Mixtures comprising an urease inhibitor (UI) and a nitrification inhibitor such as 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid (DMPSA) or 3,4-dimethyl pyrazolium glycolate (DMPG)

Abstract

Described herein are mixtures including as active components at least one specific nitrification inhibitor (compound I) and at least one urease inhibitor (compound II). Also described herein are a method for improving the nitrification-inhibiting effect, or for increasing the health of a plant using mixtures of at least one compound I and at least one compound II and a method of using the mixtures comprising compounds I and compounds II for increasing the health of a plant. Also described herein are agrochemical compositions including these mixtures. Also described herein is plant propagation material including these mixtures or these agrochemical compositions.

Claims

1. A mixture comprising a urea-containing fertilizer and as active components 1) A nitrification inhibitor (I) which is a potassium salt, sodium salt, magnesium salt, or an ammonium salt of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid and/or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid, and 2) a urease inhibitor (II) which is a mixture comprising N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT); wherein compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 50:1 to 7:1.

2. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein compound II is a mixture comprising N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT), wherein NBPT is contained in amounts of from 50 to 90 wt. % and NPPT is contained in amounts of from 10 to 50 wt. % based on the total amount of active urease inhibitors.

3. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein compound I is a potassium salt or an ammonium salt of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid and/or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid.

4. An agrochemical composition, the composition comprising an auxiliary and a mixture according to claim 1.

5. A method for enhancing use efficiency of urea-containing fertilizer or for urease inhibition, the method comprising applying an effective amount of the mixture as defined in claim 1 to plant propagules.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein compound I and compound II are applied simultaneously, either as a mixture or separately, or subsequently to the plant propagules.

7. Plant propagation material, the material comprising a mixture as defined in claim 1, in an amount of from 0.1 to 10 kg active substances per 100 kg of seed.

8. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein compound I is a potassium salt or an ammonium salt of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid and/or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid.

9. A mixture comprising a urea-containing fertilizer and as active components 1) a nitrification inhibitor (I) which is a potassium salt, sodium salt, magnesium salt, or an ammonium salt of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid and/or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid, and 2) a urease inhibitor (II) which is selected from the group consisting of N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) (P.26), N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric acid 20 triamide (NPPT) (P.27), mixtures comprising N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-propyl)thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT) (P.28), mixtures comprising N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NBPT) and N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide (NPPT) wherein NBPT is contained in amounts of from 50 to 90 wt. % and NPPT is contained in amounts of from 10 to 50 wt. % based on the total 25 amount of active urease inhibitors (P.29), phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD/PPDA) (P.30), and 2-nitrophenyl phosphoric triamide (2-NPT) (P.31), wherein compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 50:1 to 7:1.

10. The mixture according to claim 9, wherein compound I is a potassium salt or an ammonium salt of 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid and/or 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid.

11. A method for enhancing the use efficiency of urea-containing fertilizer or for urease inhibition with an effective amount of the mixture as defined in claim 9, wherein compound I and compound II are applied simultaneously, either as a mixture or separately, or subsequently to the plant propagules.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

(1) The compositions and mixtures of the invention have been tested as follows in terms of the inhibition of nitrification:

(2) Soil was sampled fresh from a field (e.g. Limburgerhof), dried and sieved through a 500 μm sieve. Approximately 200 mg of soil were placed into each well of a 48 well plate. The compositions or mixtures of the invention, or DMSO alone, were added at a concentration of 10 ppm, dissolved in 1% DMSO. 6 μmol ammonium sulfate was added per well as well as 4.8 mg NaClO.sub.3.

(3) Subsequently, the samples were incubated at room temperature for up to 72 hrs. After the incubation period 64 mg KCl were added and mixed. 25 μl of the supernatant were placed into a fresh plate and 260 μl of a color reaction solution (from Merck Nr 1.11799.0100) were added.

(4) Measurements were taken with a Tecan plate Reader at 540 nm wavelength.

EXAMPLE 2: (FOR THOSE RESULTS WITH A % INHIBITION AND NOT RESULTS IN PPM)

(5) 100 g soil is filled into 500 ml plastic bottles (e.g. soil sampled from the field) and is moistened to 50% water holding capacity. The soil is incubated at 20° C. for two weeks to activate the microbial biomass. 1 ml test solution, containing the compositions and mixtures of the invention in the appropriate concentration (usually 0.3 or 1% of nitrogen N), or DMSO and 10 mg nitrogen in the form of ammoniumsulfate-N is added to the soil and everything mixed well. Bottles are capped but loosely to allow air exchange. The bottles are then incubated at 20° C. for 0 and 14 days.

(6) For analysis, 300 ml of a 1% K2SO4-solution is added to the bottle containing the soil and shaken for 2 hrs in a horizontal shaker at 150 rpm. Then the whole solution is filtered through a Macherey-Nagel Filter MN 807 ¼. Ammonium and nitrate content is then analyzed in the filtrate in an autoanalyzer at 550 nm (Merck, AA11).

(7) Calculations:

(8) $\mathrm{inhibition}\mathrm{in}\%=\frac{\begin{array}{c}(\mathrm{NO}3\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{without}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}}-\\ \mathrm{NO}3\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{with}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}})\end{array}}{\begin{array}{c}(\mathrm{NO3}\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{without}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}}-\\ \mathrm{NO3}\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{at}\mathrm{beginning}})\end{array}}\times 100$

(9) In an equally preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for improving the health of plants, wherein the plants are treated with a plant health effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(10) The term “plant health effective amount” denotes an amount of the inventive mixtures, which is sufficient for achieving plant health effects as defined herein below. More exemplary information about amounts, ways of application and suitable ratios to be used is given below. Anyway, the skilled artisan is well aware of the fact that such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, e.g. the treated cultivated plant or material and the climatic conditions.

(11) Healthier plants are desirable since they result among others in better yields and/or a better quality of the plants or crops, specifically better quality of the harvested plant parts. Healthier plants also better resist to biotic and/or abiotic stress. A high resistance against biotic stresses in turn allows the person skilled in the art to reduce the quantity of pesticides applied and consequently to slow down the development of resistances against the respective pesticides.

(12) It has to be emphasized that the above mentioned effects of the inventive mixtures, i.e. enhanced health of the plant, are also present when the plant is not under biotic stress and in particular when the plant is not under pest pressure.

(13) For example, for seed treatment and soil applications, it is evident that a plant suffering from fungal or insecticidal attack shows reduced germination and emergence leading to poorer plant or crop establishment and vigor, and consequently, to a reduced yield as compared to a plant propagation material which has been subjected to curative or preventive treatment against the relevant pest and which can grow without the damage caused by the biotic stress factor.

(14) However, the methods according to the invention lead to an enhanced plant health even in the absence of any biotic stress. This means that the positive effects of the mixtures of the invention cannot be explained just by the nitrification-inhibiting or urease-inhibiting activities of the compounds I and compounds II, but are based on further activity profiles. Accordingly, the application of the inventive mixtures can also be carried out in the absence of pest pressure.

(15) In an equally preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for improving the health of plants grown from said plant propagation material, wherein the plant propagation material is treated with an effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(16) Each plant health indicator listed below, which is selected from the groups consisting of yield, plant vigor, quality and tolerance of the plant to abiotic and/or biotic stress, is to be understood as a preferred embodiment of the present invention either each on its own or preferably in combination with each other.

(17) According to the present invention, “increased yield” of a plant means that the yield of a product of the respective plant is increased by a measurable amount over the yield of the same product of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without the application of the inventive mixture.

(18) For seed treatment e.g. as inoculant and/or foliar application forms, increased yield can be characterized, among others, by the following improved properties of the plant: increased plant weight; and/or increased plant height; and/or increased biomass such as higher overall fresh weight (FW) or dry weight (DW); and/or increased number of flowers per plant; and/or higher grain and/or fruit yield; and/or more tillers or side shoots (branches); and/or larger leaves; and/or increased shoot growth; and/or increased protein content; and/or increased oil content; and/or increased starch content; and/or increased pigment content; and/or increased chlorophyll content (chlorophyll content has a positive correlation with the plant's photosynthesis rate and accordingly, the higher the chlorophyll content the higher the yield of a plant) and/or increased quality of a plant; and/or better nitrogen uptake (N uptake).

(19) “Grain” and “fruit” are to be understood as any plant product which is further utilized after harvesting, e.g. fruits in the proper sense, vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds, wood (e.g. in the case of silviculture plants), flowers (e.g. in the case of gardening plants, ornamentals) etc., that is anything of economic value that is produced by the plant.

(20) According to the present invention, the yield is increased by at least 2%, more preferably by at least 4%, most preferably at least 7%, particularly preferably at least 10%, more particularly preferably by at least 15%, most particularly preferably by at least 20%, particularly more preferably by at least 25%, particularly most preferably by at least 30%, particularly by at least 35%, especially more preferably by at least 40%, especially most preferably by at least 45%, especially by at least 50%, in particular preferably by at least 55%, in particular more preferably by at least 60%, in particular most preferably by at least 65%, in particular by at least 70%, for example by at least 75%.

(21) According to the present invention, the yield—if measured in the absence of pest pressure—is increased by at least 2%, more preferably by at least 4%, most preferably at least 7%, particularly preferably at least 10%, more particularly preferably by at least 15%, most particularly preferably by at least 20%, particularly more preferably by at least 25%, particularly most preferably by at least 30%, particularly by at least 35%, especially more preferably by at least 40%, especially most preferably by at least 45%, especially by at least 50%, in particular preferably by at least 55%, in particular more preferably by at least 60%, in particular most preferably by at least 65%, in particular by at least 70%, for example by at least 75%.

(22) Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the plant vigor. The plant vigor becomes manifest in several aspects such as the general visual appearance.

