The invention belongs to the technical field of agricultural chemicals, and particularly relates to an N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)arylcarboxamide compound or a salt thereof, a preparation method, a herbicidal composition and a use thereof. The compound is as shown in the following Formula I:

##STR00001## wherein X represents O, S, SO, SO.sub.2 or NR.sub.1; Y represents halogen, cyano, cyanoalkyl, carboxyl, nitro, etc.; or —X—Y represents unsubstituted or substituted five- or six-membered heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; Z represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, OR.sub.4, -alkyl-OR.sub.4, —O-alkyl-N(R.sub.5).sub.2, etc., M represents hydrogen, OR.sub.6, SR.sub.6, COR.sub.6, COOR.sub.6, CON(R.sub.7).sub.2, etc. The compound has advantages of a low dosage for use, excellent herbicidal activity, and higher crop safety, especially good selectivity for key crops such as rice.

The invention belongs to the technical field of agricultural chemicals, and particularly relates to an N-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)arylcarboxamide compound or a salt thereof, a preparation method, a herbicidal composition and a use thereof. The compound is as shown in the following Formula I:

##STR00001## wherein X represents O, S, SO, SO.sub.2 or NR.sub.1; Y represents halogen, cyano, cyanoalkyl, carboxyl, nitro, etc.; or —X—Y represents unsubstituted or substituted five- or six-membered heterocyclyl or heteroaryl; Z represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, OR.sub.4, -alkyl-OR.sub.4, —O-alkyl-N(R.sub.5).sub.2, etc., M represents hydrogen, OR.sub.6, SR.sub.6, COR.sub.6, COOR.sub.6, CON(R.sub.7).sub.2, etc. The compound has advantages of a low dosage for use, excellent herbicidal activity, and higher crop safety, especially good selectivity for key crops such as rice.

The present invention relates to mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) an insecticidal compound I selected from fipronil and ethiprole; and 2) a fungicidal compound IIA selected from azoles, strobilurins, carboxamides, heterocylic compounds, carbamates, and other active compounds, and optionally 3) one or two fungicidal compounds IIB selected from List B which is defined as List A plus triticonazole, orysastrobin, in synergistically effective amounts, all as further defined in the description.

The present invention relates to mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) an insecticidal compound I selected from fipronil and ethiprole; and 2) a fungicidal compound IIA selected from azoles, strobilurins, carboxamides, heterocylic compounds, carbamates, and other active compounds, and optionally 3) one or two fungicidal compounds IIB selected from List B which is defined as List A plus triticonazole, orysastrobin, in synergistically effective amounts, all as further defined in the description.

The present invention relates to mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) an insecticidal compound I selected from fipronil and ethiprole; and 2) a fungicidal compound IIA selected from azoles, strobilurins, carboxamides, heterocylic compounds, carbamates, and other active compounds, and optionally 3) one or two fungicidal compounds IIB selected from List B which is defined as List A plus triticonazole, orysastrobin, in synergistically effective amounts, all as further defined in the description.

Provided is a bipyridine compound that exhibits an excellent controlling effect against noxious arthropods. In particular, provided is a bipyridine compound of formula (I) or an N-oxide thereof in which the variable groups are as defined in the specification. Also provided are compositions containing the biypridine compound or an N-oxide thereof, and methods of using such compounds and compositions to control noxious arthropods.

##STR00001##

Compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds, can be used as insecticides.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to agricultural methods and the use of an insecticidal active carboxamide derivative in seed treatment and soil application methods. The insecticidal carboxamide derivative is highly suitable alone or in combination with other active agricultural ingredients for controlling animal pests such as insects and/or spider mites and/or nematodes by treating the soil/growth substrate by drenching or drip application or dipping or soil injection.

The present invention relates to agricultural methods and the use of an insecticidal active carboxamide derivative in seed treatment and soil application methods. The insecticidal carboxamide derivative is highly suitable alone or in combination with other active agricultural ingredients for controlling animal pests such as insects and/or spider mites and/or nematodes by treating the soil/growth substrate by drenching or drip application or dipping or soil injection.

The invention relates to a process for reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a biocide against at least one strain of bacteria and/or at least one strain of yeast and/or at least one strain of mould in an aqueous preparation. The invention further relates to the use of a water soluble source of lithium ions for reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of a biocide against at least one strain of bacteria and/or at least one strain of yeast and/or at least one strain of mould in an aqueous preparation.