Herbicidal composition with increased herbicidal efficacy

Abstract

An herbicide composition available as a concentrate for dilution with water or a ready-to-use oil-in-water emulsion which has a significantly reduced amount of active ingredient of a broadleaf herbicide. The composition combines the reduced amount of herbicide in a mixture of oil and emulsifier.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of preparing an emulsion-forming herbicidal composition comprising:
 preparing an emulsion-forming broadleaf herbicide concentrate by combining
 two or more broadleaf herbicides in an effective amount; 
 an oil-emulsifier mixture comprising a paraffinic oil and an emulsifier, wherein the wt % ratio of oil to emulsifier is from 95:5 to about 50:50; 
 wherein the effective amount of the two or more broadleaf herbicides is from about 10% to about 50% of a prescribed label rate for the two or more broadleaf herbicides; 
   combining the emulsion-forming broadleaf herbicide concentrate with water sufficient to dilute the oil-emulsifier mixture to about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the emulsion-forming herbicidal composition.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of paraffinic oil to emulsifier in the oil-emulsifier mixture is from about 85:15 wt % to about 90:10 wt %. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the paraffinic oil is a highly saturated oil having a carbon number distribution of from about C 16  to about C 35  and an aromatic content of less than about 10 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the paraffinic oil has an aromatic content of less than about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the paraffinic oil is a synthetic isoparaffinic oil. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the emulsifier is an emulsifier blend comprising one or more ethoxylated alcohols and one or more glycerol mono-oleates, one or more glycerol di-oleates, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the emulsifier consists of (1) polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, C10 to C16 alcohol ethoxylates, and glycerol oleate or (2) ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentrate further comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preservative comprises methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, or both. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the herbicidal composition is applied to turfgrass at a total spray volume of from about 60 to about 120 gal/acre. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein combining the concentrate with the water is performed using high shear. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more broadleaf herbicides comprise 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the form of a salt, 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionic acid in the form of a salt, and 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid in the form of a salt. 
     
     
         14 . A method for delivering a reduced amount of active ingredient of an herbicide to turfgrass, comprising:
 preparing an oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
 two or more broadleaf herbicides in an effective amount; 
 an oil-emulsifier mixture comprising a paraffinic oil and an emulsifier, wherein the wt % ratio of oil to emulsifier is from 95:5 to about 50:50; 
 water sufficient to dilute the oil-emulsifier mixture to about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the emulsion-forming herbicidal composition; 
 wherein the effective amount of the two or more broadleaf herbicides is from about 10% to about 50% of a prescribed label rate for the two or more broadleaf herbicides; and 
   applying the oil-in-water emulsion at a total spray volume of from about 60 to about 120 gal/acre.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein preparing the oil-in-water emulsion further comprises:
 preparing an oil-emulsifier mixture having a ratio of oil to emulsifier from about 85:15 wt % to about 90:10 wt %;   mixing the two or more broadleaf herbicides in the oil-emulsifier mixture; and   diluting the oil-emulsifier mixture and herbicide, in water.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio of paraffinic oil to emulsifier in the oil-emulsifier mixture is from about 85:15 wt % to about 90:10 wt %. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the paraffinic oil is a highly saturated oil having a carbon number distribution of from about C 16  to about C 35  and an aromatic content of less than about 10 wt %. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the paraffinic oil has an aromatic content of less than about 5 wt %. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the paraffinic oil is a synthetic isoparaffinic oil. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the emulsifier is an emulsifier blend comprising one or more ethoxylated alcohols and one or more glycerol mono-oleates, one or more glycerol di-oleates, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the emulsifier consists of (1) polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, C10 to C16 alcohol ethoxylates, and glycerol oleate or (2) ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the emulsion further comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the preservative comprises methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, or both. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the herbicidal composition demonstrates herbicidal efficacy and is non-phytotoxic to turfgrass. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the two or more broadleaf herbicides comprise 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in the form of a salt, 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionic acid in the form of a salt, and 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid in the form of a salt.