(23) For foliar applications, improved plant vigor can be characterized, among others, by the following improved properties of the plant: improved vitality of the plant; and/or improved plant growth; and/or improved plant development; and/or improved visual appearance; and/or improved plant stand (less plant verse/lodging and/or bigger leaf blade; and/or bigger size; and/or increased plant height; and/or increased tiller number; and/or increased number of side shoots; and/or increased number of flowers per plant; and/or increased shoot growth; and/or enhanced photosynthetic activity (e.g. based on increased stomatal conductance and/or increased CO.sub.2 assimilation rate)); and/or earlier flowering; and/or earlier fruiting; and/or earlier grain maturity; and/or less non-productive tillers; and/or less dead basal leaves; and/or less input needed (such as fertilizers or water); and/or greener leaves; and/or complete maturation under shortened vegetation periods; and/or easier harvesting; and/or faster and more uniform ripening; and/or longer shelf-life; and/or longer panicles; and/or delay of senescence; and/or stronger and/or more productive tillers; and/or better extractability of ingredients; and/or improved quality of seeds (for being seeded in the following seasons for seed production); and/or reduced production of ethylene and/or the inhibition of its reception by the plant.

(24) Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the “quality” of a plant and/or its products. According to the present invention, enhanced quality means that certain plant characteristics such as the content or composition of certain ingredients are increased or improved by a measurable or noticeable amount over the same factor of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without the application of the mixtures of the present invention. Enhanced quality can be characterized, among others, by following improved properties of the plant or its product: increased nutrient content; and/or increased protein content; and/or increased oil content; and/or increased starch content; and/or increased content of fatty acids; and/or increased metabolite content; and/or increased carotenoid content; and/or increased sugar content; and/or increased amount of essential amino acids; and/or improved nutrient composition; and/or improved protein composition; and/or improved composition of fatty acids; and/or improved metabolite composition; and/or improved carotenoid composition; and/or improved sugar composition; and/or improved amino acids composition; and/or improved or optimal fruit color; and/or improved leaf color; and/or higher storage capacity; and/or better processability of the harvested products.

(25) Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the plant's tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress factors. Biotic and abiotic stress, especially over longer terms, can have harmful effects on plants.

(26) Biotic stress is caused by living organisms while abiotic stress is caused for example by environmental extremes. According to the present invention, “enhanced tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress factors” means (1.) that certain negative factors caused by biotic and/or abiotic stress are diminished in a measurable or noticeable amount as compared to plants exposed to the same conditions, but without being treated with an inventive mixture and (2.) that the negative effects are not diminished by a direct action of the inventive mixture on the stress factors, e.g. by its fungicidal or insecticidal action which directly destroys the microorganisms or pests, but rather by a stimulation of the plants' own defensive reactions against said stress factors.

(27) Negative factors caused by biotic stress such as pathogens and pests are widely known and are caused by living organisms, such as competing plants (for example weeds), microorganisms (such as phythopathogenic fungi and/or bacteria) and/or viruses.

(28) Negative factors caused by abiotic stress are also well-known and can often be observed as reduced plant vigor (see above), for example:

(29) less yield and/or less vigor, for both effects examples can be burned leaves, less flowers, pre-mature ripening, later crop maturity, reduced nutritional value amongst others.

(30) Abiotic stress can be caused for example by: extremes in temperature such as heat or cold (heat stress/cold stress); and/or strong variations in temperature; and/or temperatures unusual for the specific season; and/or drought (drought stress); and/or extreme wetness; and/or high salinity (salt stress); and/or radiation (for example by increased UV radiation due to the decreasing ozone layer); and/or increased ozone levels (ozone stress); and/or organic pollution (for example by phythotoxic amounts of pesticides); and/or inorganic pollution (for example by heavy metal contaminants).

(31) As a result of biotic and/or abiotic stress factors, the quantity and the quality of the stressed plants decrease. As far as quality (as defined above) is concerned, reproductive development is usually severely affected with consequences on the crops which are important for fruits or seeds. Synthesis, accumulation and storage of proteins are mostly affected by temperature; growth is slowed by almost all types of stress; polysaccharide synthesis, both structural and storage is reduced or modified: these effects result in a decrease in biomass (yield) and in changes in the nutritional value of the product.

(32) As pointed out above, the above identified indicators for the health condition of a plant may be interdependent and may result from each other. For example, an increased resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress may lead to a better plant vigor, e.g. to better and bigger crops, and thus to an increased yield. Inversely, a more developed root system may result in an increased resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress. However, these interdependencies and interactions are neither all known nor fully understood and therefore the different indicators are described separately.

(33) In one embodiment the inventive mixtures effectuate an increased yield of a plant or its product.

(34) In another embodiment the inventive mixtures effectuate an increased vigor of a plant or its product. In another embodiment the inventive mixtures effectuate in an increased quality of a plant or its product. In yet another embodiment the inventive mixtures effectuate an increased tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against biotic stress. In yet another embodiment the inventive mixtures effectuate an increased tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against abiotic stress.

(35) The invention also relates to agrochemical compositions comprising an auxiliary and at least one compound I and at least one compound II, or a cell-free extract of compound II or at least one metabolite thereof having NI effect or UI effect, and/or a mutant of compound II having NI effect or UI effect and producing at least one metabolite as defined herein, or a metabolite or extract of the mutant according to the invention.

(36) An agrochemical composition comprises a NI effective amount or plant health effective amount of compound I. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, e.g. weather, target species, locus, mode of application, soil type, the treated cultivated plant or material and the climatic conditions.

(37) An agrochemical composition comprises a UI effective or plant health effective amount of compound II, or a cell-free extract thereof or at least one metabolite thereof having urease-inhibiting activity, and/or a mutant of compound II having urease-inhibiting activity and producing at least one metabolite as defined herein, or a urease inhibitor metabolite or extract of the mutant. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as the fungal or pest species to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant or material, the climatic conditions.

(38) According to one embodiment, individual components of the composition according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of a binary or ternary mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a spray tank or any other kind of vessel used for applications (e.g seed treater drums, seed pelleting machinery, knapsack sprayer) and further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate. When living microorganisms form part of such kit, it must be taken care that choice and amounts of the other parts of the kit (e.g. chemical pesticidal agents) and of the further auxiliaries should not influence the viability of the microbial pesticides in the composition mixed by the user. Especially for bactericides and solvents, compatibility with the respective microbial pesticide has to be taken into account.

(39) Consequently, one embodiment of the invention is a kit for preparing a usable pesticidal composition, the kit comprising a) a composition comprising compound I as defined herein and at least one auxiliary; and b) a composition comprising compound II as defined herein and at least one auxiliary; and optionally c) a composition comprising at least one auxiliary and optionally a further active component III as defined herein.

(40) The compounds or mixtures or compositions according to the invention can be converted into customary types of agrochemical compositions, e.g. solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for composition types are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g. EC), emulsions (e.g. EW, EO, ES, ME), capsules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e.g. BR, TB, DT), granules (e.g. WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), insecticidal articles (e.g. LN), as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (e.g. GF). These and further compositions types are defined in the “Catalogue of pesticide formulation types and international coding system”, Technical Monograph No. 2, 6th Ed. May 2008, CropLife International.

(41) The compositions are prepared in a known manner, such as described by Mollet and Grubemann, Formulation technology, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, 2001; or Knowles, New developments in crop protection product formulation, Agrow Reports DS243, T&F Informa, London, 2005.

(42) Suitable auxiliaries are solvents, liquid carriers, solid carriers or fillers, surfactants, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetters, adjuvants, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, humectants, repellents, attractants, feeding stimulants, compatibilizers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants, tackifiers and binders.

(43) Suitable solvents and liquid carriers are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzylalcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e.g. cyclohexanone; esters, e.g. lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e.g. N-methylpyrrolidone, fatty acid dimethylamides; and mixtures thereof.

(44) Suitable solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, limestone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e.g. ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e.g. cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal, nutshell meal, and mixtures thereof.

(45) Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emusifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid, or adjuvant. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon's, Vol. 1: Emulsifiers & Detergents, McCutcheon's Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.).

(46) Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.

(47) Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Examples of N-substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are home- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate.

(48) Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines. Suitable block polymers are block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide. Suitable polyelectrolytes are polyacids or polybases. Examples of polyacids are alkali salts of polyacrylic acid or polyacid comb polymers. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or polyethyleneamines.

(49) Suitable adjuvants are compounds, which have a neglectable or even no pesticidal activity themselves, and which improve the biological performance of the compound I on the target. Examples are surfactants, mineral or vegetable oils, and other auxiliaries. Further examples are listed by Knowles, Adjuvants and additives, Agrow Reports DS256, T&F Informa UK, 2006, chapter 5.

(50) Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), anorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates.

(51) Suitable bactericides are bronopol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones. Suitable anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea and glycerin. Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids. Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and water-soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron hexacyanoferrate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants). Suitable tackifiers or binders are polyvinylpyrrolidons, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylates, biological or synthetic waxes, and cellulose ethers.

(52) When living microorganisms form part of the compositions, such compositions can be prepared as compositions comprising besides the active ingredients at least one auxiliary (inert ingredient) by usual means (see e.g. H. D. Burges: Formulation of Micobial Biopesticides, Springer, 1998). Suitable customary types of such compositions are suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof. Examples for composition types are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), capsules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP, DS), pressings (e.g. BR, TB, DT), granules (e.g. WG, SG, GR, FG, GG, MG), insecticidal articles (e.g. LN), as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (e.g. GF). Herein, it has to be taken into account that each formulation type or choice of auxiliary should not influence the viability of the microorganism during storage of the composition and when finally applied to the soil, plant or plant propagation material. Suitable formulations are e.g. mentioned in WO2008/002371, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,955,912, 5,422,107.

(53) Examples for suitable auxiliaries are those mentioned earlier herein, wherein it must be taken care that choice and amounts of such auxiliaries should not influence the viability of the microbial pesticides in the composition. Especially for bactericides and solvents, compatibility with the respective microorganism of the respective microbial pesticide has to be taken into account. In addition, compositions with microbial pesticides may further contain stabilizers or nutrients and UV protectants. Suitable stabilizers or nutrients are e.g. alpha-tocopherol, trehalose, glutamate, potassium sorbate, various sugars like glucose, sucrose, lactose and maltodextrine (H. D. Burges: Formulation of Micobial Biopesticides, Springer, 1998). Suitable UV protectants are e.g. inorganic compounds like titan dioxide, zinc oxide and iron oxide pigments or organic compounds like benzophenones, benzotriazoles and phenyltriazines. The compositions may in addition to auxiliaries mentioned for compositions comprising compounds I herein optionally comprise 0.1-80% stabilizers or nutrients and 0.1-10% UV protectants.

