Stabilized pesticidal granules

Abstract

The present invention provides a stabilized pesticidal composition comprising at least one granular substrate material containing at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione, a method of producing a stabilized granular pesticidal composition which comprises incorporating a metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione in to or on to a granular substrate material; and a method of killing or controlling weeds or unwanted vegetation (without damaging beneficial plants and or seeds) which comprises applying a herbicidally effective amount of the stabilized granular pesticide composition of the invention to the foliage, tissue or locus of the weeds or unwanted vegetation.

1 . A pesticidal composition comprising at least one granular substrate material containing at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione. 
   
   
       2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione is homogeneously mixed with the at least one granular substrate. 
   
   
       3 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one granular substrate is impregnated with at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione. 
   
   
       4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one granular substrate is coated with at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione. 
   
   
       5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione is absorbed on to at least one granular substrate. 
   
   
       6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the granular substrate material comprises an inert material selected from dried clay, calcium carbonate, brick, pumice, pyrophyllite, sulphur, kaolin, dolomite, plaster, wood flour, ground corn cobs, ground peanut hulls, sugars, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium silicate, sodium borate, magnesia, mica, iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, antimony oxide, cryolite, vermiculite calcinated lime, gypsum, perlite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite clay, calcium sulfate, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the granular substrate material contains a fertilizer comprising at least one primary plant macronutrient selected from nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 
   
   
       8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the granular substrate material contains a fertilizer comprising at least one secondary plant macronutrient selected from calcium, magnesium and sulfur. 
   
   
       9 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the granular substrate material contains a fertilizer comprising at least one plant micronutrient selected from boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. 
   
   
       10 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the granular substrate material contains a fertilizer selected from a urea, a methylene urea oligomer and a mix of methylene urea oligomers as represented by the formula NH 2 CONH(CH 2 NHCONH 2 ) n H, where n is an integer from 1-10. 
   
   
       11 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a straight fertilizer. 
   
   
       12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a compound fertilizer. 
   
   
       13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a complex fertilizer. 
   
   
       14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a prilled fertilizer. 
   
   
       15 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a coated fertilizer. 
   
   
       16 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a conditioned fertilizer. 
   
   
       17 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which comprises a bulk-blend fertilizer. 
   
   
       18 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal is a di- or trivalent metal ion selected from Cu +2 , Co +2 , Zn +2 , Ni +2 , Ca +2 , Al +3 , Ti +3  and Fe +3 . 
   
   
       19 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal is Cu +2 . 
   
   
       20 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione to metal ion is between about 2:1 and 2:5. 
   
   
       21 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione to metal ion is between about 2:1 and 2:3. 
   
   
       22 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione is a copper chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione. 
   
   
       23 . The composition according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a herbicide selected from s-metolachlor, dicamba, bentazone, prodiamine, sulfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, atrazine, simazine, and triclopyr. 
   
   
       24 . A granular herbicidal composition, comprising a herbicidally effective amount of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione and a di- or tri-valent metal ion in an amount effective to stabilize the 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione against attack by a nucleophile. 
   
   
       25 . A stabilized solid granular composition for control of weeds, which composition comprises 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione and a nucleophilic component containing compound, the 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione being provided in the form of a chelate with a di- or tri-valent metal ion which reduces interaction between the 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione and the nucleophilic component containing compound in the granular composition. 
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the nucleophilic component containing compound is a urea. 
   
   
       27 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the nucleophilic component containing compound is methyleneurea. 
   
   
       28 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the nucleophilic component containing compound is a methylene urea oligomer. 
   
   
       29 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the copper chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione is provided. 
   
   
       30 . A method of controlling weeds in a crop of useful plants which comprises applying a herbicidally effective amount of a pesticidal composition comprising at least one granular substrate material containing at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione to the locus of said weeds. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the crop is maize. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the crop is selected from asparagus, bushberries (blueberries), caneberries, cranberries, flax, grain sorghum, oakra, oats, peppermint, rhubarb, spearmint and sugarcane. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the crop is a turf grass. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the turf grass is selected from cool-season turf grasses and warm-season turf grasses. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the weed to be controlled is selected from  Digitaria  spp.,  Taraxacum officinale  and  Trifolium repens.    
   
   
       36 . A method of delivery of a herbicidally effective amount of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione to a site to be treated comprising broadcasting upon the site a herbicidally effective amount of a dry spreadable granular composition comprising at least one metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione and subsequently allowing said dry spreadable granular composition to be contacted with water. 
   
   
       37 . A method of stabilizing a granular composition containing 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione against attack by a nucleophilic nitrogen compound which comprises coating, spraying, homogeneously mixing or impregnating a metal chelate of 2-(2′-nitro-4′-methylsulphonylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione on or into the granular composition.