PLANT TREATMENT COMPOSITION

Abstract

A plant treatment composition comprising: an aqueous phase comprising a plant nutrient; and an organic phase comprising a substituted urea or substituted thiourea compound, dissolved in an organic solvent; and an emulsifier; wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion having droplets of the organic phase dispersed in the aqueous phase.

Claims

1. A plant treatment composition comprising: an aqueous phase comprising a plant nutrient; and an organic phase comprising a substituted urea or substituted thiourea compound, dissolved in an organic solvent; and an emulsifier; wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion having droplets of the organic phase dispersed in the aqueous phase.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises in the range of from 1% to 15% w/w calcium, based on the total weight of the plant treatment composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises in the range of from 0.1% to 15% w/w magnesium, based on the total weight of the plant treatment composition.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises in the range of from 0.1 to 5% zinc and/or in the range of 0.1 to 5% iron, based on the total weight of the plant treatment composition.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said plant nutrient is water-soluble and dissolved in the aqueous phase.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic phase comprises one or more substituted urea or substituted thiourea compounds, of Formula I: ##STR00003## wherein: X is selected from O and S R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together form a cyclic alkyl group substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, or are independently selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, (CH.sub.2).sub.1-3R.sup.3R.sup.4; C(O)R.sup.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5O(CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6NH.sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CO.sub.2R.sup.5, and H provided that at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is not H; R.sup.3 is selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6; R.sup.4 is selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, C.sub.3-10 cycloalkyl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5O(CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6NH.sub.2, and (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CO.sub.2R.sup.5; R.sup.5 is selected from H and C.sub.1-6 alkyl; each R.sup.6 is independently selected from H, F, Br, Cl, I, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2OCH.sub.3; C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl, NR.sup.7R.sup.8, C(O)R.sup.8, CH.sub.2COOR.sup.8, or OR.sup.8; each R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is independently selected from H and C.sub.1-4alkyl; and each R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is independently selected from C(O)R.sup.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5O(CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6NH.sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CO.sub.2R.sup.5, H, F, Br, Cl, I, phenyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein in Formula I: X is selected from O and S R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, (CH.sub.2).sub.1-3R.sup.3R.sup.4; C(O)R.sup.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, and H provided that at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is not H; R.sup.3 is selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, and a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6; R.sup.4 is selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, and (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3; each R.sup.6 is independently selected from H, F, Br, Cl, I, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2OCH.sub.3; C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl, NR.sup.7R.sup.8, C(O)R.sup.8, CH.sub.2COOR.sup.8, or OR.sup.8; each R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 is independently selected from H and C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and each R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is independently selected from C(O)R.sup.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5O(CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6NH.sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CO.sub.2R.sup.5, H, F, Br, Cl, I, phenyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl.

8. The composition of claim 6, wherein in Formula I: X is selected from O and S R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6, and a 5-10 membered heterocyclic ring system containing 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, S, and O substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6; each R.sup.6 is independently selected from H, F, Br, Cl, I, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2OCH.sub.3; C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl, NR.sup.7R.sup.8, C(O)R.sup.8, CH.sub.2COOR.sup.8, or OR.sup.8; and each R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is H.

9. The composition of claim 6, wherein in Formula I: X is selected from O and S R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from aryl substituted with 0-3 R.sup.6; each R.sup.6 is independently selected from H, F, Br, Cl, I, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, phenyl, CH.sub.2OH, CH.sub.2OCH.sub.3; C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl, NR.sup.7R.sup.8, C(O)R.sup.8, CH.sub.2COOR.sup.8, or OR.sup.8; and each R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 is independently selected from C(O)R.sup.8, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-5O(CH.sub.2).sub.0-5CH.sub.3, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6NH.sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.0-6CO.sub.2R.sup.5, H, F, Br, Cl, I, phenyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy, and C.sub.1-C.sub.4 haloalkyl.

