Spray drift adjuvancy

Abstract

A sprayable agrochemical formulations with agrochemical actives and / or nutrients and / or biostimulants, and a method of providing spray drift control whilst maintaining stability and reducing incompatibility in the formulation. The present invention also includes methods of treating crops with such formulations. Said agrochemical formulation comprising at least one spray drift reductant being a polyethylene glycol or polyacrylamide having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons; a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylates; at least one inorganic mineral solid; and optionally at least one agrochemical active, nutrient, or biostimulant. The formulation is characterised by the presence of the compatibiliser which reduces incompatibilities between high molecular weight spray drift reduction agents and inorganic mineral solids which are used as rheology modifiers for the end use tank mix.

Description

Spray drift adjuvancyThe present invention relates to sprayable agrochemical formulations with agrochemical actives and / or nutrients and / or biostimulants, and a method of providing spray drift control whilst maintaining stability and reducing incompatibility in the formulation by use of a compatibiliser. The present invention also includes methods of treating crops with such formulations.Many agricultural pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, miticides, and plant growth regulators, are applied in the form of a liquid composition. In addition to the pesticide, such liquid compositions typically include one or more compounds intended to improve one or more properties of the liquid composition, such as for example, storage stability, ease of handling, and / or pesticide efficacy against target organisms.The field of agricultural spray drift has been active for several decades with significant findings published on the importance of agriculture spray mixture composition and properties on the potential for small droplet formation and the impact of this effect on drift potential.There is a continuing interest in developing compounds for controlling drift of spray applied pesticides that exhibit high performance when present in a spray composition in low amount and that are relatively insensitive to the amount of adjuvant in the spray composition. Additional benefits suitable for adding value include improvements in limiting or reducing the formation of driftable fine droplets under select spray conditions.However, some spray drift adjuvants may give rise to incompatibilities with certain other components in the formulation. Accordingly, there is still a need to develop compositions exhibiting good spray drift performance whilst reducing any incompatibility issues, and which also have desired storage-stability.The present invention seeks to provide the use of compounds in agrochemical compositions in combination with one or more agrochemical active and / or nutrient, where the compounds may provide comparable (i.e. by not degrading the spray pattern), or improved properties, with regard to spray drift compared to formulations used without spray drift reductants, or in comparison to existing spray drift reductants. In particular, the present invention seeks to provide stable formulations.The present invention also seeks to provide the use of agrochemical concentrates and dilute formulations comprising said spray drift reductants. Additionally, the present invention seeks to provide a method of reducing spray drift, and a method of treating vegetation for pests or to provide nutrients, whilst maintaining compatibility of the components in both the concentrate and diluted forms of the formulation.According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sprayable agrochemical formulation comprising; i) at least one spray drift reductant being a polyethylene glycol or polyacrylamide having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons; ii) a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylate; iii) at least one inorganic mineral solid; and ii) optionally at least one agrochemical active, nutrient, or biostimulant.According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a concentrate formulation suitable for making a sprayable agrochemical formulation of the first aspect, said concentrate comprising a spray drift reductant of polyethylene glycol having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons, and optionally a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylates.According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided the use of ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amineethoxylates, as a compatibiliser for a spray drift reductant being a polyethylene glycol or polyacrylamide having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons, in an agrochemical formulation, said formulation comprising at least one inorganic mineral solid, and optionally at least one agrochemical active, nutrient, or biostimulant.According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing spray drift by using an agrochemical formulation of the first aspect, and / or a diluted concentrate formulation of the second aspect.According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of treating vegetation to control pests and / or to provide nutrients, the method comprising applying a formulation of the first or third aspects, and / or a diluted concentrate formulation of the second aspect, either to said vegetation or to the immediate environment of said vegetation.It has been found that use of a compatibiliser of the above noted structure provides for desired properties when used in agrochemical formulations with spray drift reductants and inorganic mineral solids. The compatibiliser has been found to significantly reduce incompatibility issues seen with combinations of the spray drift reductants and inorganic mineral solids.The invention is characterised by the presence of the compatibiliser - formulations with high molecular weight spray drift reduction agents (such as PEG) would normally have compatibility issues when used with inorganic mineral solids which are used as rheology modifiers for the end use tank mix.As used herein, the terms ‘for example," "for instance," ‘such as," or ‘including" are meant to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise specified, these examples are provided only as an aid for understanding the applications illustrated in the present disclosure, and are not meant to be limiting in any fashion.It will be understood that, when describing the number of carbon atoms in a substituent group (e.g. ‘C7 to C6 alkyl"), the number refers to the total number of carbon atoms present in the substituent group, including any present in any branched groups. Additionally, when describing the number of carbon atoms in, for example fatty acids, this refers to the total number of carbon atoms including the one at the carboxylic acid, and any present in any branched groups.As used herein, the term ‘ concentrate" is well known