(54) Examples for composition types and their preparation are:

(55) i) Water-Soluble Concentrates (SL, LS)

(56) 10-60 wt % of a compound I and 5-15 wt % wetting agent (e.g. alcohol alkoxylates) are dissolved in water and/or in a water-soluble solvent (e.g. alcohols) ad 100 wt %. The active substance dissolves upon dilution with water.
ii) Dispersible Concentrates (DC) 5-25 wt % of a compound I and 1-10 wt % dispersant (e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone) are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. cyclohexanone) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives a dispersion.
iii) Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC) 15-70 wt % of a compound I and 5-10 wt % emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.
iv) Emulsions (EW, EO, ES) 5-40 wt % of a compound I and 1-10 wt % emulsifiers (e.g. calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate) are dissolved in 20-40 wt % water-insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon). This mixture is introduced into water ad 100 wt % by means of an emulsifying machine and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion.
v) Suspensions (SC, OD, FS) In an agitated ball mill, 20-60 wt % of a compound I are comminuted with addition of 2-10 wt % dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate), 0.1-2 wt % thickener (e.g. xanthan gum) and water ad 100 wt % to give a fine active substance suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance. For FS type composition up to 40 wt % binder (e.g. polyvinylalcohol) is added.
vi) Water-Dispersible Granules and Water-Soluble Granules (WG, SG) 50-80 wt % of a compound I are ground finely with addition of dispersants and wetting agents (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate and alcohol ethoxylate) ad 100 wt % and prepared as water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (e.g. extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.
vii) Water-Dispersible Powders and Water-Soluble Powders (WP, SP, WS) 50-80 wt % of a compound I are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 1-5 wt % dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1-3 wt % wetting agents (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate) and solid carrier (e.g. silica gel) ad 100 wt %. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active substance.
viii) Gel (GW, GF) In an agitated ball mill, 5-25 wt % of a compound I are comminuted with addition of 3-10 wt % dispersants (e.g. sodium lignosulfonate), 1-5 wt % thickener (e.g. carboxymethylcellulose) and water ad 100 wt % to give a fine suspension of the active substance. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active substance.
ix) Microemulsion (ME) 5-20 wt % of a compound I are added to 5-30 wt % organic solvent blend (e.g. fatty acid dimethylamide and cyclohexanone), 10-25 wt % surfactant blend (e.g. alcohol ethoxylate and arylphenol ethoxylate), and water ad 100%. This mixture is stirred for 1 h to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable microemulsion.
x) Microcapsules (CS)

(57) An oil phase comprising 5-50 wt % of a compound I, 0-40 wt % water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), 2-15 wt % acrylic monomers (e.g. methylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid and a di- or triacrylate) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). Radical polymerization initiated by a radical initiator results in the formation of poly(meth)acrylate microcapsules. Alternatively, an oil phase comprising 5-50 wt % of a compound I according to the invention, 0-40 wt % water insoluble organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon), and an isocyanate monomer (e.g. diphenylmethene-4,4′-diisocyanatae) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of a protective colloid (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol). The addition of a polyamine (e.g. hexamethylenediamine) results in the formation of polyurea microcapsules. The monomers amount to 1-10 wt %. The wt % relate to the total CS composition.

(58) xi) Dustable Powders (DP, DS)

(59) 1-10 wt % of a compound I are ground finely and mixed intimately with solid carrier (e.g. finely divided kaolin) ad 100 wt %.
xii) Granules (GR, FG) 0.5-30 wt % of a compound I is ground finely and associated with solid carrier (e.g. silicate) ad 100 wt %. Granulation is achieved by extrusion, spray-drying or fluidized bed.
xiii) Ultra-Low Volume Liquids (UL) 1-50 wt % of a compound I are dissolved in organic solvent (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbon) ad 100 wt %.

(60) The compositions types i) to xiii) may optionally comprise further auxiliaries, such as 0.1-1 wt % bactericides, 5-15 wt % anti-freezing agents, 0.1-1 wt % anti-foaming agents, and 0.1-1 wt % colorants.

(61) The compositions types i) to vii) may optionally comprise further auxiliaries, such as 0.1-1 wt % bactericides, 5-15 wt % anti-freezing agents, 0.1-1 wt % anti-foaming agents, 0.1-80% stabilizers or nutrients, 0.1-10% UV protectants and 0.1-1 wt % colorants.

(62) The compositions types i) to xi) may optionally comprise further auxiliaries, such as 0.1-1 wt % bactericides, 5-15 wt % anti-freezing agents, 0.1-1 wt % anti-foaming agents, and 0.1-1 wt % colorants.

(63) The agrochemical compositions generally are characterized in that they contain an effective quantity of the active components as defined above. Generally, they contain between 0.01 and 95%, preferably between 0.1 and 90%, and in particular between 0.5 and 75%, by weight of active components, in particular active substances.

(64) Solutions for seed treatment (LS), suspoemulsions (SE), flowable concentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and gels (GF) are usually employed for the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds.

(65) Preferred examples of seed treatment formulation types or soil application for pre-mix compositions are of WS, LS, ES, FS, WG or CS-type.

(66) The compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active components concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40%, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing. Methods for applying or treating compound I and compound II and compositions thereof, respectively, on to plant propagation material, especially seeds include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in-furrow application methods of the propagation material. Preferably, compound I and compound II or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propagation material by a method such that germination is not induced, e.g. by seed dressing, pelleting, coating and dusting.

(67) Typically, a pre-mix formulation for seed treatment application comprises 0.5 to 99.9 percent, especially 1 to 95 percent, of the desired ingredients, and 99.5 to 0.1 percent, especially 99 to 5 percent, of a solid or liquid adjuvant (including, for example, a solvent such as water), where the auxiliaries can be a surfactant in an amount of 0 to 50 percent, especially 0.5 to 40 percent, based on the pre-mix formulation. Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates (e.g., pre-mix composition (formulation)), the end user will normally employ dilute formulations (e.g., tank mix composition).

(68) Seed treatment methods for applying or treating inventive mixtures and compositions thereof to plant propagation material, especially seeds, are known in the art, and include dressing, coating, filmcoating, pelleting and soaking application methods of the propagation material.

(69) Such methods are also applicable to the combinations according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the inventive mixture is applied or treated on to the plant propagation material by a method such that the germination is not negatively impacted. Accordingly, examples of suitable methods for applying (or treating) a plant propagation material, such as a seed, is seed dressing, seed coating or seed pelleting and alike.

(70) It is preferred that the plant propagation material is a seed, seed piece (i.e. stalk) or seed bulb.

(71) Although it is believed that the present method can be applied to a seed in any physiological state, it is preferred that the seed be in a sufficiently durable state that it incurs no damage during the treatment process. Typically, the seed would be a seed that had been harvested from the field; removed from the plant; and separated from any cob, stalk, outer husk, and surrounding pulp or other non-seed plant material. The seed would preferably also be biologically stable to the extent that the treatment would cause no biological damage to the seed. It is believed that the treatment can be applied to the seed at any time between harvest of the seed and sowing of the seed or during the sowing process (seed directed applications). The seed may also be primed either before or after the treatment.

(72) Even distribution of the ingredients in inventive mixtures and adherence thereof to the seeds is desired during propagation material treatment. Treatment could vary from a thin film (dressing) of the formulation containing the combination, for example, a mixture of active ingredient(s), on a plant propagation material, such as a seed, where the original size and/or shape are recognizable to an intermediary state (such as a coating) and then to a thicker film (such as pelleting with many layers of different materials (such as carriers, for example, clays; different formulations, such as of other active ingredients; polymers; and colourants) where the original shape and/or size of the seed is no longer recognizable.

(73) An aspect of the present invention includes application of the inventive mixtures onto the plant propagation material in a targeted fashion, including positioning the ingredients in the combination onto the entire plant propagation material or on only parts thereof, including on only a single side or a portion of a single side. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand these application methods from the description provided in EP954213B1 and WO06/112700.

(74) The inventive mixtures can also be used in form of a “pill” or “pellet” or a suitable substrate and placing, or sowing, the treated pill, or substrate, next to a plant propagation material. Such techniques are known in the art, particularly in EP1124414, WO07/67042, and WO07/67044. Application of the combinations described herein onto plant propagation material also includes protecting the plant propagation material treated with the combination of the present invention by placing one or more pesticide-containing particles next to a pesticide-treated seed, wherein the amount of pesticide is such that the pesticide-treated seed and the pesticide-containing particles together contain an Effective Dose of the pesticide and the pesticide dose contained in the pesticide-treated seed is less than or equal to the Maximal Non-Phytotoxic Dose of the pesticide. Such techniques are known in the art, particularly in WO2005/120226.

(75) Application of the combinations onto the seed also includes controlled release coatings on the seeds, wherein the ingredients of the combinations are incorporated into materials that release the ingredients over time. Examples of controlled release seed treatment technologies are generally known in the art and include polymer films, waxes, or other seed coatings, wherein the ingredients may be incorporated into the controlled release material or applied between layers of materials, or both.

(76) Seed can be treated by applying thereto the compound s present in the inventive mixtures in any desired sequence or simultaneously.

(77) The seed treatment occurs to an unsown seed, and the term “unsown seed” is meant to include seed at any period between the harvest of the seed and the sowing of the seed in the ground for the purpose of germination and growth of the plant.

(78) Treatment to an unsown seed is not meant to include those practices in which the active ingredient is applied to the soil but would include any application practice that would target the seed during the planting process.

(79) Preferably, the treatment occurs before sowing of the seed so that the sown seed has been pretreated with the combination. In particular, seed coating or seed pelleting are preferred in the treatment of the combinations according to the invention. As a result of the treatment, the ingredients in each combination are adhered on to the seed and therefore available for pest control.

(80) The treated seeds can be stored, handled, sowed and tilled in the same manner as any other active ingredient treated seed.

