HERBICIDAL FORMULATION WITH DOUBLE ACTION MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING WEEDS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING UNDESIRABLE WEEDS AND METHOD FOR INCREASING HARVEST YIELD

Abstract

The present invention refers to a dual mode of action herbicidal formulation for controlling weeds in sugarcane culture during the humid season comprising at least one herbicide pesticide selected from the group of triazolinones and at least one herbicide pesticide selected from the group of urea. The present invention further refers to methods for controlling undesirable weeds, comprising applying the formulation of the present invention to plants, thereby providing a faster initial development of the crop, providing higher production levels and increasing crop yield, in addition to the longevity of the sugarcane plantation.

Claims

1. A dual modal of action herbicidal formulation for controlling weeds, which comprises: (a) at least one herbicide pesticide from the triazolinone group selected from sulfentrazone, amicarbazone, carfentrazona and azafenidin; (b) at least one herbicide pesticide from the Urea group selected from Tebuthiuron, Diuron, Chlrotoluron, Dimefuron, Fluometuron, Isoproturon, Isouron, Karbutilate, Linuron, Methabenzthiazuron, Metobenzuron, Metoxuron, Monolinuron, Neburon, Siduron, and mixtures thereof.

2. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the triazolinone is Sulfentrazone.

3. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the urea is Diuron.

4. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the formulation is an aqueous suspension.

5. The formulation of claim 1, and further comprising a mix of dispersants selected from the group consisting of (a) polymeric surfactant; that can include Styrene Acrylic polymer; Modified Styrene Acrylic polymer; Acrylic copolymer solution; Nonionic random polymeric; Polymeric amphoteric dispersant; Polyester/polyamine condensation polymer; Polyacrylic, Na-Salt; Maleic acid/acrylic acid copolymer, Na-Salt; Maleic acid/olefin copolymer, Na-Salt; Polycarboxylate, Na-Salt; Vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer; Vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer; Crosslinked Vinylpyrrolidone; and (b) block copolymer EO/PO, that can include Polyalkylene oxide (POE-POP) block copolymer; Butyl block copolymer; Nonionic block copolymer; POE-POP tristyrylphenol; POE-POP nonylphenol; POE-POP butyl alcohol; POE-POP fatty alcohol; EO/PO Reverse block copolymer; EO/PO Amine based block copolymer; and (c) additives for stabilize the formulation.

6. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the additives are selected from anti-freeze; xanthan gum; preservatives and anti-foam.

7. The formulation of claim 6, wherein the anti-freeze is selected from glycol and urea.

8. The formulation of anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the triazolinone is present in a concentration of 35 g/L to 500 fg/L and the urea is present in a concentration of 17.5 g/L to 750 g/L.

9. The formulation of claim 8, wherein the triazolinone is present in a concentration of 175 g/L of and the urea is present in a concentration of 350 g/L.

10. The formulation of claim 1, wherein the formulation is in the form of wettable granules, wettable powder, microencapsulated, foliar, in furrow, suspension concentrate, dispersable oil and emulsifiable concentrate.

11. The formulation of a claim 1, and further comprising an active compound selected from the group consisting of insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers and growth regulators.

12. A method for controlling undesirable weeds selected from crabgrass complex (Digitaria horizontalis, Digitaria nuda and others), guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Surinam grass (Brachiaria decumbens), morning glories (Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea quamoclit, Ipomoea purpurea, Ipomoea hederifolia, Merremia cissoides and Merremia aegypta), beggar-ticks (Bidens pilosa), Java grass or purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus and Cyperus spp), Indian goosegrass or crowfoot grass (Eleusine indica), southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus), velvet bean or mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), wild poinsettia or milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla), Paraguayan starbur (Acanthospermum australe), Slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis), Alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea), Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), Lilac tasselflower (Emilia sonchifolia), Wild poinsettia or milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla), Gallant soldier (Galinsoga parviflora), Purslane or pigweed (Portulaca oleracea), Brazilian calla-lily or Brazil pusley (Richardia brasiliensis), Flannel weed (Sida cordifolia), Southern sida (Sida glaziovii), Southern sida (Sida rhombifolia), Buttonweed or broad-leaved buttonweed (Spermacoce latifólia), wherein the method comprises applying the formulation of claim 1 to a plant.

13. A method for increasing crop yield, which comprises applying the formulation of claim 1 to a plant.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] FIG. 1 refers to the performance of the herbicidal formulation of the present invention in the control of scarlet morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia) at 171 DAA (DAA=days after application) in sugarcane when compared to other herbicides in tank mix.

[0029] FIG. 2 refers to the performance of the herbicidal formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of Jamaican crabgrass (Digitaria horizontalis) at 150 DAA in sugarcane when compared to other herbicides in tank mix.

