acid); 2, 4-dichlorpropionic acid (2- (2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid); MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid); MCPB (4- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) butyric acid); aminopyralid (4-amino-3, 6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid); fluroxypyr ([ (4-amino-3, 5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridinyl) oxy ] acetic acid); clodinafop-propargyl ([ (3,5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) oxy ] acetic acid); diclopyr; 2-methyl-4-chloropropionic acid ((2- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) propionic acid); homo-2-methyl-4-chloropropionic acid; picloram (4-amino-3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid); quinclorac (3, 7-dichloro-8-quinolinecarboxylic acid); cyprodinil (6-amino-5-chloro-2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid); benazolin, fluroxypyr, fluoropyrauxifen, 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester -indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid benzyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1-isobutyryl-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-6- [1- (2, 2-dimethylpropionyl) -7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl ] -5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- [ 7-fluoro-1- (methoxyacetyl) -1H-indol-6-yl ] pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 6- (1-acetyl-7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) -4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid potassium salt; and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid butyl ester; including salts and esters thereof, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof; and combinations thereof.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the auxin herbicide component comprises dicamba and/or a salt thereof.

9. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the auxinic herbicide component comprises at least one salt of dicamba selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine salt, tetrabutylamine salt, dimethylamine salt, isopropylamine salt, diglycolamine salt, potassium salt, sodium salt, and combinations thereof.

10. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the auxinic herbicide component comprises the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba.

11. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the auxinic herbicide component comprises the tetrabutyl amine salt of dicamba.

12. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the auxinic herbicide component comprises the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba and the tetrabutylamine salt of dicamba in a molar ratio of about 1:5 to about 5:1, about 1:2 to about 5:1, about 1:1 to about 4:1, about 1:1 to about 3:1, or about 1:1 to about 2: 1.

13. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the auxinic herbicide component comprises the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba and the tetrabutylamine salt of dicamba, and the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba is in molar excess to the tetrabutylamine salt of dicamba.

14. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the concentration of the auxin herbicide component is at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20wt.% on an acid equivalent basis.

15. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the concentration of the auxinic herbicide component is from about 5wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 25wt.%, based on acid equivalents, the auxinic herbicide component, About 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 30wt.%, or about 20wt.% to about 25 wt.%.

16. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the acid equivalent weight ratio of the glufosinate component to the auxin herbicide component is at least about 1:10, at least about 1:5, at least about 1:3, at least about 1:2, at least about 1:1, at least about 2:1, at least about 3:1, at least about 5:1, or at least about 10: 1.

17. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the acid equivalent weight ratio of the glufosinate component to the auxin herbicide component is about 1:5 to about 5:1, about 1:5 to about 4:1, about 1:5 to about 3:1, about 1:5 to about 2:1, about 1:5 to about 1:1, about 1:4 to about 5:1, about 1:4 to about 4:1, about 1:4 to about 3:1, about 1:4 to about 2:1, about 1:4 to about 1:1, about 1:3 to about 5:1, about 1:3 to about 4:1, about 1:3 to about 3:1, about 1:3 to about 2:1, about 1:3 to about 1:1, about 1:2 to about 5:1, about 1:2 to about 4:1, about 1:2 to about 3:1, about 1:2 to about 1:1, about 1:1, about 1:2 to about 5:1, about 1:1, about 4:1, about 1:1, about 1:1 to about 3:1, about 1:1 to about 2:1, about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1, or about 1:1.25 to about 1.25: 1.

18. The composition of any of claims 36 through 45, where ingredient monocarboxylate has the formula R¹-C (O) OM, wherein R¹Is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀Alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C₂-C₂₀Alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, and M is an agriculturally acceptable cation.

19. The composition of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, benzoic acid, mixtures thereof, and/or salts thereof.

20. The solid herbicidal concentrate composition of any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof comprises acetic acid, sodium acetate, and/or potassium acetate.

21. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the concentration of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is at least about 3wt.%, at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 12.5 wt.%, or at least about 15 wt.%.

22. The composition of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the concentration of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is about 3wt.% to about 30wt.%, about 3wt.% to about 25wt.%, about 3wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 4wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 7wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 8 wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 9 wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, or about 10wt.% to about 15 wt.%.

23. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the acid equivalent molar ratio of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof to the auxinic herbicide component is at least about 1:10, at least about 1:5, at least about 1:3, at least about 1:2, at least about 1:1, at least about 2:1, at least about 3:1, at least about 4:1, at least about 5:1, at least about 6:1, at least about 8:1, or at least about 10: 1.

24. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the acid equivalent molar ratio of the auxinic herbicide component to the monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is from about 10:1 to about 1:10, from about 10:1 to about 1:5, from about 5:1 to about 1:5, from about 3:1 to about 1:3, from about 2:1 to about 1:2, from about 1:1 to about 10:1, from about 1:1 to about 8:1, from about 1:1 to about 6:1, from about 1:1 to about 5:1, from about 1:1 to about 4:1, from about 1:1 to about 3:1, or from about 1:1 to about 2: 1.

25. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the concentration of the surfactant component is at least about 1 wt.%, at least about 2 wt.%, at least about 3wt.%, at least about 4wt.%, at least about 5wt.%, at least about 6 wt.%, at least about 7wt.%, at least about 8 wt.%, at least about 9 wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 12 wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20 wt.%.

26. The composition of any of claims 1 to 24, wherein the concentration of the surfactant component is from about 1 wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 2 wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 3wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 4wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, or from about 10wt.% to about 15 wt.%.

27. The composition of any of claims 1 to 26, wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, and/or alkyl aryl ether sulfates.

28. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the alkyl sulfate surfactant is a compound of formula (1 a):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

29. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is a compound of formula (1 b):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

n is from about 1 to about 20; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

30. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the alkyl aryl ether sulfate surfactant is a compound of formula (1 c):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

n is from about 1 to about 20; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

31. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl polysaccharide surfactants.

32. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the alkyl polysaccharide surfactant is a compound of formula (2):

R¹¹-O-(sug)_uformula (2)

Wherein

R¹¹Is a straight or branched substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkylphenyl, or alkenylphenyl groups having from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms;suga moiety is a sugar residue; and u is an average value of 1 to about 10.

33. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 32 wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more amidoalkylamine surfactants.

34. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 33 wherein the amidoalkylamine surfactant is a compound of formula (3):

wherein

R₄Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms;

R₅and R₆Each independently a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; and

R₇is a hydrocarbylene or substituted hydrocarbylene group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

35. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 34, wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkoxylated alcohol surfactants.

36. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the alkoxylated alcohol surfactant is a compound of formula (4):

wherein

R₈Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₉Each R in the group O)₉Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group; and

n is an average value in the range of about 2 to about 50.

37. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 36 wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates and/or alkyl aryl ether sulfonates.

38. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein the alkyl sulfonate surfactant is a compound of formula (5 a):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

39. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the alkyl sulfonate ether surfactant is a compound of formula (5 b):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

n is from about 1 to about 20; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

40. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein the alkylaryl sulfonate surfactant is a compound of formula (5 c):

wherein

R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

n is from about 1 to about 20; and

m is selected from alkali metal cation, ammonium compound or H⁺。

41. The composition of any of claims 1 to 40, wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkoxylated alkylamine surfactants.

42. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the alkoxylated alkylamine surfactant is a compound of formula (6):

wherein

R₁Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of about 5 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

each R₃Independently is hydrogen or C₁-C₄An alkyl group; and

x and y are averages such that the sum of x and y is from about 3 to about 30.

43. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 42, wherein the surfactant component comprises one or more alkoxylated phosphate ester surfactants.

44. The composition of any of claims 1 to 43, wherein the alkoxylated phosphate ester is selected from the group consisting of a phosphate ester of an alkoxylated tertiary amine, a phosphate ester of an alkoxylated ether amine, a phosphate ester of an alkoxylated alcohol, and combinations thereof.