in the agrochemical field, and refers to agrochemical compositions, which are designed to be diluted with water (or a water based liquid) to form the corresponding end-use agrochemical formulations, typically spray formulations. The concentrate is therefore formed and stored in a concentrated form, and diluted down to the desired strength prior to application.As used herein, the term "drift" refers to off-target movement of droplets of an agrochemical composition that is applied to a target pest or environment for the pest or to provide nutrients. Spray applied compositions typically exhibit decreasing tendency to drift with decreasing relative amount, typically expressed as a volume percentage of total spray applied droplet volume, of small size spray droplets, that is, spray droplets having a droplet size below a given value, typically a droplet size of less than 105 micrometres. Spray drift of pesticides in particular can have undesirable consequences such as, for example, unintended contact of phytotoxic pesticides with non-pest pest plants like crops or ornamental plants along with damage to such nonpest plants.As used herein, the term "spray drift adjuvant" and "spray drift reductant" refers to compounds which when added to a sprayable agrochemical formulation may provide a reduction in observed spray drift when compared to the formulation not comprising said agent.The formulation comprises a spray drift reductant being a water soluble polymer capable of controlling, and preferably reducing spray drift. Said reductants are selected from polyethylene glycol and polyacrylamide.Polyethylene glycol (PEG) will be understood to refer to polyethylene oxide (PEO) having structure H-(O-CH2CH2)X-OH.The number-average molecular mass of the polyethylene glycol (i.e. the PEG chain) may preferably be in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 daltons, more preferably in the range from 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 daltons, most preferably 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 daltons.Polyacrylamide will be understood to refer to polymer having formula (- CH2CHCONH2-)y, and having a linear-chain structure.The number-average molecular mass of the polyacrylamide may preferably be in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 daltons, more preferably in the range from 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 daltons, most preferably 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 daltons.The agrochemical formulations of the present invention comprise a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylate.The compatibiliser may be added in the tank mix (i.e. in the end use diluted form of the formulation), or may be built-in (i.e. added to the concentrate). It will be understood that preferably the compatibiliser may be built-in, and may therefore be capable of providing stability to the formulation in both concentrated and dilute forms.It will be understood that the compatibiliser will act to reduce any compatibility issues which may otherwise occur due to undesirable interactions between the spray drift reductant and inorganic mineral solids present.The amount of compatibiliser in the formulation is suitably in the range from 1 to 10 wt.%, preferably 1.5 to 8 wt.%, more preferably 2 to 7 wt.%, particularly 2.2 to 6 wt.%, and especially 3 to 5 wt.% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.The amount of compatibiliser in the dilute (spray tank) formulation is suitably in the range from 0.01 to 0.10 wt.%, preferably 0.015 to 0.08 wt.%, more preferably 0.02 to 0.07 wt.%, particularly 0.022 to 0.06 wt.%, and especially 0.03 to 0.05 wt.% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.Polyethylenimine (PEI) will be understood to refer to a polymer with repeating units composed of the amine group and two carbon aliphatic CH2CH2 spacers. Polyethylene imines (PEIs, especially modified PEIs) are materials composed of ethylene imine units -CH2CH2NH- and, where branched, the hydrogen on the nitrogen is replaced by another chain of ethylene imine units. These polyethyleneimines can be prepared, for example, by polymerising ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst for example carbon dioxide, sodium bisulphite, sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, and the like.Preferably the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine polymer is nonionic. That means it does not have any quaternary nitrogens, or nitrogen oxides or any ionic species other than possible pH effected protonation of nitrogens.Linear polyethyleneimines contain all secondary amines, in contrast to branched polyethyleneimines which contain primary, secondary and tertiary amino groups. Branched polyethyleneimines are preferred.Preferably, the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine comprises a polyethyleneimine backbone, wherein the modification of the polyethyleneimine backbone is intended to leave the polymer without quaternisation.The ethoxylated polyethylenimine used herein suitably has a molecular weight (weight average) in the range from 4,000 to 20,000, preferably 5,000 to 18,000, more preferably 6,000 to 16,000, particularly 10,000 to 15,000. Most preferably, the molecular weight of the ethoxylated polyethylenimine is 13,000.The molecular weight (weight average) of the ethoxylated polyethylenimine described herein can be determined by techniques well known in the art such as light scattering, size exclusion HPLC or mass spectrometry, preferably by mass spectrometry.The degree of ethoxylation of the polyethyleneimines, i.e. the number of ethylene oxide units per molecule, is preferably in the range from 10 to 30. More preferably, in the range from 12 to 28. Further preferably, in the range from 16-24. Most preferably in the range from 18 to 22.Preferred ethoxylated polyethyleneimine may be selected from, ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (400), ethoxylated (16EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (700), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (26EO) polyethyleneimine (400), and ethoxylated (24EO) polyethyleneimine (400).More preferably, the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine may be selected from, ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (400), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (700), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (500), and ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (600).Most preferably, the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine may be selected from, ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600), and ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (600).Ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds may be selected from those which conform to the following structure (I):whereinR is a C6-C32 fatty alkyl chain;R' is a C1-C6 alkyl or alkylene group; the sum of m and n is in the range from 8 to 40; andX is a salt-forming counterion which renders the compound water soluble or water dispersible.The fatty alkyl chain R may preferably be a C6-C26 fatty alkyl chain, more preferably a C8-C20 alkyl chain, most preferably a C8-C18 alkyl chain. The fatty alkyl chains may preferably be derived from fatty acids and fatty alcohols.Suitable linear fatty alcohols include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, cocoyl alcohol, tetradecanol, arachidyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol and lignoceryl alcohol. Suitable branched fatty alcohols include isostearyl alcohol, isotetradecanol, isocetyl alcohol, isoarachidyl alcohol, isobehenyl alcohol and isolignoceryl alcohol; neo-alcohols such as neocapric alcohol; and / or anti-iso alcohols. Linear fatty alcohols are preferred, particularly cocyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and / or stearyl alcohol, and especially cocyl alcohol.Fatty alkyl chains derived from natural fatty acids and fatty alcohols may be particularly preferred, for example tallow, coco, stearyl chains.The quaternary amino groups will have an associated counter anion X, which will commonly be a residue of the quaternising agent. Common such ions include halide, particularly chloride e.g. as derived from alkyl (commonly methyl) halide (commonly chloride) quaternising agents; and sulphate or alkyl (commonly methyl) sulphate e.g. as derived from alkyl (commonly methyl) sulphate quaternising agents. In betaine derivatives, the counter ion is provided by the acidic, usually carboxylate, group of the betaine.A particularly preferred film forming film-forming fatty quaternary ammonium compound may be where R' is preferably a C1-C3 alkyl group, more preferably R' is selected from methyl or ethyl.The values of m and n represent the number of alkoxylate unites on the respective chains. The values of m and n will therefore be integers, and may independently be different or the same, preferably the same. The sum of m and n may preferably be in the range of 8 to 30, more preferably in the range from 10 to 26, most preferably in the range from 12 to 18. Preferably the total value of m and n is 15.Preferred ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds may be selected from, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (20EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, and cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, stearylalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (20EO) chloride, stearylalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, and stearylalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride.More preferably, the ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds may be selected from, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride,stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, and cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chlorideMost preferably, the ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds may be selected from, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, and cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride.Fatty amine ethoxylate may also be used as a compatibiliser, and may be selected from those which conform to the following structure (II):wherein:R is as defined herein; the sum of m and n is in the range from 3 to 20.The sum of m and n may preferably be in the range of 4 to 18, more preferably in the range from 4 to 16, most preferably in the range from 5 to 15.In an embodiment where the compatibiliser is a fatty amine ethoxylate, it may be found that amount of compatibiliser in the formulation is suitably in the range from 5 to 20 wt.%, preferably 5 to 15 wt.% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.The compatibiliser may be made by any known method, and well within the knowledge of the skilled person in the field.In one embodiment, the suspending agent component of the composition of the present invention can further comprise an inorganic, typically aluminosilicate or magnesium silicate, colloid-forming clay, typically, a smectite (also known as montmorillonoid) clay, an attapulgite (also known as palygorskite) clay, or a mixture thereof. Preferably the inorganic mineral solid is magnesium aluminum silicateWhere clay materials are used, they can be described as expandable layered clays, wherein the term ‘ expandable" as used herein in reference to such clay relates to the ability of the layered clay structure to be swollen, or expanded, on contact with water.The formulation / composition may comprise one or more biologically active ingredients (including plant enhancing agents, in particular plant protective products (also referred to as PPPs)). Suitable examples of active ingredients, in particular plant enhancing agents, are fungicidal agents, bactericidal agents, insecticidal agents, nematicidal agents, molluscicidal agents, biologicals, acaricides or miticides, pesticides, and biocides.Further possible active ingredients include disinfectants, microorganisms, rodent killers, weed killers (herbicides), attracting agents, (bird) repellent agents, plant growth regulators (such as gibberellic acid, auxin or cytokinin), nutrients (such as potassium nitrate, magnesium sulphate, iron chelate), plant hormones, minerals, plant extracts, germination stimulants, pheromones, biological preparations, etc.Suitable agrochemical actives for use in the formulations according to the invention are all agrochemically active compounds that may be solid or liquid at room temperature. It is envisaged that the adjuvant of the present invention would have broad applicability to all types of agrochemical actives.Agrochemical actives refer to biocides which, in the context of the present invention, are plant protection agents, more particular chemical substances capable of killing different forms of living organisms used in fields such as medicine, agriculture,forestry, and mosquito control. Also counted under the group of biocides are so- called plant growth regulators.Biocides for use in agrochemical formulations of the present invention are typically divided into two sub- groups:■ pesticides, including fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, algicides, moluscicides, miticides and rodenticides, and■ antimicrobials, including germicides, antibiotics, antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoal s and antiparasites.In particular, biocides selected from insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides may be particularly preferred.The term "pesticide" will be understood to refer to any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. A pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used against pests including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread disease or are a nuisance. In the following examples, pesticides suitable for the agrochemical compositions according to the present invention are given.A fungicide is a chemical control of fungi. Fungicides are chemical compounds used to prevent the spread of fungi in gardens and crops. Fungicides are also used to fight fungal infections. Fungicides can either be contact or systemic. A