(81) In particular, the present invention relates to a method for protection of plant propagation material from pests and/or improving the health of plants grown from said plant propagation material, wherein the soil, wherein plant propagation material is sown, is treated with an effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(82) In particular, the present invention relates to a method for protection of plant propagation material from pests, wherein the soil, wherein plant propagation material is sown, is treated with an effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(83) In particular, the present invention relates to a method for protection of plant propagation material from harmful fungi, wherein the soil, wherein plant propagation material is sown, is treated with an effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(84) In particular, the present invention relates to a method for protection of plant propagation material from animal pests (insects, acarids or nematodes), wherein the soil, wherein plant propagation material is sown, is treated with an effective amount of an inventive mixture.

(85) In one embodiment, the treatment(s) are carried out as foliar application.

(86) In another embodiment, the treatment(s) are carried out as soil application.

(87) In one embodiment, the treatment(s) are carried out as seed treatment.

(88) When employed in plant protection, the total amounts of active components applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 10 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha.

(89) When employed in plant protection by seed treatment, the amount of the inventive mixtures (based on total weight of active components) is in the range from 0.01-10 kg, preferably from 0.1-1000 g, more preferably from 1-100 g per 100 kg of plant propagation material (preferably seeds).

(90) When used in the protection of materials or stored products, the amount of active components applied depends on the kind of application area and on the desired effect. Amounts customarily applied in the protection of materials are 0.001 g to 2 kg, preferably 0.005 g to 1 kg, of active components per cubic meter of treated material.

(91) Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, fertilizer, or micronutrients, and further pesticides (e.g. herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, safeners, biopesticides) may be added to the mixtures or compositions comprising them as premix or, if appropriate not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the mixtures or compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 100:1, preferably 1:10 to 10:1.

(92) According to one embodiment, a polyether polymethylsiloxane copolymer may be added to the mixture or composition according to the invention, preferably in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 100:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1, in particular in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1 based on the total weight of the compound I and compound II.

(93) According to a further embodiment, a mineral oil or a vegetable oil may be added to the mixture or composition according to the invention, preferably in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 100:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1, in particular in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1 based on the total weight of compound I and compound II.

(94) The user applies the mixture or composition according to the invention usually from a predosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system. Usually, the agrochemical composition is made up with water, buffer, and/or further auxiliaries to the desired application concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the agrochemical composition according to the invention is thus obtained. Usually, 20 to 2000 liters, preferably 50 to 400 liters, of the ready-to-use spray liquor are applied per hectare of agricultural useful area.

(95) In one embodiment, the at least one compound I and the at least one compound II are applied simultaneously, either as a mixture or separately, or subsequently to the soil, the plant or the plant propagules.

(96) Moreover, we have found that simultaneous, that is joint or separate, application of at least one active compound I and at least one active compound II or the successive application of at least one active compound I and at least one active compound II synergistically increase the efficacy for controlling pests or for improving the health of a plant or for inhibiting nitrification compared to the application of the individual components alone.

(97) In one embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a synergistically effective amount.

(98) When applying at least one compound I and at least one compound II sequentially the time between both applications may vary e.g. between 2 hours to 7 days. Also a broader range is possible ranging from 0.25 hour to 30 days, preferably from 0.5 hour to 14 days, particularly from 1 hour to 7 days or from 1.5 hours to 5 days, even more preferred from 2 hours to 1 day.

(99) In the mixtures and compositions, the compound ratios are advantageously chosen so as to produce a synergistic effect.

(100) The term “synergstic effect” is understood to refer in particular to that defined by Colby's formula (Colby, S. R., “Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations”, Weeds, 15, pp. 20-22, 1967).

(101) The term “synergistic effect” is also understood to refer to that defined by application of the Tammes method, (Tammes, P. M. L., “Isoboles, a graphic representation of synergism in pesticides”, Netherl. J. Plant Pathol. 70, 1964).

(102) In accordance with the present invention, the weight ratios and percentages used herein for a biological extract are based on the total weight of the dry content (solid material) of the respective extract(s).

(103) For mixtures according to the invention comprising compound I (nitrification inhibitor) and compound II (UI), the weight ratio of compound I and compound II generally depends from the properties of the active substances used, usually it is in the range of from 1:1000 to 1000:1, regularly in the range of from 1:500 to 500:1, preferably in the range of from 1:250 to 250:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:100 to 100:1, most preferably in the range of from 1:70 to 70:1, particularly preferably in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1, particularly more preferably in the range of from 1:30 to 30:1, particularly most preferably in the range from 1:20 to 20:1, particularly in the range of from 1:15 to 15:1, especially preferably in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1, especially more preferably in the range of from 1:8 to 8:1, especially most preferably in the range of from 1:6.5 to 6.5:1, especially in the range of from 1:5 to 5:1, in particular preferably in the range of 1:4 to 4:1, in particular more preferably in the range of from 1:3 to 3:1, in particular most preferably in the range of from 2.5:1 to 1:2.5, in particular in the range of from 1:2 to 2:1, for example in the range of from 1:1.5 to 1.5:1. For mixtures according to the invention, the weight ratio of compound 1 and compound II generally depends from the properties of the active substances used, usually it is not more than 1000:1, regularly not more than 250:1, preferably not more than 100:1, more preferably not more than 50:1, most preferably not more than 30:1, particularly preferably not more than 15:1, particularly more preferably not more than 8:1, particularly most preferably not more than 4:1, particularly not more than 2:1, especially preferably not more than 1:1, especially more preferably not more than 1:2, especially most preferably not more than 1:4, especially not more than 1:8, in particular preferably not more than 1:15, in particular more preferably not more than 1:30, in particular most preferably not more than 1:50, in particular not more than 1:100, for example preferably not more than 1:250, for example not more than 1:1000. For mixtures according to the invention, the weight ratio of compound 1 and compound II generally depends from the properties of the active substances used, usually it is at least 1000:1, regularly at least 250:1, preferably at least 100:1, more preferably at least 50:1, most preferably at least 30:1, particularly preferably at least 15:1, particularly more preferably at least 8:1, particularly most preferably at least 4:1, particularly at least 2:1, especially preferably at least 1:1, especially more preferably at least 1:2, especially most preferably at least 1:4, especially at least 1:8, in particular preferably at least 1:15, in particular more preferably at least 1:30, in particular most preferably at least 1:50, in particular at least 1:100, for example preferably at least 1:250, for example at least 1:1000.

(104) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 250:1 to 1:250, preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 1:100, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 50:1 to 1:50, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 1:30, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 15:1 to 1:15, particularly in a weight ratio of from 8:1 to 1:8, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 4:1 to 1:4, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5.

(105) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 250:1 to 1:250, preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 1:100, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 50:1 to 1:50, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 1:30, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 15:1 to 1:15, particularly in a weight ratio of from 8:1 to 1:8, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 4:1 to 1:4, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, wherein the total weight of compound II is based on the amount of the solid material (dry matter) of compound II.

(106) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 10000:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 5000:1 to 6.5:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 1000:1 to 6.5:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 300:1 to 6.5:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 6.5:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 6.5:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 6.5:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 6.5:1, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 25:1 to 6.5:1.

(107) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 10000:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 5000:1 to 13:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 1000:1 to 13:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 300:1 to 13:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 13:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 13:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 13:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 13:1, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 25:1 to 13:1.

(108) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 10000:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 5000:1 to 19:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 1000:1 to 19:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 300:1 to 19:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 19:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 19:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 19:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 19:1, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 25:1 to 19:1

(109) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 10000:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 5000:1 to 30:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 1000:1 to 30:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 300:1 to 30:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 30:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 30:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 30:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 30:1.

(110) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 10000:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 5000:1 to 45:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 1000:1 to 45:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 300:1 to 45:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 45:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 45:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 45:1.

(111) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 150:1 to 6.5:1, preferably in a weight ratio of from 100:1 to 19:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 25:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 70:1 to 30:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 65:1 to 35:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 40:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 55:1 to 45:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 53:1 to 47:1.

(112) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 200:1 to 6.5:1, preferably in a weight ratio of from 120:1 to 13:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 75:1 to 19:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 19:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 50:1 to 22:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 25:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 30:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 38:1 to 32:1.

(113) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 150:1 to 1:1, preferably in a weight ratio of from 70:1 to 6.5:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 8:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 40:1 to 10:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 35:1 to 13:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 15:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 25:1 to 17:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 23:1 to 19:1.

(114) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 1:10, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 1:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 3:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 6.5:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 13:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 19:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 25:1, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 30:1, for example preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 35:1, for example more preferably in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 40:1, for example in a weight ratio of from 60:1 to 45:1.

(115) In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 1:10, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 1:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 3:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 6.5:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 13:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 19:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 25:1, particularly most preferably in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 30:1, for example in a weight ratio of from 45:1 to 35:1. In another preferred embodiment, compound I and compound II are present in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 1:100, preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 1:10, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 1:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 3:1, most preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 6.5:1, particularly in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 13:1, particularly preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 19:1, particularly more preferably in a weight ratio of from 30:1 to 25:1.

(116) According to a further embodiments of the binary mixtures and compositions, the weight ratio of the compound I and the compound II usually is in the range of from 1000:1 to 1:1, often in the range of from 100:1 to 1:1, regularly in the range of from 50:1 to 1:1, preferably in the range of from 20:1 to 1:1, more preferably in the range of from 10:1 to 1:1, even more preferably in the range of from 4:1 to 1:1 and in particular in the range of from 2:1 to 1:1.

(117) According to a further embodiments of the binary mixtures and compositions, the weight ratio of the compound I and the compound II usually is in the range of from 1:1 to 1:1000, often in the range of from 1:1 to 1:100, regularly in the range of from 1:1 to 1:50, preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:20, more preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:10, even more preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1:4 and in particular in the range of from 1:1 to 1:2.

(118) According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, the weight ratio of the compound I and the compound II generally depends from the properties of the active components used, usually it is in the range of from 1:10,000 to 10,000:1, regularly in the range of from 1:100 to 10,000:1, preferably in the range of from 1:100 to 5,000:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 1,000:1, even more preferably in the range of from 1:1 to 500:1 and in particular in the range of from 10:1 to 300:1.

