Herbicide formulation

Abstract

The present invention relates, inter alia, to a novel herbicide formulation comprising: (a) an aqueous phase; (b) an HPPD inhibitor in suspension in the aqueous phase; (c) an encapsulated chloroacetamide and/or an isoxazoline herbicide in suspension in the aqueous phase; (d) glyphosate and/or glufosinate or an agrochemically acceptable salt thereof, in solution in the aqueous phase. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of an herbicide formulation of the invention and to a process for the control of unwanted vegetation.

1 . A herbicide formulation comprising:—
 (a) an aqueous phase; 
 (b) an HPPD inhibitor in suspension in the aqueous phase; 
 (c) an encapsulated chloroacetamide and/or an isoxazoline herbicide in suspension in the aqueous phase; 
 (d) glyphosate and/or glufosinate or an agrochemically acceptable salt thereof, in solution in the aqueous phase. 
 
     
     
         2 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 1 , which is a pre-mix concentrate comprising:—
 (a) an aqueous phase; 
 (b) 10-600 g/l HPPD inhibitor in suspension in the aqueous phase; 
 (c) 10-6000 g/l chloroacetamide and/or an isoxazoline herbicide which is encapsulated and in suspension in the aqueous phase; 
 (d) 10-3000 g/l glyphosate and/or glufosinate or an agrochemically acceptable salt thereof, in solution in the aqueous phase; and 
 (e) a structuring agent. 
 
     
     
         3 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising a pH adjuster in an appropriate amount to provide a pH from about 3 to about 7. 
     
     
         4 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 3 , wherein the pH adjuster is toluene sulfonic acid (TSA). 
     
     
         5 . A herbicide formulation according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the HPPD inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of isoxaflutole, mesotrione, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, sulcotrione, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, topramezone and 4-hydroxy-3-{[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)methyl-6-(trifluoro-methyl)-3-pyridinyl]-carbonyl}bicylo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one. 
     
     
         6 . A herbicide formulation according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the HPPD inhibitor is a triketone. 
     
     
         7 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 6 , wherein the triketone is mesotrione or tembotrione. 
     
     
         8 . A herbicide formulation according to any one of the previous claims, wherein component (c) comprises a chloroacetamide selected from the group consisting of alachlor, acetochlor, dimethenamid, metolachlor and S-metolachlor. 
     
     
         9 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 8 , wherein the chloroacetamide is S-metolachlor. 
     
     
         10 . A herbicide formulation according to any one of the previous claims, wherein component (d) is glyphosate or an agrochemically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 10 , wherein component (d) is potassium glyphosate. 
     
     
         12 . A herbicide formulation according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein component (b) is mesotrione, component (c) is S-metolachlor and component (d) is glyphosate. 
     
     
         13 . A process for the preparation of an herbicide formulation according to  claim 2 , said process comprising the steps of:
 (a) separately preparing an (i) HPPD inhibitor mill base, (ii) a chloroacetamide or an isoxazoline herbicide capsule suspension and (iii) a glyphosate and/or glufosinate soluble concentrate;   (b) combining components (i), (ii) and (iii) above whilst mixing;   (c) adding a structuring agent whilst still mixing; and   (d) optionally adjusting the pH to from about 3 to 7.   
     
     
         14 . A process for the control of unwanted vegetation, said process comprising the application of a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicide formulation according to any one of the previous claims to the locus of the unwanted vegetation. 
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 14 , wherein the locus further comprises a crop plant which is tolerant to the herbicide formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the application of the herbicidally effective amount of a herbicide formulation is applied post-emergence. 
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein the crop plant is selected from the group consisting of barley, wheat, cotton, oilseed rape, maize, rice, soybean, sugar beet and sugar cane. 
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 17 , wherein the crop plant is corn or soybean.