contact fungicide kills fungi when it comes into contact with the fungicide retained on leaf surfaces. A systemic fungicide is absorbed into plant tissues and kills the fungus when it attempts to invade the host.Examples for suitable fungicides, according to the present invention, encompass the following species: (3-ethoxypropyl)mercury bromide, 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride, 2-phenylphenol, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate, 8-phenylmercurioxyquinoline, acibenzolar, acylamino acid fungicides, acypetacs, aldimorph, aliphatic nitrogen fungicides, allyl alcohol, amide fungicides, ampropylfos, anilazine, anilide fungicides, antibiotic fungicides, aromatic fungicides, aureofungin, azaconazole, azithiram, azoxystrobin, barium polysulphide, benalaxyl-M, benodanil, benomyl, benquinox, bentaluron, benthiavalicarb, benzalkonium chloride, benzamacril, benzamide fungicides, benzamorf, benzanilide fungicides, benzimidazole fungicides, benzimidazole precursor fungicides, benzimidazolylcarbamate fungicides, benzohydroxamic acid, benzothiazole fungicides, bethoxazin, binapacryl, biphenyl, bitertanol, bithionol, blasticidin-S, Bordeaux mixture, boscalid, bridged diphenyl fungicides, bromuconazole, bupirimate, Burgundy mixture, buthiobate, butylamine, calcium polysulphide, captafol, captan, carbamate fungicides, carbamorph, carbanilate fungicides, carbendazim, carboxin, carpropamid, carvone, Cheshunt mixture, chinomethionat, chi obenthi azone, chloraniformethan, chloranil, chlorfenazole, chlorodinitronaphthalene, chloroneb, chloropicrin, chlorothalonil, chlorquinox, chlozolinate, ciclopirox, climbazole, clotrimazole, conazole fungicides, conazole fungicides (imidazoles), conazole fungicides (triazoles), copper(II) acetate, copper(II) carbonate, basic, copper fungicides, copper hydroxide, copper naphthenate, copper oleate, copper oxychloride, copper(II) sulphate, copper sulphate, basic, copper zinc chromate, cresol, cufraneb, cuprobam, cuprous oxide, cyazofamid, cyclafuramid, cyclic dithiocarbamate fungicides, cycloheximide, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, cypendazole, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, dazomet, DBCP, debacarb, decafentin, dehydroacetic acid, dicarboximide fungicides, dichlofluanid, dichlone, dichlorophen, dichlorophenyl, dicarboximide fungicides, dichlozoline, diclobutrazol, diclocymet, diclomezine, dicloran, diethofencarb, diethyl pyrocarbonate, difenoconazole, diflumetorim, dimethirimol, dimethomorph, dimoxystrobin, diniconazole, dinitrophenol fungicides, dinobuton, dinocap, dinocton, dinopenton, dinosulphon, dinoterbon, diphenylamine, dipyrithione, disulphiram, ditalimfos, dithianon, dithiocarbamate fungicides, DNOC, dodemorph, dodicin, dodine, donatodine, drazoxolon, edifenphos, epoxiconazole, etaconazole,etem, ethaboxam, ethirimol, ethoxyquin, ethylmercury 2,3 -dihydroxypropyl mercaptide, ethylmercury acetate, ethylmercury bromide, ethylmercury chloride, ethylmercury phosphate, etridiazole, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenaminosulph, fenapanil, fenarimol, fenbuconazole,fenfuram, fenhexamid, fenitropan, fenoxanil, fenpiclonil, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, fentin, ferbam, ferimzone, fluazinam, fludioxonil, flumetover, fluopicolide, fluoroimide, fluotrimazole, fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flusulphamide, flutolanil, flutriafol, folpet, formaldehyde, fosetyl, fuberidazole, furalaxyl, furametpyr, furamide fungicides, furanilide fungicides, furcarbanil, furconazole, furconazole-cis, furfural, furmecyclox, furophanate, glyodin, griseofulvin, guazatine, halacrinate, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorobutadiene, hexachlorophene, hexaconazole, hexylthiofos, hydrargaphen, hymexazol, imazalil, imibenconazole, imidazole fungicides, iminoctadine, inorganic fungicides, inorganic mercury fungicides, iodomethane, ipconazole, iprobenfos, iprodione, iprovalicarb, isoprothiolane, isovaledione, kasugamycin, kresoxim-methyl, lime sulphur, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, mebenil, mecarbinzid, mepanipyrim, mepronil, mercuric chloride, mercuric oxide, mercurous chloride, mercury fungicides, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, metam, metazoxolon, metconazole, methasulphocarb, methfuroxam, methyl bromide, methyl isothiocyanate, methylmercury benzoate, methylmercury dicyandiamide, methylmercury pentachlorophenoxide, metiram, metominostrobin, metrafenone, metsulphovax, milneb, morpholine fungicides, myclobutanil, myclozolin, N-(ethylmercury)-p-toluenesulphonanilide, nabam, natamycin, nitrostyrene, nitrothal-isopropyl, nuarimol, OCH, octhilinone, ofurace, organomercury fungicides, organophosphorus fungicides, organotin fungicides, orysastrobin, oxadixyl, oxathiin fungicides, oxazole fungicides, oxine copper, oxpoconazole, oxycarboxin, pefurazoate, penconazole, pencycuron, pentachlorophenol, penthiopyrad, phenylmercuriurea, phenylmercury acetate, phenylmercury chloride, phenylmercury derivative of pyrocatechol, phenylmercury nitrate, phenylmercury salicylate, phenylsulphamide fungicides, phosdiphen, phthalide, phthalimide fungicides, picoxystrobin, piperalin, polycarbamate, polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicides, polyoxins, polyoxorim, polysulphide fungicides, potassium azide, potassium polysulphide, potassium thiocyanate, probenazole, prochloraz, procymidone, propamocarb, propiconazole, propineb, proquinazid, prothiocarb, prothioconazole, pyracarbolid, pyraclostrobin, pyrazole fungicides, pyrazophos, pyridine fungicides, pyridinitril, pyrifenox, pyrimethanil, pyrimidine fungicides, pyroquilon, pyroxychlor, pyroxyfiir, pyrrole fungicides, quinacetol,quinazamid, quinconazole, quinoline fungicides, quinone fungicides, quinoxaline fungicides, quinoxyfen, quintozene, rabenzazole, salicylanilide, silthiofam, simeconazole, sodium azide, sodium orthophenylphenoxide, sodium pentachlorophenoxide, sodium polysulphide, spiroxamine, streptomycin, strobilurin fungicides, sulphonanilide fungicides, sulphur, sultropen, TCMTB, tebuconazole, tecloftalam, tecnazene, tecoram, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, thiadifluor, thiazole fungicides, thicyofen, thifluzamide, thiocarbamate fungicides, thiochlorfenphim, thiomersal, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, thiophene fungicides, thioquinox, thiram, tiadinil, tioxymid, tivedo, tolclofos-methyl, tolnaftate, tolylfluanid, tolylmercury acetate, triadimefon, triadimenol, triamiphos, triarimol, triazbutil, triazine fungicides, triazole fungicides, triazoxide, tributyltin oxide, trichlamide, tricyclazole, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, triforine, tri ti conazole, unclassified fungicides, undecylenic acid, uniconazole, urea fungicides, validamycin, valinamide fungicides, vinclozolin, zarilamid, zinc naphthenate, zineb, ziram, zoxamide, and mixtures thereof.A herbicide is a pesticide used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones. Herbicides used to clear