45. The composition of claim 44 wherein the phosphate ester surfactant of an alkoxylated tertiary amine is a compound of formula (7a) or (7 b):

wherein

Each R₁Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂R in the radical O)₂And each (R)₃R in the radical O)₃Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

x and y are averages such that the sum of each x and y group is from about 2 to about 60;

R₄and R₅Each independently hydrogen or a straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

46. The composition of claim 44 or 45 wherein the phosphate ester surfactant of an alkoxylated ether amine is a compound of formula (8a) or (8 b):

wherein

Each R₁Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂R in the radical O)₂Each of (R)₃R in the radical O)₃And each (R)₄R in the radical O)₄Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

each m is independently an average value of 1 to about 10;

x and y are averages such that the sum of each x and y group is from about 2 to about 60; and

each R₅And R₆Independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

47. The composition of any of claims 44 to 46, wherein the phosphate ester surfactant of the alkoxylated alcohol corresponds in structure to formula (9a) or (9 b):

wherein

Each R₁Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;

each (R)₂R in the radical O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group;

each m is independently an average value of 1 to about 60; and

R₃and R₄Each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

48. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 47, wherein the surfactant component comprises two or more surfactants.

49. A method of controlling the growth of unwanted plants, the method comprising:

preparing an aqueous herbicidal application mixture by diluting the herbicidal concentrate composition of any one of claims 1 to 48 with water; and

an herbicidally effective amount of the application mixture is applied to the harmful plants.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to aqueous (aquous) herbicidal (herbicidal) compositions comprising a glufosinate (glufosinate) component and an auxin (auxin) herbicide (herbicide) component. The invention further relates to methods of making these compositions and methods of using these compositions to control unwanted vegetation.

Background

In order to improve the efficiency of applying herbicidal active ingredients, it is highly desirable to combine two or more active ingredients in a single formulation. Applying combinations of active ingredients with different modes of action also allows for better control of weeds. Concentrate compositions containing high loads of multiple active ingredients are economical to ship and store. Concentrate compositions containing high loadings of multiple active ingredients (i.e., premix concentrates) also facilitate avoiding or reducing mixing errors when preparing application mixtures in the field.

Glufosinate is known to be useful as an effective broad-spectrum, non-selective post-emergent herbicide. Glufosinate is a contact herbicide and its primary mode of action is inhibition of glutamine synthetase. In general, glufosinate is formulated as a salt, particularly an ammonium salt. One or more surfactants are also typically included in the glufosinate formulations to enhance the efficacy of the herbicide.

Auxin herbicides are a class of herbicides that can supplement the action of major post-emergent herbicides such as glufosinate. Auxin herbicides mimic or act as natural auxin plant growth regulators. Auxin herbicides appear to affect cell wall plasticity and nucleic acid metabolism, which can lead to uncontrolled cell division and growth. Symptoms of injury caused by auxin herbicides include superior bending and tangling of the stem and petiole, cupping and curling of the leaves, and abnormal leaf shape and choroid. Off-site migration is sometimes associated with certain auxin herbicide formulations. Thus, some auxin herbicide formulations include one or more additives for controlling volatility.

There remains a need for formulation strategies that provide economical and convenient compositions containing glufosinate and auxin herbicides as well as additives (such as surfactants and volatility control agents) that are stable at the time of formulation and through various storage conditions.

Brief description of the invention

Various aspects of the present invention relate to aqueous herbicidal concentrate compositions comprising a glufosinate component, an auxin herbicide component, a monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof, and a surfactant component. The surfactant component comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl aryl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, alkyl aryl ether sulfonates, alkyl polysaccharides, amidoalkylamines, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylamines, alkoxylated phosphate esters, and combinations thereof. The total herbicide concentration of the composition is at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, at least about 20wt.%, at least about 25wt.%, at least about 30wt.%, at least about 35wt.%, at least about 40wt.%, at least about 45 wt.%, or at least about 50 wt.%.

In other aspects, the present invention relates to a method of controlling the growth of unwanted plants comprising diluting an aqueous herbicidal concentrate composition with water to form an application mixture and applying a herbicidally effective amount of the application mixture to the unwanted plants.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates generally to aqueous herbicidal compositions comprising a glufosinate component and an auxin herbicide component. For example, the present invention relates to various herbicidal concentrate compositions containing these active ingredients. The present invention also relates to a method of controlling the growth of unwanted plants comprising diluting a herbicidal concentrate composition with water to form an application mixture and applying a herbicidally effective amount of the application mixture to the unwanted plants.

Various aspects of the present invention provide aqueous herbicidal concentrate compositions comprising a glufosinate component, an auxin herbicide component, an additive useful for reducing or controlling the volatility of the auxin herbicide, and a surfactant component. The herbicidal concentrate compositions described herein provide a convenient means of incorporating the glufosinate component, the auxin herbicide component and the volatility control additive into a single composition. In addition to reducing or controlling volatility, a single composition containing these ingredients may also reduce possible tank mixing errors compared to the individual compositions. Furthermore, the storage space and associated packaging that would otherwise be required for the individual compositions is reduced.

Other aspects of the invention provide aqueous herbicidal concentrate compositions comprising a glufosinate component, an auxin herbicide component, an additive useful for reducing or controlling the volatility of the auxin herbicide, and a surfactant component that can exhibit enhanced stability and reduced or controlled off-field movement (e.g., volatility and/or drift) of the auxin herbicide component. During storage and transportation, pesticide concentrate compositions may be exposed to elevated and/or sub-freezing temperatures. Providing a stable herbicidal composition advantageously maintains the efficacy of the herbicide over long term storage and varying temperature conditions.

The herbicidal compositions of the present invention include various concentrate compositions that can contain relatively high concentrations of one or more herbicidal components (e.g., a glufosinate component and an auxin herbicide component). For example, in some embodiments, the total herbicide concentration of the composition (e.g., the glufosinate component and the auxin herbicide component) may be at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, at least about 20wt.%, at least about 25wt.%, at least about 30wt.%, at least about 35wt.%, at least about 40wt.%, at least about 45 wt.%, or at least about 50 wt.%. In other embodiments, the total herbicide concentration of the composition is from about 10wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 90wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 80wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 70wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 60 wt.%, from about 30wt.% to about 50 wt.%, or a combination thereof, About 30wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 90wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 80wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 70wt.%, about 35wt.% to about 60 wt.%, or about 35wt.% to about 50 wt.%.

Glufosinate component

As indicated, the compositions of the present invention comprise a glufosinate component. Glufosinate is also known as phosphinothricin (phosphinothricin). Phosphinothricin has two stereoisomers (D-and L-enantiomers). L-phosphinothricin is generally the most effective stereoisomer. As used herein, the term "glufosinate" encompasses the D-and L-enantiomers of phosphinothricin and racemic mixtures thereof.

The glufosinate component may include the acid form of glufosinate as well as various salts and/or esters thereof. Glufosinate salts generally include ammonium salts, alkali metal (e.g., potassium or sodium) and organic ammonium salts. The ammonium salt of glufosinate-ammonium is the most common commercial form. Thus, in various embodiments, the glufosinate component comprises an ammonium salt of glufosinate (e.g., racemic glufosinate-ammonium). Commercially available sources of glufosinate and its salts include those available from Bayer crop science (Bayer crop science) under the tradenames BASTA and LIBERTY.

The various herbicidal concentrate compositions described herein provide a high loading of the glufosinate component. For example, in various embodiments, the concentration of the glufosinate component is at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20wt.% based on the acid equivalent. In some embodiments, the concentration of the glufosinate component is from about 5wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, based on acid equivalent weight, About 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 30wt.%, or about 20wt.% to about 25 wt.%.