(119) According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, the weight ratio of the compound I and the compound II usually is in the range of from 20,000:1 to 1:10, often in the range of from 10,000:1 to 1:1, regularly in the range of from 5,000:1 to 5:1, preferably in the range of from 5,000:1 to 10:1, more preferably in the range of from 2,000:1 to 30:1, even more preferably in the range of from 2,000:1 to 100:1 and in particular in the range of from 1,000:1 to 100:1

(120) According to further embodiments of the mixtures and compositions, the weight ratio of the compound I and the compound II usually is in the range of from 1:20,000 to 10:1, often in the range of from 1:10,000 to 1:1, regularly in the range of from 1:5,000 to 1:5, preferably in the range of from 1:5,000 to 1:10, more preferably in the range of from 1:2,000 to 1:30, even more preferably in the range of from 1:2,000 to 1:100 and in particular in the range of from 1:1,000 to 1:100.

(121) In the ternary mixtures, i.e. compositions according to the invention comprising the compound I and compound II and a compound III, the weight ratio of compound I and compound II depends from the properties of the active substances used, usually it is in the range of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to 20:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1 and in particular in the range of from 1:4 to 4:1, and the weight ratio of compound I and compound III usually it is in the range of from 1:100 to 100:1, regularly in the range of from 1:50 to 50:1, preferably in the range of from 1:20 to 20:1, more preferably in the range of from 1:10 to 10:1 and in particular in the range of from 1:4 to 4:1

(122) Any further active compounds are, if desired, added in a ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20 to the compound I.

(123) These ratios are also suitable for inventive mixtures applied by seed treatment.

(124) In further specific embodiments, the mixture or composition or kit-of-parts according to the present invention may additionally comprise a fertilizer. In case the mixture or kit-or-parts comprising compound I (nitrification inhibitor) and compound II (UI) is used together with a fertilizer, or when a mixture is provided in combination with a fertilizer, such mixtures may be provided or used as agrochemical mixtures.

(125) In the terms of the present invention “agrochemical mixture” means a combination of at least three or more compounds. The term is, however, not restricted to a physical mixture comprising three or more compounds, but refers to any preparation form of said compounds, the use of which many be time- and/or locus-related.

(126) The agrochemical mixtures may, for example, be formulated separately but applied in a temporal relationship, i.e. simultaneously or subsequently, the subsequent application having a time interval which allows a combined action of the compounds.

(127) Furthermore, the individual compounds of the agrochemical mixtures according to the invention such as parts of a kit or parts of the mixture may be mixed by the user himself in a suitable mixing device. In specific embodiments further auxiliaries may be added, if appropriate.

(128) The term “fertilizers” is to be understood as chemical compounds applied to promote plant and fruit growth. Fertilizers are typically applied either through the soil (for uptake by plant roots), through soil substituents (also for uptake by plant roots), or by foliar feeding (for uptake through leaves). The term also includes mixtures of one or more different types of fertilizers as mentioned below.

(129) The term “fertilizers” can be subdivided into several categories including: a) organic fertilizers (composed of plant/animal matter), b) inorganic fertilizers (composed of chemicals and minerals) and c) urea-containing fertilizers.

(130) Organic fertilizers include manure, e.g. liquid manure, semi-liquid manure, biogas manure, stable manure or straw manure, slurry, liquid dungwater, sewage sludge, worm castings, peat, seaweed, compost, sewage, and guano. Green manure crops (cover crops) are also regularly grown to add nutrients (especially nitrogen) to the soil. Manufactured organic fertilizers include e.g. compost, blood meal, bone meal and seaweed extracts. Further examples are enzyme digested proteins, fish meal, and feather meal. The decomposing crop residue from prior years is another source of fertility.

(131) Inorganic fertilizers are usually manufactured through chemical processes (such as e.g. the Haber-Bosch process), also using naturally occurring deposits, while chemically altering them (e.g. concentrated triple superphosphate). Naturally occurring inorganic fertilizers include Chilean sodium nitrate, mine rock phosphate, limestone, sulfate of potash, muriate of potash, and raw potash fertilizers.

(132) Typical solid fertilizers are in a crystalline, prilled or granulated form. Typical nitrogen containing inorganic fertilizers are ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, calcium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium thio sulfate and calcium cyanamide.

(133) The inorganic fertilizer may be an NPK fertilizer. “NPK fertilizers” are inorganic fertilizers formulated in appropriate concentrations and combinations comprising the three main nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements. “NK fertilizers” comprise the two main nutrients nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements. “NP fertilizers” comprise the two main nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as typically S, Mg, Ca, and trace elements.

(134) Urea-containing fertilizer may, in specific embodiments, be formaldehyde urea, UAN, urea sulfur, stabilized urea, urea based NPK-fertilizers, or urea ammonium sulfate. Also envisaged is the use of urea as fertilizer. In case urea-containing fertilizers or urea are used or provided, it is particularly preferred that urease inhibitors as defined herein above may be added or additionally be present, or be used at the same time or in connection with the urea-containing fertilizers.

(135) Fertilizers may be provided in any suitable form, e.g. as coated or uncoated granules, in liquid or semi-liquid form, as sprayable fertilizer, or via fertigation etc.

(136) Coated fertilizers may be provided with a wide range of materials. Coatings may, for example, be applied to granular or prilled nitrogen (N) fertilizer or to multi-nutrient fertilizers. Typically, urea is used as base material for most coated fertilizers. The present invention, however, also envisages the use of other base materials for coated fertilizers, any one of the fertilizer materials defined herein. In certain embodiments, elemental sulfur may be used as fertilizer coating. The coating may be performed by spraying molten S over urea granules, followed by an application of sealant wax to close fissures in the coating. In a further embodiment, the S layer may be covered with a layer of organic polymers, preferably a thin layer of organic polymers. In another embodiment, the coated fertilizers are preferably physical mixtures of coated and non-coated fertilizers.

(137) Further envisaged coated fertilizers may be provided by reacting resin-based polymers on the surface of the fertilizer granule. A further example of providing coated fertilizers includes the use of low permeability polyethylene polymers in combination with high permeability coatings.

(138) In specific embodiments the composition and/or thickness of the fertilizer coating may be adjusted to control, for example, the nutrient release rate for specific applications. The duration of nutrient release from specific fertilizers may vary, e.g. from several weeks to many months. The presence of nitrification inhibitors and compound II (UI) in a mixture with coated fertilizers may accordingly be adapted. It is, in particular, envisaged that the nutrient release involves or is accompanied by the release of a nitrification inhibitor and compound II (Up according to the present invention.

(139) Coated fertilizers may be provided as controlled release fertilizers (CRFs). In specific embodiments these controlled release fertilizers are fully coated N—P—K fertilizers, which are homogeneous and which typically show a pre-defined longevity of release. In further embodiments, the CRFs may be provided as blended controlled release fertilizer products which may contain coated, uncoated and/or slow release components. In certain embodiments, these coated fertilizers may additionally comprise micronutrients. In specific embodiments these fertilizers may show a pre-defined longevity, e.g. in case of N—P—K fertilizers.

(140) Additionally envisaged examples of CRFs include patterned release fertilizers. These fertilizers typically show a pre-defined release patterns (e.g. hi/standard/lo) and a pre-defined longevity. In exemplary embodiments fully coated N—P—K, Mg and micronutrients may be delivered in a patterned release manner.

(141) Also envisaged are double coating approaches or coated fertilizers based on a programmed release.

(142) In further embodiments the fertilizer mixture may be provided as, or may comprise or contain a slow release fertilizer. The fertilizer may, for example, be released over any suitable period of time, e.g. over a period of 1 to 5 months, preferably up to 3 months. Typical examples of ingredients of slow release fertilizers are IBDU (isobutylidenediurea), e.g. containing about 31-32% nitrogen, of which 90% is water insoluble; or UF, i.e. an urea-formaldehyde product which contains about 38% nitrogen of which about 70% may be provided as water insoluble nitrogen; or CDU (crotonylidene diurea) containing about 32% nitrogen; or MU (methylene urea) containing about 38 to 40% nitrogen, of which 25-60% is typically cold water insoluble nitrogen; or MDU (methylene diurea) containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25% is cold water insoluble nitrogen; or MO (methylol urea) containing about 30% nitrogen, which may typically be used in solutions; or DMTU (dimethylene triurea) containing about 40% nitrogen, of which less than 25% is cold water insoluble nitrogen; or TMTU (tri methylene tetraurea), which may be provided as component of UF products; or TMPU (tri methylene pentaurea), which may also be provided as component of UF products; or UT (urea triazone solution) which typically contains about 28% nitrogen. The fertilizer mixture may also be long-term nitrogen-bearing fertiliser containing a mixture of acetylene diurea and at least one other organic nitrogen-bearing fertiliser selected from methylene urea, isobutylidene diurea, crotonylidene diurea, substituted triazones, triuret or mixtures thereof.

(143) Any of the above mentioned fertilizers or fertilizer forms may suitably be combined. For instance, slow release fertilizers may be provided as coated fertilizers. They may also be combined with other fertilizers or fertilizer types. The same applies to the presence of a nitrification inhibitor or compound II (UI) according to the present invention, which may be adapted to the form and chemical nature of the fertilizer and accordingly be provided such that its release accompanies the release of the fertilizer, e.g. is released at the same time or with the same frequency. The present invention further envisages fertilizer or fertilizer forms as defined herein above in combination with nitrification inhibitors as defined herein above and compound II (UI) and further in combination with urease inhibitors as defined herein above. Such combinations may be provided as coated or uncoated forms and/or as slow or fast release forms. Preferred are combinations with slow release fertilizers including a coating. In further embodiments, also different release schemes are envisaged, e.g. a slower or a faster release.

(144) The term “fertigation” as used herein refers to the application of fertilizers, optionally soil amendments, and optionally other water-soluble products together with water through an irrigation system to a plant or to the locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow, or to a soil substituent as defined herein below. For example, liquid fertilizers or dissolved fertilizers may be provided via fertigation directly to a plant or a locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow. Likewise, nitrification inhibitors according to the present invention, or in combination with additional nitrification inhibitors, may be provided via fertigation to plants or to a locus where a plant is growing or is intended to grow. Fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors according to the present invention, or in combination with additional nitrification inhibitors, may be provided together, e.g. dissolved in the same charge or load of material (typically water) to be irrigated. In further embodiments, fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors may be provided at different points in time. For example, the fertilizer may be fertigated first, followed by the the mixture or composition of the present invention, or preferably, the mixture or composition of the present invention may be fertigated first, followed by the fertilizer. The time intervals for these activities follow the herein above outlined time intervals for the application of fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, for example in a time interval of from 0.25 hour to 30 days, preferably from 0.5 hour to 14 days, particularly from 1 hour to 7 days or from 1.5 hours to 5 days, even more preferred from 2 hours to 1 day. Also envisaged is a repeated fertigation of fertilizers and mixtures or compositions of the present invention according to the present invention, either together or intermittently, e.g. every 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days or more.

