Herbicidal compositions and methods

Abstract

Described are preferred methods and compositions for controlling weeds in soil that involve the use of a bleaching herbicide such as fluridone in combination with at least one other additional selected herbicidal agent, which is preferably a PPO-inhibitor such as fomesafen or flumioxazin. Also described are safening effects of bleaching herbicidal agents such as fluridone on other herbicides, and of other herbicides on bleaching herbicidal agents. Further described are methods and compositions for controlling weeds in soil that comprise the use of fluridone. Methods and compositions for controlling weeds in permanent crops are also described.

1 . A method for controlling weeds in soil where a permanent crop resides comprising the step of applying a composition comprising fluridone to said soil where a permanent crop resides. 
     
     
         2 . A method for controlling weeds in the soil where permanent crops reside comprising the steps of:
 applying to the soil where said permanent crops reside a first herbicidal composition; and   applying to the soil where said permanent crops resides a second herbicidal composition.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing water to the soil where said permanent crops reside. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said providing is performed by irrigation. 
     
     
         5 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first herbicidal composition comprises fluridione. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second herbicidal composition comprises 2,4-D, acetochlor, acifuorfen, carfentrazone, clethodim, dicamba, dichlobenil, diquat, diuron, fluazifop, flumiclorac, fluthiacet, fluometuron, flumioxazin, fomesafen, glufosinate, glyphosate, halosulfuron, indaziflam, isoxaben, lactofen, metolachlor, napropamide, oryzalin, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, pendimethalin, penoxsulam, pronamide, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium, pyroxasulfone, rimsulfuron, safufenacil, sethoxydim, simazine, sulfentrazone, a salt or ester thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said permanent crop is almond, pecan, pistachio, walnut, apple, pear, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, plum, prune, avocado, citrus, date, fig, grape, kiwi, olive, peanut, pomegranate, potato, sweet potato, pome, stone fruit, or tobacco. 
     
     
         26 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying is effective to apply between about 0.1 pounds of fluridone per acre to about 0.5 pounds of fluridone per acre. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying is effective to apply between about 0.2 pounds of fluridone per acre to about 0.4 pounds of fluridone per acre. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said applying is effective to apply between about 0.225 pounds of fluridone per acre to about 0.35 pounds of fluridone per acre. 
     
     
         34 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A safened herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally effective amount of fluridone and a herbicidally effective amount of a second herbicide. 
     
     
         38 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said applying a composition comprising fluridone is conducted to provide about 0.1 lb/acre to about 0.5 lb/acre of fluridone to the soil, the method also comprising, after said applying step, irrigating the soil sufficiently to deliver an average of at least about 0.05 inches of water to the soil per day over at least a 60-day period, and wherein the method is effective to control weeds in the soil throughout the 60-day period. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the permanent crop has a growing season and is in a region susceptible to glyphosate resistant weeds, and wherein said applying is conducted a single time before emergence of the weeds and is effective to control the weeds through the growing season. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said applying is effective to control the weeds for at least 90-days. 
     
     
         47 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method for preemergent control of weeds in soil where a permanent crop plant resides for a period of at least 60 days, comprising the step of applying fluridone to the soil by spraying at a rate of about 0.2 pounds per acre to about 0.8 pounds per acre and thereafter irrigating the soil, and wherein the fluridone is applied prior to emergence of the weeds. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the permanent crop plant is a citrus tree, a nut tree, or a vine.