Auxin herbicide component

The compositions of the present invention also comprise an auxin herbicide component. Examples of the auxin herbicide include benzoic acid herbicides, phenoxy herbicides, pyridine carboxylic acid herbicides, pyridyloxy herbicides, pyrimidine carboxylic acid herbicides, quinoline carboxylic acid herbicides, and benzothiazole herbicides. Specific examples of auxin herbicides include dicamba (3, 6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid); 2,4-D (2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid); 2,4-DB (4- (2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) butanoic acid); 2, 4-dichlorprop (2- (2, 4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid); MCPA ((4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid); MCPB (4- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) butyric acid); aminopyralid (4-amino-3, 6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid); fluroxypyr ([ (4-amino-3, 5-dichloro-6-fluoro-2-pyridyl) oxy ] acetic acid); diclopyr ([ (3,5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) oxy ] acetic acid); diclopyr; 2-methyl-4-chloropropionic acid (mecoprop) ((2- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) propionic acid), homo-2-methyl-4-chloropropionic acid (mecoprop-P), picloram (picloram) (4-amino-3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), quinclorac (3, 7-dichloro-8-quinolinecarboxylic acid), aminocyclopyrachlor (6-amino-5-chloro-2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrimidinecarboxylic acid), benazolin (benazolin), fluorochloropyridinic acid (halauxifen), fluorochyrauxifen; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester, 4-amino-3-chloro-propionic acid (mecoprop-P), picloram-P (mecoprop-P), picloram-4-amino-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid benzyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1-isobutyryl-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-6- [1- (2, 2-dimethylpropionyl) -7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl ] -5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- [ 7-fluoro-1- (methoxyacetyl) -1H-indol-6-yl ] pyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 6- (1-acetyl-7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) -4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester; 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid potassium salt; and 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6- (7-fluoro-1H-indol-6-yl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid butyl ester; including salts and esters thereof, racemic mixtures and resolved isomers thereof; and combinations thereof.

In various embodiments, the auxin herbicide component comprises dicamba and/or a salt thereof. Examples of dicamba salts include monoethanolamine, tetrabutylamine, dimethylamine (e.g., BANVEL, ORACLE, etc.), isopropylamine, diglycolamine (e.g., CLARITY, VANQUISH, etc.), potassium and sodium salts, and combinations thereof. Commercially available sources of dicamba and its salts include those sold under the tradenames BANVEL, category, DIABLO, DISTINCT, ORACLE, VANQUISH, and VISION.

According to some embodiments, it has been found that certain combinations of glufosinate and dicamba salts provide herbicidal concentrate compositions that exhibit enhanced stability and other advantages, such as controlled or reduced dicamba volatility. In particular, monoethanolamine and tetrabutylamine salts of dicamba have been found to be particularly suitable for providing stable concentrate compositions with glufosinate ammonium salts and effective in reducing the volatility of dicamba. Thus, in various embodiments, the auxin herbicide component comprises a dicamba salt selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, tetrabutylammonium, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the auxin herbicide component comprises a monoethanolamine salt of dicamba. In other embodiments, the auxin herbicide component comprises a tetrabutylammonium salt of dicamba. In certain embodiments, the composition comprises both the monoethanolamine and tetrabutylamine salts of dicamba. In these embodiments, the molar ratio of the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba to the tetrabutylamine salt of dicamba may be about 1:5 to about 5:1, about 1:2 to about 5:1, about 1:1 to about 4:1, about 1:1 to about 3:1, or about 1:1 to about 2: 1. In some embodiments, the monoethanolamine salt of dicamba is in molar excess to the tetrabutylamine salt of dicamba (e.g., about 65: 35).

In various embodiments, the auxin herbicide component comprises 2,4-D and/or a salt thereof. Examples of 2,4-D salts include choline salt, dimethylamine salt, and isopropylamine salt, and combinations thereof. Commercially available sources of 2,4-D and its salts include those sold under the tradenames BARRAGE, FORMULA 40, OPT-AMINE and WEEDAR 64.

Other agriculturally acceptable salts of auxin herbicides include polyamine salts such as those described in U.S. patent application publication No. 2012/0184434, which is incorporated herein by reference. Polyamines described in U.S.2012/0184434 include those of formula (a)

Wherein R is¹⁴、R¹⁵、R¹⁷、R¹⁹And R²⁰Independently is H or C₁-C₆-alkyl, optionally substituted with OH, R¹⁶And R¹⁸Independently is C₂-C₄Alkylene, X is OH or NR¹⁹R²⁰And n is 1 to 20; and those of the formula (B)

Wherein R is²¹And R²²Independently is H or C₁-C₆-alkyl, R²³Is C₁-C₁₂Alkylene, and R²⁴Is aliphatic C₅-C₈A ring system containing either nitrogen in the ring or at least one unit NR²¹R²²And (4) substitution. Specific examples of such polyamines include tetraethylenepentamine, triethylenetetramine, diethylenetriamine, pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, N ', N "-pentamethyl-dipropylenetriamine, N-bis (3-dimethylaminopropyl) -N-isopropanolamine, N ' - (3- (dimethylamino) propyl) -N, N-dimethyl-1, 3-propanediamine, N-bis (3-aminopropyl) methylamine, N- (3-dimethylaminopropyl) -N, N-diisopropanolamine, N ' -trimethylaminoethyl-ethanolamine, aminopropylmonomethylethanolamine, and aminoethylethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

The various herbicidal concentrate compositions described herein provide a high loading of the auxin herbicide component. For example, in various embodiments, the concentration of the auxin herbicide component is at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20wt.% based on acid equivalents. In some embodiments, the concentration of the auxinic herbicide component is from about 5wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 15wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 30wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, based on acid equivalents, the auxinic herbicide component is present in an amount of from about 5wt.% to about 50 wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 40wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 25wt.%, and from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.% About 20wt.% to about 50 wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 40wt.%, about 20wt.% to about 30wt.%, or about 20wt.% to about 25 wt.%.

In some embodiments, the concentration (wt.%) of the glufosinate component is greater than the concentration of the auxin herbicide component, on an acid equivalent basis. In other embodiments, the concentration of the auxin herbicide component is greater than the concentration of the glufosinate component on an acid equivalent basis. In various embodiments, the acid equivalent weight ratio of the glufosinate component to the auxin herbicide component is at least about 1:10, at least about 1:5, at least about 1:3, at least about 1:2, at least about 1:1, at least about 2:1, at least about 3:1, at least about 5:1, or at least about 10: 1. In some embodiments, the acid equivalent weight ratio of the glufosinate component to the auxin herbicide component is about 1:5 to about 5:1, about 1:5 to about 4:1, about 1:5 to about 3:1, about 1:5 to about 2:1, about 1:5 to about 1:1, about 1:4 to about 5:1, about 1:4 to about 4:1, about 1:4 to about 3:1, about 1:4 to about 2:1, about 1:4 to about 1:1, about 1:3 to about 5:1, about 1:3 to about 4:1, about 1:3 to about 3:1, about 1:3 to about 2:1, about 1:3 to about 1:1, about 1:2 to about 5:1, about 1:2 to about 4:1, about 1:2 to about 3:1, about 1:2 to about 2:1, about 1:1 to about 1:1, about 1:1 to about 5:1, about 1:1, about 4:1, about 1:1, about 3:1, about 1, About 1:1 to about 2:1, about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1, or about 1:1.25 to about 1.25: 1.

Monocarboxylic acids and/or salts thereof

The herbicidal compositions described herein further comprise additives to control or reduce potential herbicide volatility. Under some application conditions, certain auxin herbicides can evaporate into the surrounding atmosphere and migrate from the site of application to adjacent crop plants, such as soybeans and cotton, where contact damage to sensitive plants can occur. For example, additives that control or reduce the volatility of a potential herbicide include monocarboxylic acids and/or salts thereof, as described in U.S. application publication nos. 2014/0128264 and 2015/0264924 (incorporated herein by reference).

"monocarboxylic acid" refers to a hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon containing only one carboxyl functional group (i.e., R)¹-C (O) OH). Salts of monocarboxylic acids (i.e., monocarboxylates) are intended to mean oneGeneral structure R¹-C (O) OM, wherein M is an agriculturally acceptable cation. In various embodiments, the composition comprises at least one salt of a monocarboxylic acid, which may be present in the aqueous composition in its entirety or in part in dissociated form as a monocarboxylate anion and a corresponding cation.

Representative monocarboxylic acids and salts thereof typically comprise a hydrocarbon or unsubstituted hydrocarbon selected from, for example, unsubstituted or substituted straight or branched chain alkyl (e.g., C)₁-C₂₀Alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, etc.); unsubstituted or substituted straight-chain or branched alkenyl (e.g. C)₂-C₂₀Alkyl groups such as vinyl, n-propenyl, isopropenyl, and the like); unsubstituted or substituted aryl (e.g., phenyl, hydroxyphenyl, etc.); or unsubstituted or substituted arylalkyl (e.g., benzyl). In particular, the monocarboxylic acid may be selected from formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and benzoic acid. The salts of monocarboxylic acids may be selected from the group consisting of formates, acetates, propionates and benzoates. Salts of monocarboxylic acids may include, for example, alkali metal salts selected from sodium and potassium. Some preferred salts of monocarboxylic acids include sodium acetate and potassium acetate.