10. The composition of claim 6, wherein said one or more compounds are selected from diphenyl urea, 2-nitro diphenyl urea, mono- or di-methyl diphenyl urea, mono- or di-ethyl diphenyl urea, thidiazuron, N,N-bis(hydroxymethyl) urea, N-phenyl urea, Tetramethyl urea, N,N-dicyclohexyl urea, N.N-diphenyl thiourea, N.N-trimethylene urea, 1,3-diethyl-1,3-diphenyl urea, 1,3-diethylurea, N,N-dibutylthiourea, chloro-pyridyl-phenyl urea, and N,N-diformyl urea.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic phase comprises diphenyl urea (DPU).

12. The composition of claim 1 comprising in the range of from 5 to 2000 ppm of one or more substituted urea or substituted thiourea compounds.

13. The composition of claim 12, comprising in the range of from 10 to 1000 ppm substituted urea or substituted thiourea compounds.

14. The composition of claim 12 comprising in the range of from 50 to 400 ppm substituted urea or substituted thiourea compounds.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises in the range of from 5 to 2000 ppm diphenyl urea.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent has a solubility (if any) in water of less than 2 g/L, as determined according to OECD test method 105, 1995.

17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent comprises or consists of solvent molecules comprising a chain of at least four consecutive carbon atoms.

18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic solvent comprises or consists of an alkyl amide of Formula II: ##STR00004## wherein: R and R are each independently selected from hydrogen and C.sub.1-4 alkyl R is C.sub.4-14 alkyl, optionally C.sub.8-12 alkyl, suitably C.sub.10 alkyl.

19. The composition of claim 18, wherein the alkyl amide comprises or consists of N,N-dimethyl decanamide.

20. The composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsifier comprises a surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance in the range of from 12 to 18.

21. The composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsifier comprises ethoxylated fatty amine and/or fatty alcohol.

22. The composition of claim 21 wherein the emulsifier comprises ethoxylated coco amine.

23. The composition of claim 21 wherein the emulsifier comprises ethoxylated isotridecyl alcohol.

24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsion is a microemulsion.

25. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of aqueous phase to organic phase is in the range of from 999:1 to 1:1 by weight.

26. The composition of claim 1 comprising in the range of from 4 to 6% w/w calcium (based on the total weight of the composition) in the aqueous phase and in the range of from 10 to 300 ppm diphenyl urea (based on the total weight of the composition) in the organic phase.

27. The composition of claim 1 comprising in the range of from 8 to 12% w/w calcium (based on the total weight of the composition) in the aqueous phase and in the range of from 10 to 300 ppm diphenyl urea (based on the total weight of the composition) in the organic phase.

28. A method of making a plant treatment composition the method comprising dissolving a substituted urea or substituted thiourea in an organic solvent to form an organic phase; and dispersing droplets of the organic phase in an aqueous phase comprising a plant nutrient.

29. A method of enhancing crop yield in a plant, the method comprising exposing said plant to a composition according to claim 1.

30. A method of treating a plant, the method comprising applying a composition according to claim 1, or an aqueous dilution thereof, to the plant.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the composition or dilution is applied as a foliar spray.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the plant is a soybean plant.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0099] Analysis: 5% w/w Ca, 100 ppm DPU

[0100] Sample A: DPU (1 g) was dissolved in Agnique AMD10 (99 g) to give a 1% w/w solution of DPU. To the 1% w/w solution of DPU (30.5 g of) was added Atlox 4991 (45.8 g) to give a 0.4% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0101] Sample B: A calcium nitrate/zinc nitrate base was made to the composition below:

TABLE-US-00004 Component Mass/g Water 784.9 Zinc Oxide 16.5 Nitric acid (70%) 33.9 Citric acid 2.0 Calcium nitrate (industrial) 335 Molasses 10.1

[0102] Calcium nitrate (Industrial) is industrial grade calcium nitrate fertiliser, which is a mix of calcium and ammonium nitrates containing approximately 18.6% w/w calcium.

[0103] To make the finished formulation, Sample A (30 g) was added with stirring to Sample B (1186 g).

[0104] Result: An emulsion was formed. However this formulation did not give complete stability (i.e. the solution was cloudy) and some phase separation occurred C.

