Low volatility herbicidal compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates generally low volatility herbicidal compositions comprising at least one auxin herbicide and at least one monocarboxylic acid, or monocarboxylate thereof. The invention further relates generally to methods for preparing and using such low volatility herbicidal compositions, including methods for controlling auxin-susceptible plant growth on agricultural and non-agricultural lands.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 722,700 filed on Nov. 5, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 794,769 filed on Mar. 15, 2013. The entire text of those provisional applications is incorporated by reference into this application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to low volatility herbicidal compositions comprising at least one auxin herbicide and at least one monocarboxylic acid, or monocarboxylate thereof. The invention further relates generally to methods for preparing and using such low volatility herbicidal compositions, including methods for controlling auxin-susceptible plant growth on agricultural and non-agricultural lands.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Auxin herbicides, such as dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), are commonly used to control auxin-susceptible plant growth on both agricul...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]In another aspect, the invention provides methods of reducing the volatility of an auxin herbicide, wherein the methods comprise the step of contacting an auxin herbicide with a volatility-lowering effective amount of a monocarboxylic acid, or a monocarboxylate thereof, thereby reducing the volatility of the auxin herbicide.

[0014]The present invention provides herbicidal compositions comprising an auxin herbicide wherein the compositions exhibit reduced volatility and / or vapor drift upon application with respect to the auxin herbicide. Specifically, the compositions comprise, in addition to the auxin herbicide, at least one monocarboxylic acid, or monocarboxylate thereof, in an amount sufficient to reduce the volatility of the auxin herbicide relative to an otherwise identical composition lacking the monocarboxylic acid, or monocarboxylate thereof.

[0015]It has been discovered that the addition of a sufficient amount of a monocarboxylic acid, or a monocarboxylate thereof (particularly a non-ammoniated monocarboxylate salt), to a herbicidal composition concentrate or a herbicidal composition application mixture (e.g., a “tank mix”) results in a significant reduction in the level of volatile auxin herbicide detected. For some compositions, the amount of volatile auxin herbicide present is actually below the detection level of sophisticated analytical methods such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC / MS). As compared to auxin compositions known in the art, it is believed that the compositions of the present invention provide enhanced protection from off-target crop injury while maintaining comparable herbicidal efficacy on auxin-susceptible plants located in the target area.

Problems solved by technology

Volatility and drift, however, are problems frequently associated with these herbicides.

Volatile auxin herbicides can, under certain application conditions, vaporize into the surrounding atmosphere and migrate from the application site to adjacent crop plants, such as soybeans and cotton, where contact damage to sensitive plants can occur.

Due to technological challenges and other factors, however, commercial encapsulation products that satisfactorily reduce auxin herbicide volatility have not been developed.