In various embodiments, the concentration of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is at least about 3wt.%, at least about 5wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 12.5 wt.%, or at least about 15 wt.%. For example, the concentration of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof can be about 3wt.% to about 30wt.%, about 3wt.% to about 25wt.%, about 3wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 4wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 7wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 8 wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 9 wt.% to about 20wt.%, about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, or about 10wt.% to about 15 wt.%.

In some embodiments, the acid equivalent molar ratio of monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof to the auxin herbicide component is at least about 1:10, at least about 1:5, at least about 1:3, at least about 1:2, at least about 1:1, at least about 2:1, at least about 3:1, at least about 4:1, at least about 5:1, at least about 6:1, at least about 8:1, or at least about 10: 1. For example, the acid equivalent molar ratio of the monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof to the auxin herbicide component may be about 10:1 to about 1:10, about 10:1 to about 1:5, about 5:1 to about 1:5, about 3:1 to about 1:3, about 2:1 to about 1:2, about 1:1 to about 10:1, about 1:1 to about 8:1, about 1:1 to about 6:1, about 1:1 to about 5:1, about 1:1 to about 4:1, about 1:1 to about 3:1, or about 1:1 to about 2: 1.

Surfactant component

Typically, the compositions of the present invention comprise a surfactant component. It has been found that certain surfactants provide herbicidal concentrate compositions that exhibit enhanced stability. In various embodiments, the surfactant component comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl aryl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, alkyl aryl ether sulfonates, alkyl polysaccharides, amidoalkylamines, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated alkylamines, alkoxylated phosphate esters, and combinations thereof. For example, the surfactant component may comprise two or more surfactants. In various embodiments, the concentration of the surfactant component is at least about 1 wt.%, at least about 2 wt.%, at least about 3wt.%, at least about 4wt.%, at least about 5wt.%, at least about 6 wt.%, at least about 7wt.%, at least about 8 wt.%, at least about 9 wt.%, at least about 10wt.%, at least about 12 wt.%, at least about 15wt.%, or at least about 20 wt.%. In some embodiments, the concentration of the surfactant component may be from about 1 wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 2 wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 3wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 4wt.% to about 25wt.%, from about 5wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 10wt.% to about 20wt.%, from about 15wt.% to about 20wt.%, or from about 10wt.% to about 15 wt.%.

Sulfate surfactants

In various embodiments, the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, and/or alkyl aryl ether sulfates. Examples of such surfactants include compounds of formulae (1a), (1b) and (1 c):

wherein the compound of formula (1a) is an alkyl sulfate, the compound of formula (1b) is an alkyl ether sulfate, and the compound of formula (1c) is an alkyl aryl ether sulfate.

In the formulae (1a), (1b) and (1c), R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, and M is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal cation, ammonium, an ammonium compound, or H⁺. In the formulae (1b) and (1c), (R) each₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁–C₄Alkylene (e.g., n-propylene and/or ethylene), and n is 1 to about 20. Examples of alkyl sulfates include C_8-10Sodium sulfate, C_10-16Sodium sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, C_14-16Sodium sulfate, diethanolamine lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, and ammonium lauryl sulfate. Examples of alkyl ether sulfates include C_12-15Sodium alkyl polyether sulfate (sodium C)_12-15pareth sulfate)(1 EO)、C_6-10Alcohol Ether ammonium sulfate, C_6-10Sodium alcohol Ether sulfate, isopropyl C_6-10Alcohol Ether ammonium sulfate, C_10-12Alcohol ether ammonium sulfate and sodium lauryl ether sulfate. Examples of alkyl aryl ether sulfates include sodium nonylphenol ethoxylate sulfate. Specific examples of sulfate surfactants include AGNIQUE SLES-270 (C)_10-161-2.5 EO, sodium lauryl Ether sulfate), WITCOLATE 1247H (C)_6-103EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE 7093 (C)_6-103EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE7259 (C)_8-10Sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE 1276 (C)_10-125EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE LES-60A (C)_12-143EO, ammonium sulfate), WITCOLATE LES-60C (C)_12-143EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE 1050 (C)_12-1510EO, sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE WAQ (C)_12-16Sodium sulfate), WITCOLATE D-51-51 (nonylphenol 4EO, sodium sulfate) and WITCOLATE D-51-53 (nonylphenol 10EO, sodium sulfate).

Alkyl polysaccharide surfactants

In some embodiments, the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl polysaccharide surfactants. Examples of alkyl polysaccharide surfactants include compounds of formula (2):

R¹¹-O-(sug)_uformula (2)

Wherein R is¹¹Is a straight or branched substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkylphenyl, alkenylphenyl, having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, for example from about 4 to 18 carbon atoms.sugThe moiety is a sugar residue and may be an open or cyclic (i.e., pyranose) structure. The sugar may be a monosaccharide (having 5 or 6 carbon atoms), disaccharide, oligosaccharide or polysaccharide. Examples of suitable sugar moieties (including their corresponding pyranose forms) include ribose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, telose, gulose, allose, altrose, idose, lyxose, ribulose, sorbose (sorbitan), fructose and mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable disaccharides include maltose, lactose, and sucrose. The di-, oligo-and polysaccharides may be a combination of two or more of the same sugars, such as maltose (two glucose) or a combination of two or more different sugars, such as sucrose (a combination of glucose and fructose). The degree of polymerization u is an average value of 1 to about 10, 1 to about 8, 1 to about 5, 1 to about 3, and 1 to about 2. In various embodiments, the alkyl polysaccharide surfactant may be an Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) surfactant of formula (2), wherein: r¹¹Are branched or straight-chain alkyl groups, preferably having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms or from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, or mixtures of alkyl groups having an average value within the given ranges;sugis a glucose residue (e.g., glucoside); and u is 1 to about 5, more preferably 1 to about 3. In various embodiments, the surfactant component comprises an APG of formula (2), wherein R¹¹Is a mixture of branched or straight chain alkyl groups having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms or alkyl groups having an average value within the given range and u is from 1 to about 3.

Examples of alkyl polysaccharide surfactants are known in the art. Some preferred alkyl polysaccharide surfactants include AGNIQUE PG8107-G (AGRIMUL PG 2067) available from BASF and AL-2559 (C) available from Croda_9-11Alkyl polysaccharides). Representative surfactants are also listed in the table below, wherein for each surfactant,sugis a glucose residue.

Commercial alkyl polysaccharide surfactants

Trade name	R11	u
			APG 225	C8-12Alkyl radical	1.7
APG 325	C9-11Alkyl radical	1.5
			APG 425	C8-16Alkyl radical	1.6
APG 625	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.6
			GLUCOPON 600	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.4
PLANTAREN 600	C12-14Alkyl radical	1.3
			PLANTAREN 1200	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.4
PLANTAREN 1300	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.6
			PLANTAREN 2000	C8-16Alkyl radical	1.4
Agrimul PG 2076	C8-10Alkyl radical	1.5
			Agrimul PG 2067	C8-10Alkyl radical	1.7
Agrimul PG 2072	C8-16Alkyl radical	1.6
			Agrimul PG 2069	C9-11Alkyl radical	1.6
Agrimul PG 2062	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.4
			Agrimul PG 2065	C12-16Alkyl radical	1.6
BEROL AG6202	2-Ethyl-1-hexyl radical

Amidoalkylamine surfactants

The surfactant component may comprise one or more amidoalkylamine surfactants. Examples of amidoalkylamine surfactants include compounds of formula (3):

wherein R is₄Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, R₅And R₆Each independently a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, and R₇Is a hydrocarbylene or substituted hydrocarbylene group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