[0030] FIG. 3 refers to the performance of the herbicidal formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of scarlet morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia) at 150 DAA in sugarcane.

[0031] FIG. 4 refers to the chart that shows the results obtained in the control of purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) by the herbicidal formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) at 60 DAA in sugarcane.

[0032] FIG. 5 refers to the performance of the herbicidal formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of scarlet morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia) in sugarcane at 180 DAA.

[0033] FIG. 6 refers to the efficacy of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) in sugarcane.

[0034] FIG. 7 refers to the efficacy of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of Surinam grass (Brachiaria decumbens) in sugarcane.

[0035] FIG. 8 refers to the performance of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in control the crowfoot grass (Eleusine indica) in coffee plantations, when compared to other herbicides and tank mixes.

[0036] FIG. 9 refers to the performance of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—association of sulfentrazone and diuron) in the control of Benghal dayflower (Commelina bengalensis) in coffee plantations, when compared to other herbicides and tank mixes.

[0037] FIG. 10 refers to the performance of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazone and diuron association) in the control of beggar-ticks (Bidens pilosa) in coffee plantations, when compared to other herbicides.

[0038] FIG. 11 refers to the performance of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazona and diuron association) in the control of southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus) in citrus cultures when compared to other herbicides.

[0039] FIG. 12 refers to the performance of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazona and diuron association) in the control of beggar-ticks (Bidens pilosa) in citrus cultures.

[0040] FIG. 13 refers to a chart that shows the control results of the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO—sulfentrazona and diuron association) in the desiccation of weeds for the sowing of soybean culture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] The present invention refers to a dual mode of action herbicidal formulation for consistent performance during the humid season. The formulation of the present invention comprises triazolinones in association with urea pesticide, resulting in a better and more efficient control than that obtained with all commercially available herbicides for sugarcane.

[0042] In particular, the present invention refers to a formulation which provides improved handling properties with a broad spectrum control especially for sugarcane humid season. Herbicides selected from the group of triazolinones, particularly sulfentrazone, and herbicides selected from the group of urea, particularly diruon, are usually used in sugarcane, soybean, coffee and citrus cultures, however, it was found that their action or spectrum can be maximized if these compounds are combined together.

[0043] One advantage of the formulation of the present invention is that it has a better selectivity, thus resulting in a better and more efficient control than all commercially available herbicides for sugarcane, including Dynamic (Amicarbazone 700 g/Kg—Arysta Lifescience) with Combine (Tebuthiuron 500 g/L—Dow AgroSciences) and Plateau (Imazapic 700 g/Kg—BASF) with Combine (Tebuthiuron 500 g/L—Dow AgroSciences).

[0044] Another advantage of the formulation of the present invention is related to the safety of its application of its application on the field, since the farmer can apply the formulation of the present invention as a concentrated suspension, which is more convenient and safe, since the formulation is non-flammable, has low toxicity and high concentration of the active ingredient.

[0045] Another advantage of the present invention is the association of two herbicides molecules that have different mechanisms of action, i.e., sulfentrazone that is a PPO inhibitor and diuron that is a PSII inhibitor, both together in a high performance formulation for controlling the main weeds that affect sugarcane, soybean, coffee and citrus crops. Furthermore, the formulation has high solubility, providing an excellent weed control in both plant-cane and ratoon cane in the humid season, coffee and citrus.

[0046] The association of herbicides of the present invention is based mainly on the herbicides from the group of the triazolinones, preferably sulfentrazone, and the urea herbicides, more particularly diuron. Both sulfentrazone and diuron are highly effective in controlling weeds, and when used together in association in the same formulation they have their efficacies improved.

[0047] The herbicides from the group of urea are selected from the group consisting of Tebuthiuron, Diuron, Chlorotoluron, Dimefuron, Fluometuron, Isoproturon, Isouron, Karbutilate, Linuron Methabenzthiazuron, Metobenzuron, Metoxuron, Monolinuron, Neburon, Siduron, and mixtures thereof.

[0048] The herbicides from the group of triazolinones are selected from the group consisting of sulfentrazone, amicarbazone, carfentrazone and azafenidin.

[0049] In one embodiment, the present invention refers to a formulation comprising: [0050] (a) at least one herbicide pesticide selected from the group of triazolinones; [0051] (b) at least one herbicide pesticide selected from the group of urea.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to a formulation comprising: [0053] (a) at least one herbicide pesticide from the group of triazolinones, selected from sulfentrazone, amicarbazone, carfentrazone or azafenidin. [0054] (b) at least one herbicide pesticide from the group of urea selected from Tebuthiuron, Diuron, Chlorotoluron, Dimefuron, Fluometuron, Isoproturon, Isouron, Karbutilate, Linuron, Methabenzthiazuron, Metobenzuron, Metoxuron, Monolinuron, Neburon, Siduron, and mixtures thereof.

