Related enal compounds for controlling plant pests and weeds in soil

Abstract

A method for controlling pests and weeds on or around plants, especially crop plants is disclosed. The method includes admixing 2-propenal or other related enal compounds to form an aqueous solution, and applying the aqueous solution to plants, plant seeds, weeds, or soil around the around the area in which the plants grow.

1 . A method for controlling pests and weeds on or around plants, comprising the steps of:
 providing as an active compound an olefinically unsaturated lower alkyl aldehyde having the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       where R may be hydrogen or a straight chain alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms;
 admixing an effective amount of said active compound with water to form an aqueous solution; and 
 applying the aqueous solution to plants, plant seeds, weeds or soil around the area in which the plants grow. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said effective amount comprises about 1 to about 1350 parts of said active compound per million parts of water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plants are crop plants. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said crop plants are selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice, sorghum, cotton, soybeans, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, sunflowers, sugar beets, oilseeds, peppers, turnips, turf and cabbage. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein about 75 pounds to about 800 pounds of said active compound per acre of soil is applied to the soil. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of, after applying the aqueous solution to soil, drenching the soil to a depth of about 10 to about 12 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said water comprises irrigation water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of, before applying the aqueous solution, mixing the aqueous solution containing said active compound with an herbicide, pesticide or combination of an herbicide and pesticide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of applying, separately from applying said aqueous solution, an herbicide, pesticide or combination of an herbicide and pesticide to plants, plant seeds, weeds or soil around the area in which plants grow. 
     
     
         10 . A method of enhancing growth of plants, comprising the steps of:
 providing as an active compound an olefinically unsaturated lower alkyl aldehyde having the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R may be hydrogen or a straight chain alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; 
         admixing an effective amount of said active compound with water to form an aqueous solution; and 
         applying the aqueous solution to soil around the area in which the plants grow, in an amount of from about 1 pound to about 600 pounds of said active compound per acre of soil. 
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said effective amount comprises about 1 to about 1350 parts of said active compound per million parts of water. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said plants are crop plants. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said crop plants are selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice, sorghum, cotton, soybeans, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, sunflowers, sugar beets, oilseeds, peppers, turnips, turf and cabbage. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the further step of, after applying the aqueous solution to soil, drenching the soil to a depth of about 10 to about 12 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said water comprises irrigation water. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the further step of, before applying the aqueous solution, mixing the aqueous solution containing said active compound with a fertilizer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the further step of applying, separately from applying said aqueous solution, a fertilizer to soil around the area in which plants grow. 
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing transplant shock of tomato plants, comprising the steps of:
 providing as an active compound an olefinically unsaturated lower alkyl aldehyde having the formula   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R may be hydrogen or a straight chain alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; 
         admixing an effective amount of said active compound with water to form an aqueous solution; 
         applying the aqueous solution to soil around the area in which the tomato plants grow; and 
         allowing sufficient time for the tomato plant to absorb some or all of the active compound prior to transplanting. 
       
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said effective amount comprises about 1 to about 1350 parts of said active compound per million parts of water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein about 75 pounds to about 800 pounds of said active compound per acre of soil is applied to the soil. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  comprising the further step of, after applying the aqueous solution to soil, drenching the soil to a depth of about 10 to about 12 inches.