R₄Preferred are alkyl or substituted alkyl groups having an average number of carbon atoms between about 4 and about 20 carbon atoms, preferably an average number of carbon atoms between about 4 and about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably an average number of carbon atoms from about 4 to about 12, more preferably an average number of carbon atoms from about 5 to about 12, even more preferably an average number of carbon atoms from about 6 to about 12, and still more preferably an average number of carbon atoms from about 6 to about 10. R₄The alkyl group may be derived from a variety of sources that provide an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 18 carbon atoms, for example, the source may be butyric acid, valeric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, cocoa (comprising predominantly lauric acid), myristic acid (e.g., from palm oil), soy (comprising predominantly linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid), or tallow (comprising predominantly palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid). In some embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a mixture of amidoalkylamines having alkyl chains of various lengths from about 5 carbon atoms to about 12 carbon atoms. For example, dependent on R₄The source of alkyl groups, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may compriseHaving R₄Mixtures of surfactants of the group, wherein R₄The groups are 5 carbon atoms in length, 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, 10 carbon atoms in length, 11 carbon atoms in length and 12 carbon atoms in length, longer carbon chains, and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a surfactant having R₄Mixtures of surfactants of the group, wherein R₄The groups are 5 carbon atoms in length, 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, and 8 carbon atoms in length. In some embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a surfactant having R₁Mixtures of radical surfactants, R₁The groups are 6 carbon atoms in length, 7 carbon atoms in length, 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, and 10 carbon atoms in length. In other embodiments, the amidoalkylamine surfactant component may comprise a surfactant having R₄Mixtures of radical surfactants, R₄The groups are 8 carbon atoms in length, 9 carbon atoms in length, 10 carbon atoms in length, 11 carbon atoms in length, and 12 carbon atoms in length.

R₅And R₆Independently, an alkyl or substituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms is preferred. R₅And R₆Most preferably independently an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and most preferably methyl. R₇Preferably an alkylene or substituted alkylene group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. R₇Most preferred is an alkylene group having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and most preferred is n-propylene.

In various amidoalkylamine surfactants, R₄Is C_6-10I.e., an alkyl group having 6 carbon atoms, 7 carbon atoms, 8 carbon atoms, 9 carbon atoms, 10 carbon atoms, or a mixture of any of these, i.e., from about 6 carbon atoms to about 10 carbon atoms; r₅And R₆Each is methyl; and R is₇Is n-propylene (i.e., C)_6-10Amidopropyl dimethylamine). Preferred amidoalkaneThe amine surfactant is ADSEE C80W (cocamidopropyl dimethylamine), available from Akzo Nobel.

Alkoxylated alcohol surfactants

In some embodiments, the surfactant component comprises an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant. Examples of alkoxylated alcohol surfactants include compounds of formula (4):

wherein R is₈Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; each (R)₉Each R in the group O)₉Independently selected from C₁-C₄Alkylene (e.g., n-propylene and/or ethylene); and n is an average value of about 2 to about 50.

R₈Preferred are alkyl groups having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms. R₈May be branched or straight chain. Preferably, R₈Are linear. R₈The alkyl group may be derived from a variety of sources that provide an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, for example, the source may be butyric acid, valeric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, cocoa (comprising predominantly lauric acid), myristic acid (e.g., from palm oil), soy (comprising predominantly linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid), or tallow (comprising predominantly palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid). R₈Sources of radicals include, for example, cocoa or tallow, or R₈May be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyl groups such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl. R in alkoxylated alcohol co-surfactants₈The alkyl chain typically comprises alkyl chains of varying lengths, such as from 12 to 16 carbons in length, or from 16 to 18 carbons in length, on average. Most preferably, R₈The alkyl chain comprises predominantly 12 to 16 carbon atoms. R₉Ethylene is preferred. The value of n is preferably an average value between about 2 and about 30, more preferably between about 2 and about 20, even more preferably between about 2 and about 10。

Specific alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for use in the herbicidal compositions of the present invention include, for example, ethyllans, such as ethyllan 1005, ethyllan 1008, and ethyllan 6830, available from Akzo Nobel; BEROLS, such as BEROL048, BEROL 050, BEROL 175, BEROL 185, BEROL 260, BEROL 266, and BEROL 84, and the like, also available from Akzo Nobel; BRIJ 30, 35, 76, 78, 92, 97, or 98, available from ICI Surfactants; TERGITOL 15-S-3, 15-S-5, 15-S-7, 15-S-9, 15-S-12, 15-S-15, or 15-S-20, available from Union Carbide; SURFONICL24-7, L12-8, L-5, L-9, LF-17, or LF-42, available from Huntsman, and SYNPERONIC 91/6, available from Croda.

Sulfonate surfactants

In various embodiments, the surfactant component comprises one or more alkyl sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, and/or alkyl aryl ether sulfonates. Examples of sulfonate surfactants include compounds of formulae (5a), (5b), and (5 c):

wherein the compound of formula (5a) is an alkyl sulfonate, the compound of formula (5b) is an alkyl ether sulfonate, and the compound of formula (5c) is an alkyl aryl ether sulfonate.

In the formulae (5a), (5b) and (5c), R₁Is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, and M is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal cation, ammonium, an ammonium compound, or H⁺. In formulae (5b) and (5c), (R) each₂Each R in the group O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄Alkylene (e.g., n-propylene and/or ethylene), and n is 1 to about 20. Examples of sulfonate surfactants include, for example, WITCONATE 93S (isopropylamine of dodecylbenzenesulfonate), WITCONATE NAS-8 (octylsulfonic acid, sodium salt), WITCONATE AOS (tetradecyl/hexadecane)Sulfamic acid, sodium salt), WITCONATE 60T (linear dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, triethanolamine salt) and WITCONATE 605a (branched dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, n-butylamine salt).

Alkoxylated alkylamine surfactants

In some embodiments, the surfactant component comprises an alkoxylated alkylamine. Examples of alkoxylated alkylamine surfactants include compounds of formula (6):

wherein R is₁Is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 5 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably a mixture of straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups having from about 14 to about 18 carbon atoms, still more preferably a mixture of straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups having from about 16 to about 18 carbon atoms (tallow), each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂Is C₁-C₄Alkylene, more preferably C₂Alkylene radical, each R₃Independently is hydrogen or C₁-C₄Alkyl, preferably hydrogen, and in some embodiments, x and y are average values such that the sum of x and y is from about 3 to about 30, more preferably from about 5 to about 20, more preferably from about 8 to about 20, more preferably from 8 to about 15, and still more preferably from about 9 to about 10. In other embodiments, x and y are averages such that the sum of x and y is greater than 5, such as in the range of 6 to about 15, 6 to about 12, or 6 to about 10. Examples of suitable surfactants include, but are not limited to, BEROL300 (cocoamine 5EO), BEROL 381 (cocoamine 15EO), BEROL 391 (cocoamine 5EO), BEROL 397 (cocoamine 15EO), BEROL 398 (cocoamine 11 EO), BEROL 498 (cocoamine 10EO), ETHOMEEN C/15 (cocoamine 5EO), ETHOMEEN C/25 (cocoamine 15EO), ETHOMEEN T/15 (cocoamine 5EO), ETHOMEEN T/20 (cocoamine 10EO), HOMEEN T/19 (cocoamine 9EO), HOMEEN T/25 (cocoamine 15EO), WITCAMINETAM-105 (cocoamine 10EO), WITCAMINE TAM-80 (cocoamine 8 EO), EO WITCAMINE TAM-60 (cocoamine 6EO), all available from Akzo Nobel.

Alkoxylated phosphoric estersSurface active agent

In various embodiments, the surfactant component comprises a phosphate ester of an alkoxylated tertiary amine. In some embodiments, the alkoxylated phosphate ester is selected from the group consisting of phosphate esters of alkoxylated tertiary amines, phosphate esters of alkoxylated ether amines, phosphate esters of alkoxylated alcohols, and combinations thereof. Examples of phosphate esters of alkoxylated tertiary amines include compounds of formulae (7a) and (7 b):

wherein each R₁Independently a straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl group having an average of about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, each (R)₂Each R in the group O)₂And each (R)₃R in the radical O)₃Each independently selected from C₁-C₄Alkylene, the sum of x and y being an average value such that the sum of each x and y group is from about 2 to about 60, and R₄And R₅Each independently hydrogen or a straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

Each R₁Preferably independently an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and still more preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, such as cocoa or tallow. R₁Most preferred is tallow. Each R₂And R₃Ethylene is preferred. The sum of each x and y group is preferably independently an average value in the range of about 2 to about 22, more preferably between about 10 to about 20, for example about 15. More preferably, R₄And R₅Each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. R₄And R₅Hydrogen is preferred.