[0055] In a most preferred embodiment, the present invention refers to a formulation comprising: [0056] i) (a) at least one herbicide selected from the group of the triazolinones; and (b) at least one pesticide herbicide selected from the group of urea; [0057] ii) a mixture of dispersants selected from the group consisting of: [0058] (a) polymeric surfactant, which may include styrene acrylic polymer, modified styrene acrylic polymer, acrylic copolymer solution, random non-ionic polymeric, amphoteric polymeric dispersant, polyester/polyamine condensation polymer, sodium salt of polyacrylate, sodium salt of acrylic acid/maleic acid copolymer, sodium salt of maleic acid/olefin copolymer copolymer, sodium salt of polycarboxylate, vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer, vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer; cross-linked vinylpyrrolidone and [0059] (b) EO/PO block copolymer, which may include block copolymer of polyalkylene oxide (PEO-PPO), butyl block copolymer, nonionic block copolymer, PEO-PPO tristyrylphenol, PEO-PPO nonylphenol, PEO-PPO butyl alcohol, PEO-PPO fatty alcohol, reverse block copolymer EO/PO and block copolymer based on EO/PO amine; and [0060] (c) additives for stabilizing the formulation, such as antifreeze compounds (glycol or urea), xantham gum, preservatives and anti-foaming agents.

[0061] More particularly, the present invention refers to a herbicidal formulation based on sulfentrazone mainly associated with Diuron in a concentration ranging from 35 g/L to 500 g/L of sulfentrazone and 17.5 g/L to 750 g/L of Diuron. In a preferred embodiment, the concentration of sulfentrazone is 175 g/L and the concentration of Diuron is 350 g/L.

[0062] In a non-limiting embodiment, the formulation is an aqueous suspension comprising sulfentrazone and diuron. Sulfentrazone and diuron can be present in any desired quantity and not only restricted to its suspension form, also being equally effective in the form of wettable powder (WP), oil dispersion (OD), emulsifiable concentrate (EC) or dispersible granules (WDG).

[0063] The formulation of the present invention is to be diluted in water to prepare homogenous solutions for application to foliage of a plant to kill or control the plant growth. The present invention is also directed to methods of making and using the formulations of the present invention.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the formulation of the present invention is mixed with other known active compounds such as insecticides, fungicides or fertilizers and growth regulators.

[0065] The formulation of the present invention can be applied by any conventional method such as powder, to furrows, foliar, microencapsulated, such as a wettable powder, wettable granule, as a concentrated solution or a solution dispersible in oil.

[0066] The present invention also refers to a method for efficiently controlling various weeds, such as the crabgrass complex (Digitaria horizontalis, Digitaria nuda and others), guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Surinam grass (Brachiaria decumbens), morning glories (Ipomoea grandifolia, Ipomoea nil, Ipomoea quamoclit, Ipomoea purpurea, Merremia cissoides and Merremia aegypta), beggar-ticks (Bidens pilosa), Java grass or purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus and Cyperus spp), Indian goosegrass or crowfoot grass (Eleusine indica), southern sandbur (Cenchrus echinatus), velvet bean or mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), wild poinsettia or milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla), among other weed species as described below, comprising applying the formulation of the present invention to the plants.

[0067] The present invention also refers to a method for reducing weed competition for water, light and nutrients with the sugarcane culture, thus favoring initial crop development, production and increasing crop yield and the longevity of the sugar plantation, comprising applying the formulation of the present invention to the weeds.

[0068] The present invention furthers refers to the use of the formulation of the present invention for controlling weeds and unwanted plant pests as mentioned above and listed below.

[0069] The general concepts of the invention are described below, which should not be construed as limiting to the present invention.

[0070] The formulations listed in Table 1 were applied to sugarcane in the dosages below. The synergism of a “built-in” type formulation and the mixture of the commercially available products were evaluated for the first prototype.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 DOSAGE SAMPLE PRODUCT (L/Hectare) Evidence — — A BF486-Sulfentrazone 175 g/L + Diuron 350 g/L SC 3.5 B BF486-Sulfentrazone 175 g/L + Diuron 350 g/L SC 4 C BF486-Sulfentrazone 175 g/L + Diuron 350 g/L SC 4.5 D Sulfentrazone 500 g/L SC + Clomazone 800 g/L EC 1.4 + 1.2 E Amicarbazone 700 g/Kg WG + Tebuthiuron 1.4 + 1.5 500 g/L Sc F Diclosulam 840 g/Kg WG + Tebuthiuron 0.126 + 1.5  500 g/L Sc G Clomazone 800 g/L EC + 1.2 + 1.5 Hexazinone 132 g/Kg + Diuron 468 g/Kg WG H BF486-Sulfentrazone 175 g/L + Diuron 3.5 + 1.2 350 g/L SC + Clomazone 800 g/L EC I BF486-Sulfentrazone 175 g/L + Diuron 3.5 + 1.5 350 g/L SC + Tebuthiuron 500 g/L Sc J Sulfentrazone 265 g/L + Tebuthiuron 310 g/L Sc 2.65