(145) In a further preferred embodiment, the fertilizer may be applied first to the soil or to the plants, followed by the mixture or composition of the present invention, or preferably, the mixture or composition of the present invention may be applied first to the soil or to the plants, followed by the fertilizer. The time intervals for these activities follow the herein above outlined time intervals for the application of fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, for example in a time interval of from 0.25 hour to 30 days, preferably from 0.5 hour to 14 days, particularly from 1 hour to 7 days or from 1.5 hours to 5 days, even more preferred from 2 hours to 1 day. Also envisaged is a repeated application of fertilizers and mixtures or compositions of the present invention according to the present invention, either together or intermittently, e.g. every 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days or more.

(146) In particularly preferred embodiments, the fertilizer is an ammonium-containing fertilizer.

(147) The agrochemical mixture according to the present invention may comprise one fertilizer as defined herein above and one nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above and one compound II (UI) as defined herein above. In further embodiments, the agrochemical mixture according to the present invention may comprise at least one or more than one fertilizer as defined herein above, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more different fertilizers (including inorganic, organic and urea-containing fertilizers) and at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined above and at least one compound II (UI) as defined herein above, preferably a combination as defined in the Tables 1 to 49.

(148) In another group of embodiments the agrochemical mixture according to the present invention may comprise at least one or more than one nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above, preferably more than one nitrification inhibitor as defined above and at least one fertilizer as defined herein above and at least one compound II (UI) as defined herein above.

(149) The term “at least one” is to be understood as 1, 2, 3 or more of the respective compound selected from the group consisting of fertilizers as defined herein above, and nitrification inhibitors as defined herein above (also designated as compound I), and urease inhibitors (also designated as compound II).

(150) In addition to at least one fertilizer and at least one nitrification inhibitor as defined herein above and at least one compound II (UI), an agrochemical mixture may comprise further ingredients, compounds, active compounds or compositions or the like. For example, the agrochemical mixture may additionally comprise or composed with or on the basis of a carrier, e.g. an agrochemical carrier, preferably as defined herein. In further embodiments, the agrochemical mixture may further comprise at least one additional pesticidal compound. For example, the agrochemical mixture may additionally comprise at least one further compound selected from herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, biopesticides, urease inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors, and denitrification inhibitors.

(151) In specific embodiments, the treatment may be carried out during all suitable growth stages of a plant as defined herein. For example, the treatment may be carried out during the BBCH principle growth stages.

(152) The term “BBCH principal growth stage” refers to the extended BBCH-scale which is a system for a uniform coding of phenologically similar growth stages of all mono- and dicotyledonous plant species in which the entire developmental cycle of the plants is subdivided into clearly recognizable and distinguishable longer-lasting developmental phases. The BBCH-scale uses a decimal code system, which is divided into principal and secondary growth stages. The abbreviation BBCH derives from the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (Germany), the Bundessortenamt (Germany) and the chemical industry.

(153) In one embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a mixture or composition of the invention at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00 and GS>BBCH 99 of the plant (e.g. when fertilizing in fall after harvesting apples) and preferably between GS 00 and GS 65 BBCH of the plant.

(154) In one embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a mixture or composition of the invention (referred to as mixture (Q) in the following) at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00 to GS 45, preferably between GS 00 and GS 40 BBCH of the plant.

(155) In a preferred embodiment the invention relates to a method for reducing nitrification comprising treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a mixture or composition of the invention at an early growth stage (GS), in particular a GS 00 to GS 05, or GS 00 to GS 10, or GS 00 to GS 15, or GS 00 to GS 20, or GS 00 to GS 25 or GS 00 to GS 33 BBCH of the plant. In particularly preferred embodiments, the method for reducing nitrification comprises treating a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow with a mixture or composition of the invention during growth stages including GS 00.

(156) In a further, specific embodiment of the invention, a mixture or composition of the invention is applied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow at a growth stage between GS 00 and GS 55 BBCH, or of the plant.

(157) In a further embodiment of the invention, a mixture or composition of the invention is applied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow at the growth stage between GS 00 and GS 47 BBCH of the plant.

(158) In one embodiment of the invention, a mixture or composition of the invention is applied to a plant growing on soil or soil substituents and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow before and at sowing, before emergence, and until harvest (GS 00 to GS 89 BBCH), or at a growth stage (GS) between GS 00 and GS 65 BBCH of the plant.

(159) Experimental Details

(160) Regarding the isomer ratio of DMPSA, as far as the DMPSA used in the experiments was the free acid of DMPSA, the DMPSA contains 70 to 90 wt.-% 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid (“DMPSA1”) and 10 to 30 wt.-% 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid (“DMPSA2”), based on the total weight of all isomers of DMPSA. “Wt.-%” means “percent by weight”.

(161) Regarding the isomer ratio of DMPSA, as far as the DMPSA used in the experiments was the ammonium salt and/or potassium salt of DMPSA, these two salts of DMPSA contains approx. 82 to 86 wt.-% 2-(3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid (“DMPSA1”) and approx 14 to 18 wt.-% 2-(4,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)succinic acid (“DMPSA2”), based on the total weight of all isomers of DMPSA. “Wt.-%” means “percent by weight”.

(162) The following abbreviations are used in the experimental details section: NBPT=N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide NPPT=N-(n-propyl) thiophosphoric acid triamide DMPSA-di-NH4=Diammonium salt of DMPSA DMPSA-K2=Dipotassium salt of DMPSA % appl. N=Percentage of applied nitrogen appl. Red.N=applied reduced nitrogen appl. N=applied nitrogen Comp. no.=Composition number DAT #=number (#) of days after treatment DMPSA-K2=Dipotassium salt of DMPSA DMPSA-NH4 or DMPSA-di-NH4=Diammonium salt of DMPSA Ha=urea Limus=Mixture comprising approximately 75% by weight NBPT and approximately 25% by weight NPPT MW=mean value NI=nitrification inhibitor red. N=reduced nitrogen rel.=relative sd=standard deviation UI=urease inhibitor
Incubation Experiment:
Measurement of the Nitrification-Inhibiting Effect:

(163) 100 g soil (incubated at 20° C. for two weeks to activate the microbial biomass) is filled into 500 ml plastic bottles (e.g. soil sampled from the field) and is moistened to 50% water holding capacity. 1 ml test solution, containing the compositions and mixtures of the invention in the appropriate concentration or DMSO and 10 mg nitrogen in the form of urea is added to the soil and everything mixed well. Bottles are capped but loosely to allow air exchange. The bottles are then incubated at 20 C for 0, 14 and/or 28 days.

(164) For analysis, 300 ml of a 1% K.sub.2SO.sub.4-solution is added to the bottle containing the soil and shaken for 2 hrs in a horizontal shaker at 150 rpm. Then the whole solution is filtered through a Macherey-Nagel Filter MN 807 ¼. Ammonium and nitrate content is then analyzed in the filtrate in an autoanalyzer at 550 nm (Merck, AA11).

(165) Calculations (DMPSA+UI trials only):

(166) $\begin{array}{cc}\left(B\stackrel{\mathrm{.Math.}}{o}\mathrm{hland}\mathrm{equation}\right)& \\ \mathrm{inhibition}\mathrm{in}\%=\frac{\begin{array}{c}(\mathrm{NO}3\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{without}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}}-\\ \mathrm{NO3}\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{with}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}})\end{array}}{\begin{array}{c}(\mathrm{NO3}\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{without}\mathrm{NI}\mathrm{at}\mathrm{end}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{incubation}}-\\ \mathrm{NO3}\text{—}{N}_{\mathrm{at}\mathrm{beginning}})\end{array}}\times 100& \end{array}$

(167) The Böhland equation is described in Böhland, H., et al. (1973) “Mittel zur Hemmung bzw. Regelung der Nitrifikation von Ammoniumstickstoff in Kulturböden”. DDR-Wirtschaftspatent (Economic patent of the German Democratic Republic) C 05c 169 727. Cited by: Peschke, H. (1985) “Zur Bewertung der inhibierenden Wirkung von Nitrifiziden im Boden”, Zbl. Mikrobiol. 140, pp. 583-588.

(168) Volatilization Experiment:

(169) The Urea-Stabilizing Effect Detected as the Volatile NH3 Losses from Soil Surface Applied Urea:

(170) 176 g air dried soil is filled into 500 mL laboratory bottle, which is then be watered with de-ionized water up to 50% of its water holding capacity and incubated at room temperature (about 21° C.) for 24 h.

(171) Then 4×0.57 mL of a urea solution containing 80 mg of urea together with the test a.i. or not, is applied at 4 locations with a 1 mL pipette.

(172) NH.sub.3 free air blows constantly at a rate of about 4 L per min. through the bottle which bubbles through a scrubber solution which is periodically renewed and analyzed for NH.sub.4.sup.+ with an autoanalyzer.

(173) If cumulated NH.sub.3 losses due to a treatment is significantly lower than in the untreated control (urea only) which cannot be attributed to a pH effect in the solution than activity of a urease inhibitor has been demonstrated.

(174) Greenhouse Experiment

(175) Detection of Nitrous Oxide Losses:

(176) On application day (DATO), each pot (with/without plants or algae) was set onto a plant saucer designed with an inner compartment for the pot and an outer ring that is filled with water. At time 0, water holding capacity of the soil was set to 60-70% prior to application with/without fertilizer and a.i. Subsequently, a gas sampling chamber was placed over the plant saucer such that the rim fit into the ring filled with water to create a gas-tight chamber and 25 cc air from the chamber were drawn into a syringe and immediately emptied in to a Vacutainer (Labco, 12 ml volume). This equals the Time 0 measurement for each pot. The same procedure was performed with all pots in the experiment. After two hour incubation time, again 25 cc air samples were taken from the gas chambers and emptied into Vacutainers as described above. Plants were then returned to their positions in the climate chamber. The procedure was repeated at precisely the same time of day for up to 19 days.

