Herbicidal weed control from combinations of fluroxypyr and als inhibitors

Abstract

Provided herein are herbicidal compositions containing of (a) fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and (b) an ALS-inhibiting herbicide, wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is diclosulam, cloransulam, chlorimuron, or thifensulfuron, or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. The compositions provide synergistic weed control of undesirable vegetation in areas including, but not limited to, soybean, cotton, corn, sorghum, sunflower, sugarcane, sugar beets, alfalfa, cereals (including but not limited to wheat, barley, rice and oats), non-crop, fallow-bed, perennial crop, fruiting crop, or plantation crop areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally effective amount of (a) fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and (b) an ALS-inhibiting herbicide, wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide includes diclosulam, cloransulam, chlorimuron, or thifensulfuron, or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is fluroxypyr-meptyl. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ALS inhibiting herbicide includes diclosulam. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (acid equivalent) to diclosulam (active ingredient) is within the range of from about 1:2 to about 560:1. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to diclosulam is within the range of from about 1:1 to about 182:1. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to diclosulam is within the range of from about 5:1 to about 23:1. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (acid equivalent) to cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (active ingredient) is within the range of from about 1:2 to about 560:1. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 2.8:1 to about 91:1. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 5.7:1 to about 91:1. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof, is cloransulam-methyl. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (acid equivalent) to chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (active ingredient) is within the range of from about 1:3.6 to about 560:1. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 2.8:1 to about 91:1. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 2.8:1 to about 45.5:1. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is chlorimuron-ethyl. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (acid equivalent) to thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof (active ingredient) is within the range of from about 1:1 to about 1120:1. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 1.3:1 to about 167:1. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein t the weight ratio of fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof to thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is within the range of from about 91:1 to about 167:1. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is thifensulfuron-methyl. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and the ALS-inhibiting herbicide are the only herbicidal active ingredients. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a herbicidally effective amount of an additional herbicide. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant. 
     
     
         25 . A method of controlling undesirable vegetation comprising contacting undesirable vegetation or the locus thereof with the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A method of controlling undesirable vegetation comprising contacting undesirable vegetation or the locus thereof with a herbicidally effective amount of (a) fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and (b) an ALS-inhibiting herbicide, wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is diclosulam, cloransulam, chlorimuron, or thifensulfuron, or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is fluroxypyr-meptyl. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ALS inhibiting herbicide is diclosulam. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 560 g ae/ha, and diclosulam is applied at an application rate from about 1 g ai/ha to about 50 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 200 g ae/ha, and diclosulam is applied at an application rate from about 1.1 g ai/ha to about 25.2 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 560 g ae/ha, and cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 1 g ai/ha to about 50 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 100 g ae/ha, and cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 1.1 g ai/ha to about 8.8 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the cloransulam or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is cloransulam-methyl. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 560 g ae/ha, and chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 1 g ai/ha to about 90 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 100 g ae/ha, and chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 1.1 g ai/ha to about 8.8 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the chlorimuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is chlorimuron-ethyl. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ALS-inhibiting herbicide is thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 25 g ae/ha to about 560 g ae/ha, and thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 0.5 g ai/ha to about 25 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 17.5 g ae/ha to about 100 g ae/ha, and thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is applied at an application rate from about 0.6 g ai/ha to about 13 g ai/ha. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the thifensulfuron or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof is thifensulfuron-methyl. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and the ALS-inhibiting herbicide are applied post-emergence to the undesirable vegetation or crop. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein fluroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable ester or salt thereof and the ALS-inhibiting herbicide are applied pre-emergence to the undesirable vegetation or crop. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the method provides synergistic control as determined by the Colby equation. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the undesirable vegetation comprises a herbicide resistant or tolerant weed. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the resistant or tolerant weed is a biotype with resistance or tolerance to single or multiple herbicides or single or multiple chemical classes, or inhibitors of single or multiple herbicide modes-of-action. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the resistant or tolerant weed is a biotype resistant or tolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) inhibitors, photosystem II inhibitors, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, photosystem I inhibitors, 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase inhibitors, microtubule assembly inhibitors, lipid synthesis inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) inhibitors, phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors, glutamine synthetase inhibitors, 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate-dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, mitosis inhibitors, cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors, herbicides with multiple modes-of-action, quinclorac, arylaminopropionic acids, difenzoquat, endothall or organoarsenicals. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is controlled in soybean, canola, sunflower, sugarbeet, alfalfa, corn, cotton, wheat, barley, oats, sorghum or rice, a non-crop, perennial crop, fruiting crop, or plantation crop area, comprising contacting undesirable vegetation or the locus thereof in a row crop, drilled crop, fallow-bed, fallow land, non-crop, perennial crop, fruiting crop, or plantation crop area. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is controlled in a non-crop area and the non-crop area is a pasture, grassland, rangeland, fallow land, fencerow, parking area, tank farm, storage area, right-of-way, utility area, turf, forestry, aquatics, industrial vegetation management (IVM) or fallow-bed. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is contacted prior to planting a crop. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is controlled in a perennial crop area and the foliage of the perennial crop is not contacted when the undesirable vegetation is contacted. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the perennial crop is a tree and vine orchard. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the tree and vine orchard is selected from citrus, grapes, almond, apple, apricot, avocado, beechnut, Brazil nut, butternut, cashew, cherry, chestnut, chinquapin, crab apple, date, feijoa, fig, filbert, hickory nut, kiwi, loquat, macadamia nut, mayhaws, nectarine, olives, peach, pear, pecan, persimmon, pistachio, plum, pomegranates, prune, quince and walnut. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is controlled in a fruiting crop area and the foliage of the fruiting crop is not contacted when the undesirable vegetation is contacted. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the fruiting crop is selected from blueberries, guava, papaya, strawberries, taro, blackberries and raspberries. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the undesirable vegetation is controlled in a plantation crop area the foliage of the plantation crop is not contacted when the undesirable vegetation is contacted. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the plantation crop is selected from coffee, cacao, rubber and palm oil. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising contacting the undesirable vegetation with a herbicidally effective amount of an additional herbicide.