Effective delivery of an insecticide to a growing plant can sometimes be problematic. Topical delivery of an insecticide at the post-emergence stage of growth can sometimes be ineffective. It can also be difficult to deliver an insecticide to the roots of a growing plant, such as to combat a subsurface insect infestation. Accordingly, soil blends having insecticidal activity can comprise a soil medium, a porous soil additive, and an insecticide dispersed within the soil medium. Such soil blends may be used in conjunction with cultivating a variety of plants. Methods for producing the soil blends can comprise providing a soil medium and a porous soil additive, and dispersing the porous soil additive and an insecticide within the soil medium.

An apparatus for holding a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a body having front and rear opposite sides, the front side of the body having a front surface having a perimeter, the rear side of the body having a rear surface, and the body having an outwardly facing lateral surface between the front and rear surfaces; and a first connector on the body, the first connector detachably connectable, continuously adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter of the front surface, to a second connector, complementary to the first connector, on the decorative cover. A furniture apparatus includes at least one substantially thermoplastic body and one or both of diatomaceous earth and a PA1b-related peptide incorporated in one or more of the at least one body.

An apparatus for holding a decorative cover. The apparatus includes a body having front and rear opposite sides, the front side of the body having a front surface having a perimeter, the rear side of the body having a rear surface, and the body having an outwardly facing lateral surface between the front and rear surfaces; and a first connector on the body, the first connector detachably connectable, continuously adjacent at least a portion of the perimeter of the front surface, to a second connector, complementary to the first connector, on the decorative cover. A furniture apparatus includes at least one substantially thermoplastic body and one or both of diatomaceous earth and a PA1b-related peptide incorporated in one or more of the at least one body.

Large scale systems for the activation of water and other aqueous solution using molecular resonant effect technology. Methods of using activated liquids to affect biological systems, including the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, NK cell mediated cytolysis of tumor cells, the prevention of amyloid plaques, the inhibition of microbial growth, and the prevention or reduction of viral and bacterial infection. The methods include administration of liquids subjected to molecular resonant effect technology to those in need thereof.

Large scale systems for the activation of water and other aqueous solution using molecular resonant effect technology. Methods of using activated liquids to affect biological systems, including the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, NK cell mediated cytolysis of tumor cells, the prevention of amyloid plaques, the inhibition of microbial growth, and the prevention or reduction of viral and bacterial infection. The methods include administration of liquids subjected to molecular resonant effect technology to those in need thereof.

The invention provides herbicidal compositions and methods for weed control with the herbicidal compositions comprising auxin or auxin-like herbicide and ethoxylated lecithin. The undesired vegetation may be controlled using the herbicidal compositions and methods within and without damage to agricultural crops, turf grasses, or ornamental plants. The herbicidal compositions and methods of use disclosed provide for the improvement in post-emergence undesired vegetation control.

The invention provides herbicidal compositions and methods for weed control with the herbicidal compositions comprising auxin or auxin-like herbicide and ethoxylated lecithin. The undesired vegetation may be controlled using the herbicidal compositions and methods within and without damage to agricultural crops, turf grasses, or ornamental plants. The herbicidal compositions and methods of use disclosed provide for the improvement in post-emergence undesired vegetation control.

A method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on useful plants or on propagation material thereof, which comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of components (A) and (B) in a synergistically effective amount, wherein component (A) is a compound of formula I

compound of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein

R is hydrogen or methoxy;

Q is

##STR00002##

R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl;

R.sub.2 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6cycloalkyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C(C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl)=NO—C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl,

C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyl, or C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyloxy;

R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl;

R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently from each other, are hydrogen, halogen or -≡-R.sub.7 with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is different from hydrogen;

R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxyalkyl; and

R.sub.8 is hydrogen or methoxy;

and agrochemically acceptable salts/isomers/structural isomers/stereoisomers/diastereoisomers/enantiomers/tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds; and component (B) is a compound selected from compounds known for their fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity, is particularly effective in controlling or preventing fungal diseases of useful plants.

A method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on useful plants or on propagation material thereof, which comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of components (A) and (B) in a synergistically effective amount, wherein component (A) is a compound of formula I

compound of formula I

##STR00001##

wherein

R is hydrogen or methoxy;

Q is

##STR00002##

R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl;

R.sub.2 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6cycloalkyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C(C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl)=NO—C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl,

C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyl, or C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyloxy;

R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl;

R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently from each other, are hydrogen, halogen or -≡-R.sub.7 with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is different from hydrogen;

R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxyalkyl; and

R.sub.8 is hydrogen or methoxy;

and agrochemically acceptable salts/isomers/structural isomers/stereoisomers/diastereoisomers/enantiomers/tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds; and component (B) is a compound selected from compounds known for their fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity, is particularly effective in controlling or preventing fungal diseases of useful plants.

Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH. Treatment can modify and preferably increase hydrophilicity/decrease hydrophobicity, remove dioxins from the raw biochar, modify electrical conductivity and/or surface charge, modify cation exchange capacity and modify anion exchange capacity, among other things.