(177) Samples were analyzed in a Shimadzu 2014 GC equipped with an ECD system.

(178) TABLE-US-00050 TABLE A1 Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, overview on the samples used for the experiments a.i. application application rate rate [% of Compound a.i. [kg/ha] red. N = urea] Crop Parameter urea — 88 Rye- N2O grass DMPSA-di-NH4 DMPSA 0.20 DMPSA-di-NH4 DMPSA 0.35 DMPSA-di-NH4 DMPSA 0.50 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.20 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.35 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.50 Limus NBPT/ 0.01 NPPT — NBPT 0.01

(179) TABLE-US-00051 TABLE A2 Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, cumulated values μg N2O—N/m2*h Fertilizer 0 urea urea urea urea urea urea urea urea NI DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- NH4 NH4 NH4 NH4 NH4 NH4 0 0.50 0.35 0.20 0.50 0.35 0.20 UI Limus Limus Limus Limus DAT 0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 6.12 17.40 7.89 6.74 5.71 9.59 3.18 7.28 7.70 2 14.65 35.29 16.36 22.08 17.84 23.35 11.43 15.35 17.73 3 20.32 53.23 23.64 30.26 28.36 36.40 17.51 23.37 23.91 4 23.29 81.98 31.59 39.25 40.61 50.58 21.95 27.66 37.18 5 25.76 102.01 38.95 47.97 51.02 66.61 25.29 32.61 39.90 6 26.52 120.13 45.83 54.68 57.34 86.91 31.04 35.81 47.86 7 28.04 140.69 53.03 60.89 66.12 101.42 35.81 41.54 49.15 8 29.99 151.61 62.02 66.75 76.79 115.22 41.56 48.61 58.07 10 30.85 163.77 67.48 72.23 86.54 121.76 44.40 55.02 67.40 12 30.92 170.61 72.35 76.32 92.81 127.30 49.53 59.12 71.27 16 31.02 177.32 74.66 78.21 93.10 130.85 51.65 60.33 74.98 19 30.87 180.33 75.03 78.47 93.49 133.40 51.80 60.70 76.27 % 0.132 0.773 0.322 0.337 0.401 0.572 0.222 0.260 0.327 appl. N

(180) TABLE-US-00052 TABLE A3 Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, cumulated values μg N2O—N/m2*h Fertilizer urea urea urea urea urea urea urea urea NI DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- NH4 NH4 NH4 K2 K2 K2 K2 0.50 0.35 0.20 0.50 0.35 0.20 0.50 UI NBPT NBPT NBPT NBPT Limus DAT 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 9.77 5.70 7.11 9.01 7.62 7.74 8.97 4.67 2 27.42 13.51 20.03 24.39 20.18 18.94 19.30 14.64 3 40.07 19.37 30.41 36.91 30.31 29.26 29.75 22.55 4 53.70 25.71 40.41 46.56 37.69 37.09 37.16 29.84 5 68.86 29.50 46.98 51.69 46.97 46.55 45.99 35.24 6 89.16 33.18 52.22 58.14 52.44 52.67 52.71 38.46 7 109.04 40.92 57.16 68.01 62.57 60.12 60.65 44.44 8 127.94 46.24 63.58 76.56 72.03 70.52 68.52 48.97 10 133.95 49.67 70.27 83.24 79.00 77.77 77.59 52.34 12 140.07 50.86 74.88 88.45 82.43 81.35 85.15 54.54 16 143.31 51.73 77.43 91.92 84.05 84.12 87.97 57.26 19 146.30 52.22 78.80 93.20 84.28 84.94 88.83 59.37 % 0.628 0.224 0.338 0.400 0.361 0.364 0.381 0.255 appl. N

(181) TABLE-US-00053 TABLE A4 Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, cumulated values μg N2O-N/m2 * h Fertilizer urea urea urea urea urea NI DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- DMPSA- K2 0.35 K2 0.20 K2 0.50 K2 0.35 K2 0.20 UI Limus Limus NBPT NBPT NBPT DAT 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 1 5.19 8.34 7.24 8.09 11.04 2 15.44 19.85 19.43 21.46 25.53 3 22.94 27.85 30.06 32.17 40.14 4 29.18 34.90 37.73 40.48 51.18 5 34.98 41.80 46.18 48.15 54.24 6 39.08 49.52 55.02 56.85 63.58 7 44.49 59.03 60.08 62.53 66.06 8 48.60 66.76 69.29 70.04 73.52 10 55.33 71.94 78.21 77.87 83.66 12 59.89 76.13 82.60 83.13 90.33 16 61.50 81.12 85.74 86.88 92.60 19 62.69 83.74 86.53 88.95 95.00 % 0.269 0.359 0.371 0.382 0.407 appl. N

(182) TABLE-US-00054 TABLE B1 NH3 emissions - Overview on the sample used % UI % NI (a.i.) ratio urea Comp. rel. to rel. to NI:UI amount No. Composition urea urea 1:x mg/vessel. n 1 Urea + 0.01% Limus 0 0.01 0 80 1 2 Urea + 0.01% NBPT/DMSO 1:20 0 0.01 0 80 1 3 Urea 0 0 — 80 1 4 Urea + 0.20% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.20 0.00 — 80 2 5 Urea + 0.25% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.25 0.00 — 80 2 6 Urea + 0.30% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.30 0.00 — 80 2 7 Urea + 0.35% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.35 0.00 — 80 2 8 Urea + 0.40% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.40 0.00 — 80 2 9 Urea + 0.50% DMPSA-di-NH4 0.50 0.00 — 80 2 10 Urea + 0.20% DMPSA-K2 0.20 0.00 — 80 2 11 Urea + 0.25% DMPSA-K2 0.25 0.00 — 80 2 12 Urea + 0.30% DMPSA-K2 0.30 0.00 — 80 2 13 Urea + 0.35% DMPSA-K2 0.35 0.00 — 80 2 14 Urea + 0.40% DMPSA-K2 0.40 0.00 — 80 2 15 Urea + 0.50% DMPSA-K2 0.50 0.00 — 80 2 16 Urea + 0.20% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.20 0.01 20 80 2 0.01% Limus 17 Urea + 0.25% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.25 0.01 25 80 3 0.01% Limus 18 Urea + 0.30% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.30 0.01 30 80 3 0.01% Limus 19 Urea + 0.35% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.35 0.01 35 80 3 0.01% Limus 20 Urea + 0.40% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.40 0.01 40 80 3 0.01% Limus 21 Urea + 0.50% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.50 0.01 50 80 3 0.01% Limus 22 Urea + 0.20% DMPSA-K2 + 0.20 0.01 20 80 2 0.01% Limus 23 Urea + 0.25% DMPSA-K2 + 0.25 0.01 25 80 3 0.01% Limus 24 Urea + 0.30% DMPSA-K2 + 0.30 0.01 30 80 3 0.01% Limus 25 Urea + 0.35% DMPSA-K2 + 0.35 0.01 35 80 3 0.01% Limus 26 Urea + 0.40% DMPSA-K2 + 0.40 0.01 40 80 3 0.01% Limus 27 Urea + 0.50% DMPSA-K2 + 0.50 0.01 50 80 3 0.01% Limus 28 Urea + 0.20% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.20 0.01 20 80 3 0.01% NBPT 29 Urea + 0.25% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.25 0.01 25 80 3 0.01% NBPT 30 Urea + 0.30% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.30 0.01 30 80 3 0.01% NBPT 31 Urea + 0.35% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.35 0.01 35 80 3 0.01% NBPT 32 Urea + 0.40% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.40 0.01 40 80 3 0.01% NBPT 33 Urea + 0.50% DMPSA-di-NH4 + 0.50 0.01 50 80 3 0.01% NBPT (“n” in the Table B1 refers to the number of repetitions of the experiment)

(183) TABLE-US-00055 TABLE B2 03 days and 07 days, cumulated NH3—N losses in % of applied urea-N Comp. DAT03 rel. values DAT07 rel. values No. MW [% urea] sd MW [% urea] sd 1 0.5 11.3 — 2.3 8.2 — 2 0.6 12.4 — 3.4 12.2 — 3 4.5 100.0 — 28.1 100.0 — 4 3.0 66.6 0.5 24.5 87.2 2.0 5 3.2 72.1 0.2 25.3 90.2 0.0 6 3.2 72.8 0.1 26.8 95.3 1.3 7 2.8 62.8 0.1 26.1 93.0 0.2 8 2.6 58.5 0.4 25.0 89.0 0.6 9 2.2 50.3 0.5 21.2 75.7 4.7 10 4.5 101.5 0.0 27.3 97.2 0.6 11 5.3 117.9 0.1 28.8 102.7 0.1 12 5.2 116.5 0.7 29.2 103.9 3.2 13 4.5 100.5 1.3 25.4 90.4 4.5 14 5.2 116.0 0.1 27.6 98.2 2.3 15 3.5 78.6 4.2 25.2 89.7 6.2 16 0.3 6.6 0.0 2.5 9.0 0.4 17 0.3 7.5 0.0 3.0 10.6 0.4 18 0.3 7.5 0.1 2.7 9.7 0.4 19 0.3 7.4 0.1 3.2 11.4 1.3 20 0.3 6.6 0.1 3.0 10.7 0.7 21 0.3 6.4 0.1 2.8 10.0 0.6 22 0.5 12.1 0.2 3.8 13.4 0.7 23 0.6 12.8 0.2 3.6 12.7 0.3 24 0.6 13.2 0.1 3.9 13.8 0.3 25 0.6 13.9 0.1 3.9 14.0 0.4 26 0.6 14.4 0.2 3.8 13.7 0.2 27 0.5 10.7 0.1 3.4 12.3 0.5 28 0.3 7.7 0.1 3.9 13.9 0.1 29 0.4 7.9 0.1 3.4 12.0 0.2 30 0.3 6.8 0.1 3.0 10.8 0.3 31 0.3 7.2 0.1 3.4 12.1 0.2 32 0.3 7.7 0.1 3.4 12.0 0.6 33 0.4 9.1 0.1 3.5 12.6 0.3