Specific phosphate esters of alkoxylated tertiary amine surfactants for use in the herbicidal compositions of the present invention are described in U.S. application publication No. 2002/0160918 to Lewis et al (Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation), such as phosphate esters of tallow amine ethoxylates, including phosphate ester of SURFONIC T5, phosphate ester of SURFONIC T15, phosphate ester of SURFONIC T20, and mixtures thereof, all available from Huntsman International LLC.

Examples of phosphate esters of alkoxylated ether amines include compounds of formulae (8a) and (8 b):

wherein each R₁Independently a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group having an average of from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; each (R)₂R in the radical O)₂Each of (R)₃R in the radical O)₃And each (R)₄R in the radical O)₄Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group; each m is independently an average value of about 1 to about 10; x and y are averages such that the sum of each x and y group is from about 2 to about 60; and each R₅And R₆Independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

Each R_lPreferably independently an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, or from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms. R₁Sources of radicals include, for example, cocoa or tallow, or R₁May be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyl groups such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl. Each R₂May independently be propylene, isopropylene or ethylene, and each m is preferably independently about 1 to 5, such as 2 to 3. Each R₃And R₄May independently be ethylene, propylene, isopropylene, and is preferably ethylene. The sum of each x and y group is preferably independently an average value in the range of about 2 to about 22, such as about 2 to 10, or about 2 to 5. In some embodiments, the sum of each x and y group is preferably independently between about 10 and about 20, for example about 15. More preferably, R₅And R₆Each independently hydrogen or having 1 to about 6 carbon atomsStraight or branched chain alkyl. R₅And R₆Hydrogen is preferred.

Examples of phosphate esters of alkoxylated alcohols include compounds of formulae (9a) and (9 b):

wherein each R₁Independently a straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms; each (R)₂R in the radical O)₂Independently selected from C₁-C₄An alkylene group; each m is independently an average value of about 1 to about 60; and R is₃And R₄Each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

Each R₁Preferably independently an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, or an alkylphenyl group having from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. R₁Sources of radicals include, for example, cocoa or tallow, or R₁May be derived from synthetic hydrocarbyl groups such as decyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl. Each R₂May independently be a propylene group, an isopropylene group or an ethylene group, and is preferably an ethylene group. Each m is preferably independently from about 9 to about 15. More preferably, R₃And R₄Each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. R₄And R₅Hydrogen is preferred.

Specific phosphate esters of alkoxylated alcohol surfactants for use in the herbicidal compositions of the present invention include, for example, EMPHOS CS-121, EMPHOS PS-400 and WITCONATE D-51-29 available from Akzo Nobel.

Other herbicidal ingredients

The herbicidal composition of the present invention may further comprise other herbicides (i.e., in addition to the glufosinate component and the auxin herbicide component). Other herbicides include acetyl-coa carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors, photosystem i (ps i) inhibitors, photosystem ii (ps ii) inhibitors, acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors, hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, cellulose inhibitors, oxidative phosphorylation deflazators, dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors, fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, auxin transport inhibitors, salts and esters thereof, racemic mixtures thereof, resolved isomers thereof, and mixtures thereof. Examples of herbicides in these classes are provided below. Herbicides are referred to herein generically by name and, unless otherwise limited, include all commercially available forms known in the art such as salts, esters, free acids and bases, and stereoisomers thereof. For example, when the herbicide designation "glyphosate" is used, glyphosate acid, salts and esters are within its scope.

In various embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises an EPSPS herbicide, such as glyphosate or a salt or ester thereof.

In a still further embodiment, the additional herbicide comprises a PPO inhibitor. PPO inhibitors include, for example, acifluorfen (acifluorfen), carfentrazone-ethyl (azafenidin), bifenox (bifenox), butafenacil (butafenacil), carfentrazone-ethyl (carfentrazone-ethyl), flupyridazinyl-ethyl (flufenpyr-ethyl), fluoroeleaf (flumiclorac), flumiclorac (flumiclorac-pentyl), flumioxazin (flumioxazin), fluoroglycofen (fluoroglycofen), fluthiafen-methyl (fluthiacet-methyl), fomesafen (fomesafen), lactofen (lactofen), oxadiargyl (oxadiargyl), oxadiazon (oxadiarzone), oxyfluorfen (oxyfluorfen), pyraflufen (pyraflufen-ethyl), flumetfen-ethyl (oxadiargyl), flumetfen (flumetfen-ethyl), and mixtures thereof. In a particular embodiment, the additional herbicide comprises fomesafen (fomesafen) and/or a salt of fomesafen such as fomesafen sodium.

In various embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises an HPPD inhibitor. HPPD inhibitors include, for example, aclonifen (aclonifen), mesoxyfen (amitrole), beflubutamid (flubutamid), pyraflufen (benzofenap), clomazone (clomazone), diflufenican (diflufenican), fluridone (fluridone), flurtamone (flurohoridone), flurtamone (flurtamone), isoxaclomazone (isoxacloratone), isoxaflutole (isoxaflutole), mesotrione (mesotrione), norflurazon (norflurazon), flupyrazamide (picolinafen), pyrazolynate (pyrazolynate), pyrazoxazole (pyrazoxyfen), sulcotrione (sulcotrione), temone (tembotrione), and topramezone (topramezone), salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises a PS II inhibitor. PS II inhibitors include, for example, ametryn (ametryn), amicarbazone (amicarbazone), atrazine (atrazine), bentazon (bentazon), bromacil (bromoacil), bromoxynil (bromoxynil), chlortoluron (chlorotoluron), cyanazine (cyanazine), desmedipham (desmedipham), desmetryn (desmetryn), oxazolone (dimefuron), diuron (diuron), fluometuron (flutolon), hexazinone (hexinone), ioxynil (ioxynil), isoproturon (isoprothrone), linuron (linuron), metamitron (metamitron), metribuzin (metribuzin), metribuzin (fenzopyriron), prophyridone (fenthiuron), metocloprone (chlorpyrim), propyrifos (propyrifos), metribuzin (bentazon), propyrifos (propyrifos), prometryn (propyrifos), metribuzin (bentazon), metribuzin (bentron), propyrifos (bentazon), propyrifos (bentazon), prometron (bentazon), metribuzin (bentazon), propyrifos (, salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises an ACCase inhibitor. ACCase inhibitors include, for example, dicumyl (alloxydim), butafenacet (butroxydim), clethodim (clethodim), cycloxydim (cycloxydim), pinoxaden (pinoxaden), sethoxydim (sethoxydim), texadim (tepaloxydim) and tralkoxydim (tralkoxydim), salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof. Another group of ACCase inhibitors includes chlorazifop, clofenac (clodinafop), clofap, cyhalofop (cyhalofop), diclofop (diclofop-methyl), fenoxaprop (fenoxaprop), thiazofenoxaprop (fenthiaprop), fluazifop (fluazifop), haloxyfop (haloxyfop), isoxaflufen (isoxapyrofop), metamifop (metamifop), propaquizafop (propaquizafop), quizalofop (quinalofop), and trifluorophenoxypropionic acid (trifop), salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof. ACCase inhibitors also include mixtures of one or more "dims" and one or more "fos", salts and esters thereof.