waste ground are non-selective and kill all plant material with which they come into contact. Herbicides are widely used in agriculture and in landscape turf management. They are applied in total vegetation control (TVC) programs for maintenance of highways and railroads. Smaller quantities are used in forestry, pasture systems, and management of areas set aside as wildlife habitat.Examples of herbicides that can be employed in the present disclosure include, but are not limited to: 4-CPA, 4-CPB, 4-CPP, 2,4-D, 3,4- DA, 2,4-DB, 3,4-DB, 2,4-DEB, 2,4-DEP, 3,4-DP, 2,3,6-TBA, 2,4, 5-T, 2,4,5-TB, acetochlor, acifluorfen, aclonifen, acrolein, alachlor, allidochlor, alloxydim, allyl alcohol, alorac, ametridione, ametryn, amibuzin, amicarbazone, amidosulfuron, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, amiprofos-methyl, amitrole, ammonium sulfamate, anilofos, anisuron, asulam, atraton, atrazine, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, aziprotryne, barban, BCPC, beflubutamid,benazolin, bencarbazone, benfluralin, benfuresate, bensulfuron, bensulide, bentazone, benzadox, benzfendizone, benzipram, benzobicyclon, benzofenap, benzofiuor, benzoylprop, benzthiazuron, bicyclopyrone, bifenox, bilanafos, bispyribac, borax, bromacil, bromobonil, bromobutide, bromofenoxim, bromoxynil, brompyrazon, butachlor, butafenacil, butamifos, butenachlor, buthidazole, buthiuron, butralin, butroxydim, buturon, butylate, cacodylic acid, cafenstrole, calcium chlorate, calcium cyanamide, cambendichlor, carbasulam, carbetamide, carboxazole chiorprocarb, carfentrazone, CDEA, CEPC, chlomethoxyfen, chloramben, chloranocryl, chlorazifop, chlorazine, chlorbromuron, chlorbufam, chloreturon, chlorfenac, chlorfenprop, chlorflurazole, chlorflurenol, chloridazon, chlorimuron, chlomitrofen, chloropon, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, chloroxynil, chlorpropham, chlorsulfuron, chlorthal, cinidon-ethyl, cinmethylin, cinosulfuron, cisanilide, clethodim, cliodinate, clodinafop, clofop, clomazone, clomeprop, cloprop, cloproxydim, clopyralid, cloransulam, CMA, copper sulfate, CPMF, CPPC, credazine, cresol, cumyluron, cyanatryn, cyanazine, cycloate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cycluron, cyhalofop, cyperquat, cyprazine, cyprazole, cypromid, daimuron, dalapon, dazomet, delachlor, desmedipham, desmetryn, diallate, dicamba, dichlobenil, dichloralurea, dichloiTnate, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, diclofop, diclosulam, diethamquat, diethatyl, difenopenten, difenoxuron, difenzoquat, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dimethametryn, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, dimexano, dimidazon, dinitramine, dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, diphenamid, dipropetryn, diquat, disul, dithiopyr, diuron, DMPA, DNOC, DSMA, EBEP, eglinazine, epronaz, EPTC, erbon, esprocarb, ethalfluralin, ethametsulfuron, ethidimuron, ethiolate, ethofumesate, ethoxyfen, ethoxysulfuron, etinofen, etnipromid, etobenzanid, EXD, fenasulam, fenoprop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxasulfone, fenteracol, fenthiaprop, fentrazamide, fenuron, ferrous sulfate, flamprop, flamprop-M, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazolate, flucarbazone, flucetosulfuron, fluchloralin, flufenacet, flufenican, flufenpyr, flumetsulam, flumezin, flumiclorac, flumioxazin, flumipropyn, fluometuron, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoromidine, fluoronitrofen, fluothiuron, flupoxam, flupropacil, flupropanate, flupyrsulfuron, fluridone, fluorochloridone, fluoroxypyr, flurtamone, fluthiacet, fomesafen, foramsulfuron, fosamine, furyloxyfen, glufosinate,glufosinate-P, glyphosate, halosafen, halosulfuron, haloxydine, haloxyfop, haloxyfop- P, hexachloroacetone, hexaflurate, hexazinone, imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, indanofan, indazifiam, iodobonil, iodomethane, iodosulfuron, ioxynil, ipazine, ipfencarbazone, iprymidam, isocarbamid, isocil, isomethiozin, isonoruron, isopolinate, isopropalin, isoproturon, isouron, isoxaben, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, isoxapyrifop, karbutilate, ketospiradox, lactofen, linuron, MAA, MAMA, MCPA, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, medinoterb, mefenacet, mefluidide, mesoprazine, mesosulfuron, mesotrione, metam, metamifop, metamitron, metazachlor, metazosulfuron, metflurazon, methabenzthiazuron, methalpropalin, methazole, methiobencarb, methiozolin, methiuron, methometon, methoprotryne, methyl bromide, methyl isothiocyanate, methyldymron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron, molinate, monalide, monisouron, monochloroacetic acid, monolinuron, monuron, morfamquat, MSMA, naproanilide, napropamide, naptalam, neburon, nicosulfuron, nipyraclofen, nitralin, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, norflurazon, noruron, OCH, orbencarb, orthodichlorobenzene, orthosulfamuron, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxapyrazon, oxasulfuron, oxaziclomefone, oxyfluorfen, parafluoron, paraquat, pebulate, pelargonic acid, pendimethalin, penoxsulam, pentachlorophenol, pentanochlor, pentoxazone, perfluidone, pethoxamid, phenisopham, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, phenob enzur on, phenylmercury acetate, picloram, picolinafen, pinoxaden, piperophos, potassium arsenite, potassium azide, potassium cyanate, pretilachlor, primisulfuron, procyazine, prodiamine, profluazol, profluralin, profoxydim, proglinazine, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propazine, propham, propisochlor, propoxy carb azone, propyrisulfuron, propyzamide, prosulfalin, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, proxan, prynachlor, pydanon, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate, pyrazosulfuron, pyrazoxyfen, pyribenzoxim, pyributicarb, pyriclor, pyridafol, pyridate, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyrimisulfan, pyrithiobac, pyroxasulfone, pyroxsulam, quinclorac, quinmerac, quinoclamine, quinonamid, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, rhodethanil, rimsulfuron, saflufenacil, S- metolachlor, sebuthylazine, secbumeton, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine, simeton, simetryn, SMA, sodium arsenite, sodium azide, sodium chlorate, sulcotrione,sulfallate, sulfentrazone, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, sulfuric acid, sulglycapin, swep, TCA, tebutam, tebuthiuron, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tepraloxydim, terbacil, terbucarb, terbuchlor, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, tetrafluoron, thenylchlor, thi azafluor on, thiazopyr, thidiazimin, thidiazuron, thiencarbazone-methyl, thifensulfuron, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tioclorim, topramezone, tralkoxydim, tri- allate, triasulfuron, triaziflam, tribenuron, tricamba, triclopyr, tridiphane, trietazine, trifloxysulfuron, trifluralin, triflusulfuron, trifop, trifopsime, trihydroxytriazine, trimeturon, tripropindan, tritac tritosulfuron, vernolate, xylachlor and mixtures thereof.