(184) TABLE-US-00056 TABLE B3 10 days and mean values of the 3 days (DAT03), 7 days data (DAT07) and 10 days data (DAT10), cumulated NH3-N losses in % of applied urea-N mean value mean value DAT03, DAT07, reduction DAT03, Comp. DAT10 rel. values DAT10 DAT07, DAT10 no. MW [% urea] sd [% urea] [%] 1 5.8 14.9 — 11.4 88.6 2 9.7 24.9 — 16.5 83.5 3 38.9 100.0 — 4 30.4 78.0 4.4 77.3 22.7 5 34.4 88.4 3.7 83.6 16.4 6 34.1 87.6 2.9 85.2 14.8 7 34.4 88.3 1.0 81.4 18.6 8 36.6 94.0 1.7 80.5 19.5 9 31.6 81.1 6.6 69.0 31.0 10 36.7 94.2 0.9 97.7 2.3 11 37.7 96.8 0.7 105.8 −5.8 12 38.7 99.4 3.8 106.6 −6.6 13 32.0 82.1 6.9 91.0 9.0 14 36.1 92.7 2.4 102.3 −2.3 15 33.8 86.7 5.1 85.0 15.0 16 7.7 19.8 0.5 11.8 88.2 17 12.3 31.7 1.4 16.6 83.4 18 10.0 25.8 4.6 14.3 85.7 19 9.6 24.6 5.8 14.5 85.5 20 11.5 29.6 2.8 15.7 84.3 21 10.6 27.3 3.6 14.6 85.4 22 9.8 25.1 1.9 16.9 83.1 23 9.3 23.9 0.4 16.5 83.5 24 10.7 27.5 1.0 18.2 81.8 25 10.8 27.8 1.4 18.5 81.5 26 10.3 26.4 0.8 18.2 81.8 27 9.4 24.0 1.6 15.7 84.3 28 11.9 30.5 3.8 17.4 82.6 29 12.3 31.7 4.8 17.2 82.8 30 10.7 27.4 1.4 15.0 85.0 31 12.2 31.4 4.6 16.9 83.1 32 12.8 32.9 1.3 17.5 82.5 33 10.8 27.7 2.7 16.5 83.5

(185) TABLE-US-00057 TABLE C1 NH4/NO3 Incubation test, overview on the samples a.i. application application rate [% of Compound a.i. rate [kg/ha] red. N = urea] Crop Parameter urea — 88 Rye- N2O DMPSA-di- DMPSA 0.20 grass NH4 DMPSA-di- DMPSA 0.35 NH4 DMPSA-di- DMPSA 0.50 NH4 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.20 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.35 DMPSA-K2 DMPSA 0.50 Limus NBPT/ 0.005 NPPT Limus NBPT/ 0.01 NPPT Limus NBPT/ 0.02 NPPT NBPT NBPT 0.01

(186) TABLE-US-00058 TABLE C2 NH4/NO3 Incubation test, overview on the samples % % mg urea- ratio Limus NBPT % NI N mg urea Comp. NI:UI rel. to rel. to rel. to per 100 g per 100 g No. 1:x urea urea urea soil soil 1 without N, without a.i. — — — — 0 0 2 Urea — — — — 10 21.7 3 Urea + Limus 0 0.010 — — 10 21.7 4 Urea + Limus 0 0.020 — — 10 21.7 5 Urea + Limus 0 0.005 — — 10 21.7 6 Urea + NBPT/DMSO 1:20 0 — 0.01 — 10 21.7 7 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 20 — — 0.20 10 21.7 8 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 35 — — 0.35 10 21.7 9 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 50 — — 0.50 10 21.7 10 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 20 0.010 — 0.20 10 21.7 Limus 11 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 35 0.010 — 0.35 10 21.7 Limus 12 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 50 0.010 — 0.50 10 21.7 Limus 13 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 25 0.020 — 0.50 10 21.7 Limus 14 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 40 0.005 — 0.20 10 21.7 Limus 15 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 20 — 0.01 0.20 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 16 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 35 — 0.01 0.35 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 17 Urea + DMPSA-di-NH4 + 50 — 0.01 0.50 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 18 19 Urea + DM PSA-free acid 35 — — 0.35 10 21.7 20 Urea + DMPSA-K2 20 — — 0.20 10 21.7 21 Urea + DMPSA-K2 35 — — 0.35 10 21.7 22 Urea + DMPSA-K2 50 — — 0.50 10 21.7 23 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 20 0.010 — 0.20 10 21.7 Limus 24 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 35 0.010 — 0.35 10 21.7 Limus 25 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 50 0.010 — 0.50 10 21.7 Limus 26 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 20 — 0.01 0.20 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 27 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 35 — 0.01 0.35 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 28 Urea + DMPSA-K2 + 50 — 0.01 0.50 10 21.7 NBPT/DMSO 1:20 29 Urea + DM PSA-free 35 0.010 — 0.35 10 21.7 acid + Limus

(187) TABLE-US-00059 TABLE C3 NH4/NO3 Incubation test, data after 14 days recovery net net % Colby red. N as recovery recovery recovery inhibition (A + B) − (A*B/100) % of red. N as % red. N as red. N as NO3—N of inhibition Comp. appl. of appl. % of % of as % of NO3 recovery of NO3 No. red.- N red.- N appl. N appl. N appl. N formation* red. N formation 1 — — — — — — 2 2.6 — 0.0 — 91.6 — 3 6.2 3.6 6.2 6.2 79.3 13.8 4 23.1 20.5 18.5 18.5 78.7 14.5 5 14.0 11.4 8.3 8.3 82.2 10.5 6 18.4 15.9 0.0 0.0 89.9 1.9 7 48.2 45.6 45.4 45.4 50.7 45.9 8 42.9 40.3 52.4 52.4 49.9 46.8 9 40.7 38.1 52.5 52.5 49.9 46.7 10 51.5 48.9 59.1 59.1 36.7 61.6 47.6 53.4 11 55.2 52.6 66.3 66.3 29.4 69.8 42.5 54.2 12 71.2 68.6 75.2 75.2 19.5 80.9 40.4 54.1 13 75.0 72.4 77.6 77.6 15.4 85.4 50.8 54.4 14 54.1 51.5 60.0 60.0 37.9 60.3 51.8 51.6 15 54.0 51.4 62.1 62.1 30.6 68.4 54.2 46.9 16 62.8 60.2 68.1 68.1 28.9 70.3 49.8 47.8 17 62.5 59.9 67.7 67.7 22.7 77.2 47.9 47.7 18 19 37.1 34.5 51.2 51.2 43.6 53.8 20 28.9 26.3 45.5 45.5 56.7 39.2 21 27.2 24.6 44.3 44.3 56.4 39.5 22 35.8 33.2 50.4 50.4 46.2 50.9 23 57.4 54.8 66.0 66.0 33.6 65.0 29.0 47.6 24 49.4 46.8 63.3 63.3 31.8 67.1 27.3 47.9 25 57.3 54.7 71.6 71.6 21.0 79.2 35.7 57.7 26 50.4 47.8 57.9 57.9 30.3 68.7 38.0 40.4 27 63.3 60.7 68.7 68.7 19.6 80.7 36.5 40.7 28 65.9 63.3 69.9 69.9 22.1 78.0 43.8 51.8 29 60.7 58.1 66.9 66.9 28.6 70.6 36.9 60.2

(188) TABLE-US-00060 TABLE C4 NH4/NO3 Incubation test, data after 28 days recovery net net % Colby red. N as recovery recovery recovery inhibition (A + B) − (A*B/100) % of red. N as % red. N as red. N as NO3—N of inhibition Comp. appl. of appl. % of % of as % of NO3 recovery of NO3 No. red.- N red.- N appl. N appl. N appl. N formation* red. N formation 1 — — — — — — 2 6.6 — 0.0 — 95.4 — 3 10.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 96.7 −1.4 4 12.4 5.8 0.0 0.0 95.3 0.1 5 21.4 14.8 0.0 0.0 96.9 −1.7 6 13.1 6.5 0.0 0.0 93.3 2.2 7 27.5 20.9 18.5 18.5 77.0 19.5 8 39.0 32.4 27.4 27.4 70.3 26.5 9 46.5 39.9 37.8 37.8 60.0 37.5 10 30.0 23.4 25.3 25.3 71.5 25.3 18.4 23.8 11 56.6 50.0 49.2 49.2 45.3 53.1 25.5 34.8 12 65.2 58.6 55.9 55.9 36.8 62.1 36.7 42.1 13 64.0 57.4 55.7 55.7 39.2 59.6 37.6 43.3 14 39.7 33.1 36.6 36.6 61.9 35.5 18.2 32.6 15 49.3 42.6 42.3 42.3 52.1 45.9 26.1 21.2 16 59.5 52.9 50.9 50.9 46.2 52.1 36.8 28.1 17 43.7 37.1 35.2 35.2 63.4 33.9 43.8 38.9 18 19 37.3 30.7 31.9 31.9 62.9 34.5 20 31.3 24.7 24.2 24.2 76.6 19.9 21 32.4 25.8 27.9 27.9 70.0 26.9 22 37.6 31.0 31.5 31.5 68.5 28.5 23 60.7 54.1 48.9 48.9 43.4 55.1 27.5 18.8 24 54.1 47.5 39.0 39.0 53.6 44.3 28.5 25.9 25 42.8 36.2 32.3 32.3 72.3 24.5 33.5 27.6 26 36.2 29.6 26.7 26.7 67.1 30.0 29.6 21.6 27 51.7 45.1 35.7 35.7 54.6 43.2 30.6 28.5 28 60.1 53.5 48.4 48.4 40.6 58.0 35.5 30.1 29 51.1 44.4 37.3 37.3 59.4 38.1 33.2 33.6

(189) The experimental data described in the Tables A1 to A4, Tables B1 to B3, and Tables C1 to C4 show that the mixtures comprising (a) DMPSA, or its ammonium salt, or its potassium salt as compound I (nitrification inhibitor) and (b) NBPT, or a mixture comprising NBPT and NPPT, as compound II (urease inhibitor) have a synergistic effect in reducing the N2O emissions from soils, and/or in reducing the NH3 emissions from soils.