[0071] Table 2 illustrates the effective control of each mixture or formulation in relation to the respective cultures and time after application.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Note: DAA-days after application Season: Humid season-February 2012 Control of Control of Digitaria Ipomoea hederifolia (%) (horizontalis %) SAMPLE 72 DAA 171 DAA 60 DAA 150 DAA Evidência 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 A 100.0 97.0 100.0 98.0 B 98.0 97.0 100.0 100.0 C 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 D 100.0 98.0 100.0 98.0 E 100.0 98.0 98.0 96.0 F 100.0 98.0 100.0 95.0 G 95.0 90.0 100.0 98.0 H 98.0 96.0 100.0 100.0 I 98.0 96.0 100.0 98.0 J 98.0 98.0 100.0 97.0

[0072] The formulation of the present invention has superior control (A) compared to the treatment using a commercially available composition (E) Amicarbazone 700 g/Kg WG+Tebuthiuron 500 g/L SC and (G) Clomazone 800 g/L EC+Hexazinone 132 g/Kg+Diuron 468 g/Kg WG.

[0073] The results have been reproduced at the time of planting in different regions, which makes the present invention inventive and applicable in the treatment of the most important harmful weeds and pests of sugarcane.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 PROTOCOLS CONDUCTED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS Internal Harvest Tests Concluded Ongoing Location Sugarcane 32 10 22 São Paulo, Goiás and Paraná Coffee 5 5 0 São Paulo and Minas- Gerais Citrus 4 4 0 São Paulo Soybean 6 6 0 Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul TOTAL 47 25 22 —

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 List of target weeds for which the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO) is being registered for sugarcane in Brazil. Boral Duo (Sulfentrazone + Diuron) Scientific name Common name Sugacane, (coffee, Amaranthus hybridus Smooth amaranth citrus, soybean).sup.1 Amaranthus viridis Slender amaranth Bidens pilosa Beggar-ticks Brachiaria decumbens Surinam grass Brachiaria plantaginea Alexandergrass Cenchrus echinatus Southern sandbur Commelina benghalensis Benghal dayflower or wandering jew Cyperus rotundus Java grass or purple nut sedge Digitaria horizontalis Jamaican crabgrass Eleusine idica Crowfoot grass Ipomoea grandifolia Morning glory or little bell Ipomoea hederifolia Scarlet morning glory Ipomoea nil Picotee morning glory or ivy morning glory Sida glaziovii Southern sida Sida rhombifolia Southern sida .sup.1cultures in the phase o registration extension

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 List of target weeds for which the formulation of the present invention (Boral DuO) is registered for sugarcane in Brazil. Boral (Sulfentrazone) Scientific name Common name Sugarcane, soybean, Amaranthus viridis Slender amaranth coffee, citrus, Brachiaria decumbens Surinam grass pineapple, tobacco Brachiaria plantaginea Alexandergrass Cenchrus echinatus Southern sandbur Commelina benghalensis Benghal dayflower or wandering jew Cyperus rotundus Java grass or purple nut sedge Digitaria horizontalis Jamaican crabgrass Eleusine inidca Crowfoot grass Euphorbia heterophylla Wild poinsettia or milkweed Ipomoea grandifolia Morning glory or little bell Panicum maximum Guinea grass Portulaca oleracea Purslane or pigweed Richardia brasiliensis Brazilian calla-lily or Brazil pusley Sida glaziovii Southern sida Spermacoce latifolia Buttonweed or broad-leaved buttonweed

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 List of targets weeds for which the herbicide Diuron is registered for sugarcane in Brazil. Karmex 500 (Diuron) Scientific name Common name Sugarcane, Acanthospermum australe Paraguayan starbur coffee, citrus, Acanthospermum hispidum Bristly starbur cotton and Amaranthus hybridus Smooth amaranth pineapple Bidens pilosa Beggar-ticks Brachiaria decumbens Surinam grass or brachiaria grass Brachiaria plantaginea Alexandergrass Cenchrus echinatus Southern sandbur Commelina benghalensis Benghal dayflower or wandering jew Digitaria horizontalis Jamaican crabgrass Eleusine inidca Crowfoot grass Emilia sonchifolia Cupid's shaving brush or lilac tasself lower Ipomoea purpurea Common morning glory Portulaca oleracea Purslane or pigweed Richardia brasiliensis Brazilian calla-lily or Brazil pusley Sida rhombifolia Arrowleaf sida

[0074] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the concepts disclosed in the above specification. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments described in detail herein are only for illustrative purposes and do not limit the scope of the invention.