In various embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises an ALS or AHAS inhibitor. ALS and AHAS inhibitors include, for example, amidosulfuron (amidosulfuron), azimsulfuron (azimsulfruon), bensulfuron-methyl (bensulfuron-methyl), bispyribac-sodium (bispyribac-sodium), chlorimuron-ethyl (chlorimuron-ethyl), chlorsulfuron (chlorimuron-methyl), cinosulfuron (cinosulfuron), cloransulam-methyl (cloransulam-methyl), cyclosulfamuron (cyclosulfamuron), diclosulam (diclosulam), ethametsulfuron-methyl (ethametsulfuron-methyl), ethoxysulfuron (ethosulfuron), flazasulfuron (fluzasulfuron), sulfluron (flusilam), flumuron (flucarbazone), flumeturon (flufensulfuron), flumeturon (flupyrazosulfuron), flumeturon (fluzasulfuron), imazasulfuron (imazamox-methyl), imazasulfuron (imazasulfuron), imazasulfuron (imazamox-methyl), imazamox (imazamox-methyl), imazasulfuron (imazamox-methyl), imazasulfuron (imazasulfuron), imazasulfuron (imazasulfuron-methyl), imazasulfuron (imazasulfuron), imazasulfuron (imazamox-methyl), imazamox-methyl (imazamox-methyl), imazasulfuron (imazamox-methyl), iodosulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, penoxsulam, primisulfuron-methyl, prophensulfuron-sodium, prosulfuron-methyl, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyribenzoxim-ethyl, pyrithiobac-methyl, rimsulfuron (rimsulfuron), sulfometuron-methyl, thiencarbazone (thiencarbazone), thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron-thiuron (triflussulfuron-methyl), thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron-thifensulfuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, thiuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, thiuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-.

In a further embodiment, the additional herbicide comprises a mitotic inhibitor. Mitotic inhibitors include anilofos (anilofos), flumioxazin (benefin), DCPA, dithiopyr (dithiopyr), ethalfluralin (ethalfluralin), flufenacet (flufenacet), mefenacet (mefenacet), oryzalin (oryzalin), pendimethalin (pendimethalin), thiazopyr (thiazopyr) and trifluralin (trifluralin), salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises a PS I inhibitor, such as diquat and paraquat, salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the additional herbicide includes a cellulose inhibitor, such as dichlobenil (dichlobenil) and isoxaben (isoxaben).

In still further embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises an oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler, such as dinoterb (dinoterb), and esters thereof.

In other embodiments, the additional herbicides include auxin transport inhibitors such as diflufenzopyr and naptalam, salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In various embodiments, the additional herbicide comprises a dihydropteroate synthase inhibitor, such as asulam and salts thereof.

In some embodiments, additional herbicides include fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as bensulide (bensulide), butadien (butylate), cycloate (cycloate), EPTC, esprocarb (esprocarb), molinate (molinate), clotrimazole (pesulbromate), prosulfocarb (prosulfocarb), thiobencarb (thiobencarb), triallate (triallete) and methomyl (Vernolate), salts and esters thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Other additives

The herbicidal compositions described herein may further comprise other additives. Other useful additives include, for example, biocides or preservatives (e.g., PROXEL, commercially available from Avecia), anti-freezing agents (such as glycerol, sorbitol, or urea), anti-foaming agents (such as anti-foaming agent SE23 from Wacker Silicones corp., and drift control agents.

Suitable drift control agents for use in the compositions and methods of the present invention are known to those skilled in the art and include GARDIAN, GARDIAN PLUS, DRI-GARD and PRO-ONE XL, available from Van forest Supply co; COMPADRE, available from Loveland Products, Inc.; BRONC MAX EDT, BRONC PLUS DRY EDT, EDTCONCENTRATE and IN-PLACE, available from Wilbur-Ellis Company; STRIKE ZONE DF, available from helena chemical co; INTACT and INTACT XTRA, available from Precision Laboratories, LLC; and AGRHO DR 2000 and AGRHO DEP 775, available from the Solvay Group. Suitable drift control agents include, for example, guar-based (e.g., containing guar or derivatized guar) drift control agents. Various drift control products may also contain one or more conditioning agents (conditioning agents) in combination with the drift control agents.

The herbicidal composition may further comprise an alkali metal phosphate such as dipotassium hydrogen phosphate. Dipotassium phosphate can, for example, provide buffering and/or water conditioning for aqueous herbicidal compositions. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate is particularly effective as a replacement for ammonium sulfate in herbicidal composition application mixtures prepared using hard water. Similarly, the herbicidal composition may further comprise an alkali metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, to provide additional buffering and/or water conditioning for the aqueous herbicidal composition of the present invention. In some embodiments, the herbicidal composition comprises an alkali metal phosphate. In other embodiments, the herbicidal composition comprises an alkali metal carbonate. In other embodiments, the herbicidal composition comprises an alkali metal phosphate and an alkali metal carbonate.

When the herbicidal composition comprises an alkali metal phosphate, such as dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, the molar ratio of the alkali metal phosphate to the monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof can vary, for example, from about 1:5 to about 5:1, from about 3:1 to about 1:3, or from about 2:1 to about 1: 2. In some embodiments, the molar ratio of alkali metal phosphate to monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is about 1:1.

When the herbicidal composition comprises an alkali metal carbonate, such as potassium carbonate, the molar ratio of alkali metal carbonate to monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof can vary, for example, from about 1:5 to about 5:1, from about 3:1 to about 1:3, or from about 2:1 to about 1: 2. In some embodiments, the molar ratio of alkali metal carbonate to monocarboxylic acid and/or salt thereof is about 1:1.

Application method

As indicated, other aspects of the invention relate to methods of controlling the growth of unwanted plants. In various embodiments, the methods comprise diluting the herbicidal concentrate compositions described herein with water to form an application mixture, and applying a herbicidally effective amount of the application mixture to the unwanted plants.

In various embodiments, the herbicidal application mixture is used to control field weeds of crop plants. Commercially important crop plants include, for example, corn, soybean, cotton, dried beans, snap beans and potatoes. Crop plants include hybrids, inbred lines, and transgenic or genetically modified plants having specific traits or combinations of traits including, but not limited to, herbicide tolerance (e.g., resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba, sethoxydim, PPO inhibitors, etc.), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), high oil, high lysine, high starch, nutrient density, and drought resistance. In some embodiments, the crop plant is tolerant to: an organophosphorus herbicide, an acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibitor herbicide, an auxin herbicide, and/or an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor herbicide. In some embodiments, the crop plant is tolerant to: glufosinate-ammonium, dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, quizalofop-p-ethyl, glyphosate and/or diclofop-p-ethyl. In other embodiments, the crop plant is glufosinate-and/or dicamba-tolerant. In some embodiments, the crop plant is glyphosate and/or glufosinate tolerant. In other embodiments, the crop plants are glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba tolerant. In these and other embodiments, the crop plant is tolerant to the PPO inhibitor.

The herbicidal application mixture may be applied to the field according to practices known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the herbicidal application mixture is applied to the field post-emergence weeds. The herbicidally effective amount of the herbicidal application mixture to be applied depends on a variety of factors including the identity of the herbicide, the crop to be treated, and the environmental conditions (such as soil type and moisture content).

