Provided is a method for hydraulic fracturing in a borehole in a geological formation using a process fluid including an environmentally friendly biostabiliser. The biostabiliser is characterised in that it includes at least one organic acid, or a salt, alcohol or aldehyde thereof, such that the at least one organic acid is selected from the hop acids, resin acids, fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

A seed coating composition for coating plant seeds. The coating composition comprises a polymeric binder and/or resin, and a hydrolysed protein. The seed coating composition optionally comprises an agrochemical active and/or nutrient, and the composition is used to improve the seed's physical qualities, especially the seed's ability to resist drought or poor water conditions and/or high salinity conditions. There is also provided a method of making the formulations, and for treating seeds or bulbs with seed coating formulation.

A seed coating composition for coating plant seeds. The coating composition comprises a polymeric binder and/or resin, and a hydrolysed protein. The seed coating composition optionally comprises an agrochemical active and/or nutrient, and the composition is used to improve the seed's physical qualities, especially the seed's ability to resist drought or poor water conditions and/or high salinity conditions. There is also provided a method of making the formulations, and for treating seeds or bulbs with seed coating formulation.

Provided is an emulsion in water for preventing and treating a yellow shoot of a citrus fruit tree, and it is composed of the following components according to the weight ratio: 100-300 parts of a dodecanol, 2-150 parts of a hexadecanol, 1-100 parts of a bactericidal insecticide, 5-150 parts of a plant nutrient, 5-10 parts of an emulsifier, 4-6 parts of a co-emulsifier, 40 parts of a thickener, and 500-800 parts of water. The emulsion in water for preventing and treating the yellow shoot of the citrus fruit tree, the preparation method and the application method provided by the present invention may achieve the following technical effects: the main propagation path of the citrus yellow shoot is cut off, the spread of the yellow shoot is prevented, pathogenic bacteria of the yellow shoot of the fruit tree are killed, and the vitality of a diseased tree is restored.

Provided is an emulsion in water for preventing and treating a yellow shoot of a citrus fruit tree, and it is composed of the following components according to the weight ratio: 100-300 parts of a dodecanol, 2-150 parts of a hexadecanol, 1-100 parts of a bactericidal insecticide, 5-150 parts of a plant nutrient, 5-10 parts of an emulsifier, 4-6 parts of a co-emulsifier, 40 parts of a thickener, and 500-800 parts of water. The emulsion in water for preventing and treating the yellow shoot of the citrus fruit tree, the preparation method and the application method provided by the present invention may achieve the following technical effects: the main propagation path of the citrus yellow shoot is cut off, the spread of the yellow shoot is prevented, pathogenic bacteria of the yellow shoot of the fruit tree are killed, and the vitality of a diseased tree is restored.

Disclosed herein is a method for controlling nematode populations, particularly soil nematode populations. Certain embodiments comprise applying 4-hydroxybenzylalcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or a combination thereof, to soil, optionally in the presence of a trap crop. A hatching factor and/or a nematicide may also be applied to the soil, either substantially simultaneously with the 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or combination thereof, or sequentially in any order. Certain embodiments concern applying 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol to soil that contains potato cyst nematode eggs. The 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol may be obtained by an aqueous extraction of Sinapis alba plant material.

Disclosed herein is a method for controlling nematode populations, particularly soil nematode populations. Certain embodiments comprise applying 4-hydroxybenzylalcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or a combination thereof, to soil, optionally in the presence of a trap crop. A hatching factor and/or a nematicide may also be applied to the soil, either substantially simultaneously with the 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or combination thereof, or sequentially in any order. Certain embodiments concern applying 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol to soil that contains potato cyst nematode eggs. The 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol may be obtained by an aqueous extraction of Sinapis alba plant material.

Disclosed herein is a method for controlling nematode populations, particularly soil nematode populations. Certain embodiments comprise applying 4-hydroxybenzylalcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or a combination thereof, to soil, optionally in the presence of a trap crop. A hatching factor and/or a nematicide may also be applied to the soil, either substantially simultaneously with the 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, Sinapis alba plant extract, Sinapis alba seed meal, or combination thereof, or sequentially in any order. Certain embodiments concern applying 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol to soil that contains potato cyst nematode eggs. The 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol may be obtained by an aqueous extraction of Sinapis alba plant material.

An N-benzylbenzamide-based compound as shown below or its salt which may be used as a herbicide is provided.

##STR00001##

The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt serves as a pigment synthesis inhibitor for controlling weeds in field crop growing places or non-farming crop places. Furthermore, the compound may form an agricultural herbicide with an agriculturally accepted carrier. Still further, the compound also serves an agricultural herbicide in a manner of a mixed formulation with a further herbicidal active component, particularly atrazine. The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt has high herbicidal activity, and can be used to control weeds that are resistant to existing herbicides, which thereby exhibits a good synergistic effect when combined with a further herbicidal active component.

An N-benzylbenzamide-based compound as shown below or its salt which may be used as a herbicide is provided.

##STR00001##

The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt serves as a pigment synthesis inhibitor for controlling weeds in field crop growing places or non-farming crop places. Furthermore, the compound may form an agricultural herbicide with an agriculturally accepted carrier. Still further, the compound also serves an agricultural herbicide in a manner of a mixed formulation with a further herbicidal active component, particularly atrazine. The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt has high herbicidal activity, and can be used to control weeds that are resistant to existing herbicides, which thereby exhibits a good synergistic effect when combined with a further herbicidal active component.