[0020] Safeners mean active ingredients applied with herbicides to protect crops against their injury. Some of the safeners that can be employed in the present disclosure include, but are not limited to: benoxacor, benthiocarb, brassinolide, cloquintocet (mexyl), cyometrinil, daimuron, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dimepiperate, disulfoton, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen-ethyl, mefenpyr-di ethyl, MG 191, MON 4660, naphthalic anhydride (NA), oxabetrinil, R29148, N-phenylsulfonylbenzoic acid amides and mixtures thereof.Suitable herbicides may be selected from the group comprising: aryloxycarboxylic acid e.g. MCPA, aryloxyphenoxypropionates e.g. clodinafop, cyclohexanedione oximes e.g. sethoxydim, hydroxybenzonitriles e.g. bromoxynil, sulphonylureas e.g. nicosulphuron, triazolopyrimidines e.g. penoxsulam, triketiones e.g. mesotriones, triazine herbicides such as metribuzin, hexaxinone, or atrazine; sulphonylurea herbicides such as chlorsulfuron; uracils, bromacil, or terbacil; urea herbicides such as linuron, diuron, siduron, or neburon; acetanilide herbicides such as alachlor, or metolachlor; thiocarbamate herbicides such as benthiocarb, triallate; oxadiazolone herbicides such as oxadiazon; isoxazolidone herbicides, phenoxyacetic acids; diphenyl ether herbicides such as fluazifop, acifluorfen, bifenox, or oxyfluorfen; dinitro aniline herbicides such as trifluralin; organophosphonate herbicides such as glufosinate salts and esters and glyphosate salts and esters; and / or dihalobenzonitrile herbicides such as bromoxynil, or ioxynil, benzoic acid herbicides, dipyridilium herbicides such as paraquat; and other herbicides such as clomazone, carfentrazone, saflufenacil, and pyroxasulphone.An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all developmental forms, and include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry, and the household.Examples of insecticides that can be employed in the present disclosure include, but are not limited to: 1,2- dichloropropane, abamectin, acephate, acetamiprid, acethion, acetoprole, acrinathrin, acrylonitrile, alanycarb, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, aldrin, allethrin, allosamidin, allyxycarb, alpha-cypermethrin, alpha-ecdysone, alpha-endosulfan, amidithion, aminocarb, amiton, amiton oxalate, amitraz, anabasine, athidathion, azadirachtin, azamethiphos, azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, azothoate, barium hexafluorosilicate, barthrin, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, bensultap, beta-cyfluthrin, beta- cypermethrin, bifenthrin, bioallethrin, bioethanomethrin, biopermethrin, bistrifluoron, borax, boric acid, bromfenvinfos, bromo-DDT, bromophos, bromophos-ethyl, bufencarb, buprofezin, butacarb, butathiofos, butocarboxim, butonate, butoxycarboxim, cadusafos, calcium arsenate, calcium polysulfide, camphechlor, carbanolate, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, carbophenothion, carbosulfan, cartap, cartap hydrochloride, chlorantraniliprole, chlorbicyclen, chlordane, chlordecone, chlordimeform, chlordimeform hydrochloride, chlorethoxyfos, chlorfenapyr, chlorfenvinphos, chlorfhiazuron, chlormephos, chloroform, chloropicrin, chlorphoxim, chlorprazophos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos- methyl, chlorthiophos, chiOmafenozide, cinerin I, cinerin II, cinerins, cismethrin, cloethocarb, closantel, clothianidin, copper acetoarsenite, copper arsenate, copper naphthenate, copper oleate, coumaphos, coumithoate, crotamiton, crotoxyphos, crufomate, cryolite, cyanofenphos, cyanophos, cyanthoate, cyantraniliprole, cyclethrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, cyphenothrin, cyromazine, cythioate, DDT, decarbofuran, deltamethrin, demephion, demephion-O, demephion-S, demeton, demeton-methyl, demeton-O, demeton-O-methyl, demeton-S, demeton-S-methyl, demeton- S-methylsulphon, diafenthiuron, dialifos, diatomaceous earth, diazinon, dicapthon, dichlofenthion, dichlorvos, dicresyl, dicrotophos, dicyclanil, dieldrin, diflub enzur on, dilor, dimefluthrin, dimefox, dimetan, dimethoate, dimethrin, dimethylvinphos, dimetilan, dinex, dinex-diclexine, dinoprop, dinosam, dinotefuran, diofenolan, dioxabenzofos, dioxacarb, dioxathion, disulfoton, dithicrofos,d-limonene, DNOC, DNOC-ammonium, DNOC-potassium, DNOC-sodium, doramectin, ecdysterone, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, EMPC, empenfhrin, endosulfan, endothion, endrin, EPN, epofenonane, eprinomectin, esdepallethrine, esfenvalerate, etaphos, ethiofencarb, ethion, ethiprole, ethoate-methyl, ethoprophos, ethyl formate, ethyl-DDD, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene oxide, etofenprox, etrimfos, EXD, famphur, fenamiphos, fenazaflor, fenchlorphos, fenethacarb, fenfluthrin, fenitrothion, fenobucarb, fenoxacrim, fenoxycarb, fenpirithrin, fenpropathrin, fensulfothion, fenthion, fenthion-ethyl, fenvalerate, fipronil, flonicamid, flubendiamide, flucofuron, flucycloxuron, flucythrinate, flufenerim, flufenoxuron, flufenprox, fluvalinate, fonofos, formetanate, formetanate hydrochloride, formothion, fomiparanate, fomiparanate hydrochloride, fosmethilan, fospirate, fosthietan, fufenozide, furathiocarb, furethrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, gamma- HCH, halfenprox, halofenozide, HCH, HEOD, heptachlor, heptenophos, heterophos, hexaflumuron, HHDN, hydramethylnon, hydrogen cyanide, hydroprene, hyquincarb, imidacloprid, imiprothrin, indoxacarb, iodomethane, IPSP, isazofos, isobenzan, isocarbophos, isodrin, isofenphos, isofenphosmethyl, isoprocarb, isoprothiolane, isothioate, isoxathion, ivermectin, jasmolin I, jasmolin II, jodfenphos, juvenile hormone I, juvenile hormone II, juvenile hormone III, kelevan, kinoprene, lambda- cyhalothrin, lead arsenate, lepimectin, leptophos, lindane, lirimfos, lufenuron, lythidathion, malathion, malonoben, mazidox, mecarbam, mecarphon, menazon, meperfluthrin, mephosfolan, mercurous chloride, mesulfenfos, metaflumizone, methacrifos, methamidophos, methidathion, methiocarb, methocrotophos, methomyl, methothrin, methoxychlor, methoxyfenozide, methyl bromide, methyl isothiocyanate, methylchloroform, methylene chloride, metofluthrin, metolcarb, metoxadiazone, mevinphos, mexacarbate, milbemectin, milbemycin oxime, mipafox, mirex, molosultap, monocrotophos, monomehypo, monosultap, morphothion, moxidectin, naftalofos, naled, naphthalene, nicotine, nifluridide, nitenpyram, nithiazine, nitrilacarb, novaluron, noviflumuron, omethoate, oxamyl, oxydemeton- methyl, oxydeprofos, oxy di sulfoton, para-dichlorobenzene, parathion, parathion- methyl, penfluoron, pentachlorophenol, permethrin, phenkapton, phenothrin, phenthoate, phorate, phosalone, phosfolan, phosmet, phosnichlor, phosphamidon, phosphine, phoxim, phoxim-methyl, pirimetaphos, pirimicarb, pirimiphos-ethyl, pirimiphos-methyl, potassium arsenite, potassium thiocyanate, pp'-DDT, prallethrin, precocene I, precocene II, precocene III, primidophos, profenofos, profluralin, profluthrin, promacyl, promecarb, propaphos, propetamphos, propoxur, prothidathion, prothiofos, prothoate, protrifenbute, pymetrozine, pyraclofos, pyrafluprole, pyrazophos, pyresmethrin, pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, pyrethrins, pyridaben, pyridalyl, pyridaphenthion, pyrifluquinazon, pyrimidifen, pyrimitate, pyriprole, pyriproxyfen, quassia, quinalphos, quinalphos-methyl, quinothion, rafoxanide, resmethrin, rotenone, ryania, sabadilla, schradan, selamectin, silafluofen, silica