The herbicidal application mixtures of the present invention are useful for controlling a wide variety of weeds, i.e., plants that are considered nuisance or competitors of commercially important crop plants. Examples of weeds that can be controlled according to the methods of the present invention include, but are not limited to, myrtle: (a)Alopecurus pratensis) And genus Aleurites (Alopecurus) Other weed species of (1), common barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) And barnyard grass (Echinochloa) Other weed species of (1), genus crabgrass: (Digitaria) The large crabgrass herb and the white clover herb (Trifolium repens) Chinese Grey vegetable (lambsquarers) ()Chenopodium berlandieri) Red root amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) And Amaranthus (A. amaranth)Amaranthus genus) Other weed species in (1), common purslane (purslane)Portulaca oleracea) And Portulaca genus (Portulaca genus) Other weed species of (1), Chenopodium quinoa (L.)Chenopodium album) And other Chenopodium genus (Chenopodium spp.) Golden green bristlegrass herb (A. fern)Setaria lutescens) And other genus Setaria (Setaria)spp.) Black nightshade herb (A)Solanum nigrum) And other Solanum genus: (Solanum spp.) Lolium multiflorum (Lolium multiflorum) and other Lolium species (Lolium multiflorum) ((Lolium multiflorum))Lolium spp.) Brachypodium latifolium (Brachiaria platyphylla) and other brachypodium species (A)Brachiaria spp.) Sorghum halepense (Sorghumhalepense) and other sorghum genera: (Sorghum spp.) Erigeron breviscapus (Conyza Canadensis) and other erigeron genera (A)Conyza spp.) And herba Eleusines Indicae (Eleusine indica). In some embodiments, the weeds comprise one or more glyphosate resistant species, 2,4-D resistant species, dicamba resistant species, and/or ALS inhibitor herbicide resistant species. In some embodiments, the glyphosate resistant weed species is selected from amaranthus palmeri (r) (amaranthus palmeri (r)) (r)Amaranthus palmeri) Xifang (Amaranthus blitoides)Amaranthus rudis) Ragweed (A. ragweed)Ambrosia artemisiifolia) Ambrosia trifida (A) and (B)Ambrosia trifida) Xiangsimiao (Chinese sage)Conyza bonariensis) "Xiaofei" (an herbal medicine)Conyza canadensis) Herba Hyperici Japonici (herba Hyperici Japonici)Digitaria insularis) Barnyard grass, balm(Echinochloa colona) Niujin grass (Bulbilus Boussingaultiae Pseudobaselloidis) (B)Eleusine indica) Scarlet chimpanzee (A)Euphorbia heterophylla) Lolium multiflorum (Lolium multiflorum L.) (Lolium multiflorum) Lolium durum (Lolium durum, Lolium Perenne.)Lolium rigidum) Plantago lanceolata (A. Merr.) (B. Merr.) (A. Merr.)Plantago lancelata) Jowar (2)Sorghum halepense) And (ii) palea pseudolemma (ii)Urochloa panicoides)。

Definition of

The term "hydrocarbyl" as used herein describes an organic compound or group consisting of only carbon and hydrogen elements. These moieties include alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl moieties. These moieties also include alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl moieties substituted with other aliphatic or cyclic hydrocarbyl groups, such as alkaryl, alkenaryl and alkynylaryl groups. Unless otherwise specified, these moieties preferably contain 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

The term "alkylene" as used herein describes a group which is attached at both of its ends to other groups in an organic compound and which consists only of carbon and hydrogen elements. These moieties include alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, and arylene moieties. These moieties also include alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl moieties substituted with other aliphatic or cyclic hydrocarbyl groups, such as alkaryl, alkenaryl and alkynylaryl groups. Unless otherwise specified, these moieties preferably contain 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

The term "substituted hydrocarbyl" as used herein describes a hydrocarbyl moiety substituted with at least one atom other than carbon, including moieties in which carbon chain atoms are substituted with heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, phosphorus, boron, sulfur or halogen atoms. These substituents include halogen, heterocycle, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, ketal, acyl, acyloxy, nitro, amino, amido, cyano, thiol, acetal, sulfoxide, ester, thioester, ether, thioether, hydroxyalkyl, urea, guanidine, amidine, phosphate, amine oxide, and quaternary ammonium salts.

A "substituted hydrocarbylene" moiety, as described herein, is a hydrocarbylene moiety substituted with at least one atom other than carbon, including moieties in which carbon chain atoms are substituted with heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, phosphorus, boron, sulfur, or halogen atoms. These substituents include halogen, heterocycle, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, hydroxy, protected hydroxy, ketal, acyl, acyloxy, nitro, amino, amido, cyano, thiol, acetal, sulfoxide, ester, thioester, ether, thioether, hydroxyalkyl, urea, guanidine, amidine, phosphate, amine oxide, and quaternary ammonium salts.

Unless otherwise specified, the alkyl group described herein is preferably a lower alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms and up to 30 carbon atoms in the main chain. They may be linear or branched or cyclic and include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and the like.

Unless otherwise specified, the alkenyl groups described herein are preferably lower alkenyl groups containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms and up to 30 carbon atoms in the main chain. They may be straight or branched chain or cyclic and include ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, isobutenyl, hexenyl and the like. Unless otherwise specified, the alkynyl group described herein is preferably a lower alkynyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms and up to 30 carbon atoms in the main chain. They may be straight or branched chain and include ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, isobutynyl, hexynyl, and the like. The term "aryl" as used herein alone or as part of another group denotes an optionally substituted homocyclic aromatic group, preferably a monocyclic or bicyclic group containing 6 to 12 carbons in the ring portion, such as phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, substituted phenyl, substituted biphenyl or substituted naphthyl. Phenyl and substituted phenyl are more preferred aryl groups.

As used herein, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and aryl groups may be substituted with at least one atom other than carbon, including moieties in which carbon chain atoms are substituted with heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, phosphorus, boron, sulfur, or halogen atoms. These substituents include hydroxyl, nitro, amino, amido, nitro, cyano, sulfoxide, thiol, thioester, thioether, ester and ether, or any other substituent that may increase the compatibility of the surfactant and/or its efficacy in glyphosate potassium salt formulations without adversely affecting the storage stability of the formulation.

The terms "halogen" or "halogen" (halo) "as used herein alone or as part of another group refer to chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine. Fluorine substituents are generally preferred in surfactant compounds.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term "hydroxyalkyl" includes alkyl groups substituted with at least one hydroxyl group, for example, bis (hydroxyalkyl) alkyl, tris (hydroxyalkyl) alkyl, and poly (hydroxyalkyl) alkyl. Preferred hydroxyalkyl groups include hydroxymethyl (-CH)₂OH) and hydroxyethyl (-C)₂H₄OH), bis (hydroxymethyl) methyl (-CH (CH)₂OH)₂) And tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl (-C (CH)₂OH)₃)。

The term "cyclic" as used herein alone or as part of another group denotes a group having at least one closed ring and includes alicyclic, aromatic (arene) and heterocyclic groups.

The term "heterocycle" or "heterocycle" as used herein alone or as part of another group denotes an optionally substituted, fully saturated or unsaturated, mono-or bicyclic, aromatic or non-aromatic group having at least one heteroatom in at least one ring, preferably 5 or 6 atoms in each ring. The heterocyclyl group preferably has 1 or 2 oxygen atoms, 1 or 2 sulfur atoms and/or 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms in the ring, and may be bonded to the remainder of the molecule through a carbon or heteroatom. Exemplary heterocycles include heteroaromatics such as furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, or isoquinolinyl and the like, and non-aromatic heterocycles such as tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydrothienyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidino and the like. Exemplary substituents include one or more of the following groups: hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, keto, hydroxyl, protected hydroxyl, acyl, acyloxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, halogen, amido, amino, nitro, cyano, thiol, thioester, thioether, ketal, acetal, ester, and ether.

The term "heteroaromatic" as used herein alone or as part of another group denotes an optionally substituted aromatic group having at least one heteroatom in at least one ring, and preferably 5 or 6 atoms in each ring. The heteroaromatic group preferably has 1 or 2 oxygen atoms, 1 or 2 sulfur atoms, and/or 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms in the ring, and may be bonded to the remainder of the molecule through a carbon or heteroatom. Exemplary heteroaromatics include furyl, thienyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, or isoquinolinyl and the like. Exemplary substituents include one or more of the following groups: hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, keto, hydroxyl, protected hydroxyl, acyl, acyloxy, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, aryloxy, halogen, amido, amino, nitro, cyano, thiol, thioether, thioester, ketal, acetal, ester, and ether.

The term "acyl" as used herein alone or as part of another group denotes a moiety formed by removal of a hydroxyl group from a-COOH group of an organic carboxylic acid, e.g., RC (O) -, wherein R is R¹、R¹O-、R¹R²N-or R¹S-，R¹Is a hydrocarbyl, hetero-substituted hydrocarbyl or a heterocycle, and R²Is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl.

The term "acyloxy", as used herein alone or as part of another group, denotes an acyl group as described above bonded through an oxygen linkage (- -O- -), e.g., RC (O) O- -, wherein R is as defined under the term "acyl".

When the maximum or minimum "average" is recited herein with reference to structural features such as oxyethylene units, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the integer number of such units in a single molecule in a surfactant formulation typically varies over a range that may include integers greater than the maximum or less than the minimum "average". The presence of individual surfactant molecules in the composition having an integer number of such units outside the ranges stated in the "average" does not remove the composition from the scope of the present invention, provided that the "average" is within the ranges stated and other requirements are met.

Examples

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate the invention.