Pyroxasulfone and glutamine synthesis inhibitor compositions for weed control

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions containing herbicidal mixtures of pyroxasulfone and glutamine synthesis inhibitors. The present invention is further directed to methods of increasing the activity of a glutamine synthesis inhibitor with the compositions of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agricultural composition comprising pyroxasulfone and a glutamine synthesis inhibitor, or an agriculturally acceptable salts thereof, in a ratio of from about 1:0.5 to about 1:20. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of pyroxasulfone and a glutamine synthesis inhibitor is from about 1:3 to about 1:8. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of pyroxasulfone and a glutamine synthesis inhibitor is from about 1:4 to about 1:7. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of glufosinate, an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, and bialaphos. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is glufosinate or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising flumiclorac-pentyl. 
     
     
         7 . A method of increasing the activity of a glutamine synthesis inhibitor comprising applying an agricultural composition comprising pyroxasulfone and a glutamine synthesis inhibitor in a ratio of from about 1:0.5 to about 1:20 to an area in need of weed control. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pyroxasulfone is applied at a rate of from about 50 to about 150 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pyroxasulfone is applied at a rate of from about 70 to about 110 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pyroxasulfone is applied at a rate of from about 80 to about 100 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is applied at a rate of from about 100 to about 1000 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is applied at a rate of from about 300 to about 700 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is applied at a rate of from about 450 to about 600 grams per hectare. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is glufosinate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising applying flumiclorac-pentyl to the area in need of weed control. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the weed controlled is selected from the group consisting of Horseweed ( Conyza Canadensis ), Large Crabgrass ( Digitaria sanguinalis ), Palmer Amaranth ( Amaranthus palmen ), Broadleaf Signalgrass ( Brachiaria plathylla ), Common Barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus - galli ), Yellow Nutsedge ( Cyperus esculentus ), Eclipta ( Eclipta prostrate ), Lamb's quarters ( Chenopodium ), Velvetleaf ( Abutilon theophrasti ), and Giant Foxtail ( Setaria faberi ). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the weed controlled is Palmer Amaranth. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the weed controlled is Horseweed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pyroxasulfone and glutamine synthesis inhibitor, or agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, are applied concurrently or sequentially to the area in need of weed control. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the glutamine synthesis inhibitor is glufosinate.