EXAMPLE 2

[0105] Analysis: 5% w/w Ca, 100 ppm DPU

[0106] Sample C: DPU (0.12 g) was dissolved in Agnique AMD10 (11.88 g) and Lutensol FA12K (18.0 g) to give a 0.4% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0107] Sample D: A calcium nitrate/zinc nitrate base was made to the composition below:

TABLE-US-00005 Component Mass/g Water 784.9 Zinc Oxide 16.5 Nitric acid (70%) 33.9 Citric acid 2.0 Calcium nitrate (industrial) 335 Molasses 10.1

[0108] To make the finished formulation, Sample C (30 g) was added with stirring to Sample D (1186 g).

[0109] Result: The finished formulation formed an emulsion, which remained clear and homogeneous after 2 weeks storage between +3 C. and +50 C.

EXAMPLE 3

[0110] Analysis: 9.5% w/w Ca, 100 ppm DPU

[0111] Sample E: DPU (1 g) was dissolved in Agnique AMD10 (99 g) to give a 1% w/w solution of DPU. To the 1% w/w solution of DPU (30.5 g of) was added Atlox 4991 (45.8 g) to give a 0.4% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0112] Sample F: A calcium nitrate/zinc nitrate base was made to the composition below:

TABLE-US-00006 Component Mass/g Water 595 Zinc Oxide 14.3 Nitric acid (70%) 31.3 Calcium nitrate (industrial) 734.4 Molasses 7.0

[0113] To make the finished formulation, Sample E (30 g) was added with stirring to Sample F (1382 g).

[0114] Result: The finished formulation formed an emulsion, which remained homogeneous and almost clear during 2 weeks storage between 18 and +40 C.

EXAMPLE 4

[0115] Analysis: 10.5% w/w Ca, 200 ppm DPU

[0116] Sample G: DPU (0.8 g) was dissolved in Agnique AMD10 (39.2 g) and Atlox 4991 (60.0 g) to give a 0.8% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0117] Sample H: A calcium nitrate/zinc nitrate base was made to the composition below:

TABLE-US-00007 Component Mass/g Water 584 Zinc Oxide 14.3 Nitric acid (70%) 31.3 Calcium nitrate (industrial) 773.1 Molasses 7.0

[0118] To make the finished formulation, Sample G (35.6 g) was added with stirring to Sample H (1408 g).

[0119] Result: The finished formulation formed an emulsion, with the appearance of an almost clear, homogeneous liquid.

EXAMPLE 5

[0120] Analysis: 9.5% Ca, 1% Mg, 200 ppm DPU

[0121] Sample G: DPU (0.8 g) was dissolved in Agnique AMD10 (39.2 g) and Atlox 4991 (60.0 g) added to give a 0.8% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0122] Sample I: A calcium nitrate/magnesium nitrate base was made to the composition below:

TABLE-US-00008 Component Mass/g Water 520.7 Magnesium nitrate 149.8 hexahydrate Calcium nitrate (industrial) 717.5 Molasses 7.0

[0123] To make the finished formulation 36.3 g of Sample G is added with stirring to 1395 g of Sample I. To this is added 0.6 g Antifoam Gen (a silicone emulsion made by Lambert S.p.A) and 4.5 g water.

[0124] Result: The formulation formed an emulsion. Samples remain homogeneous and almost clear during 8 weeks storage between 18 and +40 C.

EXAMPLE 6

[0125] Analysis: 10.5% Ca, 200 ppm DPU in 1-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone

[0126] Sample J: DPU (0.8 g) is dissolved in 1-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone (39.2 g) and Atlox 4991 (60.0 g) added to give a 0.8% w/w DPU concentrate.

[0127] 35.6 g Sample J is added to 1409 g Sample H to give a slightly hazy, homogeneous emulsion. No changes were observed after 2 days storage at temperatures up to, and including, 50 C.

[0128] Application to Plants

[0129] The emulsions produced in Examples 1 to 6 will typically be applied to field crops such as soybean (Glycine max) as a foliar spray of an aqueous dilution, with a typical treatment rate of 0.5-1 litre per hectare.

[0130] The crop yield is expected to be increased typically by 5% compared to untreated plants.

[0131] Examples 4 to 6, comprising a higher concentration of DPU, can be expected to deliver an enhanced crop yield and/or a comparable crop yield at lower application rates, compared to Examples 1 to 3.