gel, sodium arsenite, sodium fluoride, sodium hexafluorosilicate, sodium thiocyanate, sophamide, spinetoram, spiromesifen, spirotetramat, sulcofuron, sulcofuron-sodium, sulfluramid, sulfotep, sulfoxaflor, sulfuryl fluoride, sulprofos, tau-fluvalinate, tazimcarb, TDE, tebufenozide, tebufenpyrad, tebupirimfos, teflubenzuron, tefluthrin, temephos, TEPP, terallethrin, terbufos, tetrachloroethane, tetrachlorvinphos, tetramethrin, tetramethylfluthrin, theta-cypei-methiin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, thicrofos, thiocarboxime, thiocyclam, thiocyclam oxalate, thiodicarb, thiofanox, thiometon, thiosultap, thiosultap-di sodium, thiosultap-monosodium, thuringiensin, tolfenpyrad, tralomethrin, transfluthrin, transpermethrin, triarathene, triazamate, triazophos, trichlorfon, trichlormetaphos-3, trichloronat, trifenofos, triflumuron, trimethacarb, triprene, vamidothion, vaniliprole, XMC, xylylcarb, zeta-cypermethrin, zolaprofos and mixtures thereof.Miticides are pesticides that kill mites. Antibiotic miticides, carbamate miticides, formamidine miticides, mite growth regulators, organochlorine, permethrin and organophosphate miticides all belong to this category. Molluscicides are pesticides used to control mollusks, such slugs and snails. These substances include metaldehyde, methiocarb and aluminium sulphate. A nematicide is a type of chemical pesticide used to kill parasitic nematodes (a phylum of worm).Biologicals, which will be understood as products derived from living organisms such as bacteria or fungi, may also be used.The formulation may comprise at least one nutrient. Nutrients refer to chemical elements and compounds which are desired or necessary to promote or improve plant growth. Nutrients generally are described as macronutrients or micronutrients. Suitable nutrients for use in the concentrates according to the invention are micronutrient compounds, preferably those which are solid at room temperature or are partially soluble.Nutrients may be present in addition to, or as an alternative to, agrochemical actives. In such formulations / compositions the nutrient is typically in a dry form.The nutrients may preferably be a solid phase nutrients. Solid nutrients are to be understood in the present invention as meaning substances whose melting point is above 20°C (at standard pressure). Solid nutrients will also include insoluble nutrient ingredients, i.e. nutrient ingredients whose solubility in water is such that a significant solid content exists in the concentrate after addition.Micronutrients typically refer to trace metals or trace elements, and are often applied in lower doses. Suitable micronutrients include trace elements selected from zinc, boron, chlorine, copper, iron, molybdenum, and manganese. It is envisaged that the present invention would have broad applicability to all types of micronutrients.The micronutrients may be in a soluble form or included as insoluble solids, and may be in the form of salts or chelates. Preferably, the micronutrient is in the form of a carbonate or oxide.Preferably, the micronutrient may be selected from zinc, calcium, molybdenum or manganese, or magnesium. Particularly preferred micronutrients for use with the present invention may be selected from zinc oxide, manganese carbonate, manganese oxide, or calcium carbonate.The amount of micronutrient in the concentrate, if present, may typically be in the range from 5 wt.% to 40 wt.%, more usually, 10 wt.% to 35 wt.%, particularly 15 wt.% to 30 wt.%, by weight based on the total concentrate.Typically, as mixed into formulations during make up the average particle size of solid agrochemicals is from 50 pm to 100 pm, but formulations are typically wet milled after mixing to reduce the average particle size to from 1 pm to 10 pm, more preferably from 1 pm to 5 pm.The formulations of the present invention may also comprise at least one macronutrient. Macronutrients typically refer to those comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and include fertilisers such as ammonium sulphate, and water conditioning agents. Suitable macronutrients include fertilisers and other nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulphur containing compounds, and water conditioning agents.Suitable fertilisers include inorganic fertilisers that provide nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or sulphur. Examples of such fertilisers include: for nitrogen as the nutrient: nitrates and or ammonium salts such as ammonium nitrate, including in combination with urea e.g. as uran type materials, calcium ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate nitrate, ammonium phosphates, particularly mono-ammonium phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate and ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium sulphate, and the less commonly used calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride; for phosphorus as the nutrient: acidic forms of phosphorus such as phosphoric, pyrophosphoric or polyphosphoric acids, but more usually salt forms such as ammonium phosphates, particularly mono-ammonium phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate, and ammonium polyphosphate, potassium phosphates, particularly potassium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium polyphosphate; for sulphur as the nutrient: ammonium sulphate and potassium sulphate, e.g. the mixed sulphate with magnesium.Biostimulants may enhance metabolic or physiological processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, nucleic acid uptake, ion uptake, nutrient delivery, or a combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of biostimulants include seaweed extracts, humic acids (e.g., potassium humate), fulvic acids, myoinositol, glycine, jasmonic acid, benzoic acid, diphenyl urea, and combinations thereof.Agrochemically active compounds, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, require a formulation which allows the active compounds to be taken up by the plant / the target organisms or remain on the target surface.The term ‘ agrochemical formulation" as used herein refers to compositions including an active agrochemical, and is intended to include all forms of compositions, including concentrates and spray formulations. If not specifically stated, the agrochemical formulation of the present invention may be in the form of a concentrate, a diluted concentrate, or a sprayable formulation.The components of the present invention may be combined with other components in order to form an agrochemical formulation comprising at least one agrochemical active and / or nutrient and / or biostimulant.Agrochemical concentrates are agrochemical compositions, which may be aqueous or non-aqueous, and which are designed to be diluted with water (or a water-based liquid) to form the corresponding spray formulations. Said compositions include those in liquid form (such as solutions, emulsions, or dispersions) and in solid form (especially in water dispersible solid form) such as granules or powders.Accordingly, agrochemical active compounds may be formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), emulsion in water (EW), suspension concentrate (SC), soluble liquid (SL), as an oil-based suspension concentrate (OD), microemulsions (ME), and / or suspoemulsions (SE).In an EC formulation and in an SL formulation, the active compound may be present in dissolved form, whereas in an OD, SC, or SE formulations the active compound may be present as a solid or emulsified liquid.It is envisaged that the spray drift reductant of the present invention will particularly find use in a SC, OD, or SE formulation.The agrochemical formulation of the present invention may be in the form of a concentrate, a diluted concentrate, or a sprayable formulation.The aqueous agrochemical concentrates are agrochemical compositions designed to be diluted with water (or a water based liquid) to form the corresponding spray formulations.Spray formulations are aqueous agrochemical formulations including all the components which it is desired to apply to the plants or their environment. Spray formulations can be made up by simple dilution of concentrates containing desired components (other than water), or by mixing of the individual components, or a combination of diluting a concentrate and adding further individual components or mixtures of components. Typically such end use mixing is carried out in the tank from which the formulation is sprayed, or alternatively in a holding tank for filling the spray tank. Such mixing and mixtures are typically termed tank mixing and tank mixtures.A spray drift reductant may therefore be incorporated into the formulation of the agrochemical active or nutrient compound (in-can formulation) or be added after dilution of the concentrated formulation of the spray liquor (tank-mix). To avoid dosage errors and to improve user safety during application of agrochemical products, it is advantageous to incorporate the spray drift reductants into the formulation. This also avoids the unnecessary use of additional packaging material for the tank-mix products.According to the needs of the customer, concentrates thus formed may comprise typically up to 95 wt.% agrochemical actives or nutrients. In said dilute composition (for example, a spray formulation, where a spray application rate may be from 10 to 500 l.ha'1) the agrochemical active or nutrient concentration may be in the range from about 0.001 wt.% to about 1 wt.% of the total formulation as sprayed.The spray drift reductant will typically be used either in an amount proportional to the amount of the active agrochemical or nutrient in the formulation, or more preferably in an amount proportional to the volume of spray solution to be applied. In agrochemical formulation concentrates, the proportion of spray drift reductant will depend on the solubility of the components in the liquid carrier. Typically, the concentration of spray drift reductant in such a concentrate will be from 0.5 wt.% to 10 wt.%.When concentrates (solid or liquid) are used as the source of active agrochemical and / or spray drift reductant, the concentrates will typically be diluted to form the spray formulations. The dilution may be with from 1 to 10,000, particularly 10 to 1,000, times the total weight of the concentrate of water to form the spray formulation.Spray formulations are aqueous agrochemical formulations including all the components which it is desired to apply to the plants or their environment. Spray formulations can be made up by simple dilution of concentrates containing desired components (other than water). The present invention may find use in conventional spray applications, or drone delivered sprays.The components of the present invention may therefore be incorporated into the formulation of the agrochemical active compound (in-can / built-in formulation).In particular, the present invention finds use for low dilution, highly concentrated spray mixtures, where spray volume application is low in terms of amount applied per hectare. It will be understood that the compatibilities between the spray driftreductant and the inorganic solids become particularly pronounced where there is a low level of dilution, therefore resulting in the need for a compatibiliser.Where the agrochemical active is present in the aqueous end use formulation as solid particles, most usually it will be present as particles mainly of active agrochemical. However, if desired, the active agrochemical can be supported on a solid carrier e.g. silica or diatomaceous earth, which can be solid support, filler or diluent material as mentioned above.The spray formulations will typically have a pH within the range from moderately acidic (e.g. about 3) to moderately alkaline (e.g. about 10), and particular near neutral (e.g. about 5 to 8). More concentrated formulations will have similar degrees of acidity / alkalinity, but as they may be largely non-aqueous, pH is not necessarily an appropriate measure of this.The formulation may also comprise additional components such as pigments, dyes, bulking agents, and combinations thereof.The agrochemical formulation may also include other components as desired. These other components may be selected from those including:■ further binders, particularly binders which are readily water soluble to give low viscosity solutions at high binder concentrations, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyvinyl alcohol; carboxymethyl cellulose; gum arabic; sugars e.g. sucrose or sorbitol; starch; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, sucrose and alginates,■ solvents (other than water) such as monopropylene glycol, or oils which can be vegetable or mineral oils such as spray oils (oils included in spray formulations as non- surfactant adjuvants. Such solvents may be included as a solvent for the formulation components, and / or as a humectant, e.g. especially propylene glycol. When used such solvents will typically be included in an amount of from 5 wt.% to 500 wt.%, desirably 10 wt.% to 100 wt.%, by weight.■ diluents, absorbents or carriers such as carbon black; talc; diatomaceous earth; kaolin; aluminium, calcium or magnesium stearate; sodium tripolyphosphate; sodium tetraborate; sodium sulphate; sodium, aluminium and mixed sodiumaluminium silicates; and sodium benzoate,■ disintegration agents, such as surfactants, materials that swell in water, for example carboxy methylcellulose, collodion, polyvinylpyrrolidone and microcrystalline cellulose swelling agents; salts such as sodium or potassium acetate, sodium carbonate, bicarbonate or sesquicarbonate, ammonium sulphate and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate;■ wetting agents such as alcohol ethoxylate and alcohol ethoxylate / propoxylate wetting agents;■ dispersants such as sulphonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates and acrylic copolymers such as the comb copolymer having capped polyethylene glycol side chains on a polyacrylic backbone;■ emulsifiers such as alcohol ethoxylates, ABA block co polymers, or castor oil ethoxylates;■ antifoam agents, e.g. polysiloxane antifoam agents, typically in amounts of 0.005 wt.% to 10 wt.% of the formulation;■ viscosity modifiers such as commercially available water soluble or miscible gums, e.g. xanthan gums, and / or cellulosics, e.g. carboxy- methyl, ethyl or propylcellulose; and / or■ preservatives and / or anti-microbials such as organic acids, or their esters or salts such as ascorbic e.g. ascorbyl palmitate, sorbic e.g. potassium sorbate, benzoic e.g. benzoic acid and methyl and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, propionic e.g. sodium propionate, phenol e.g. sodium 2-phenylphenate; 1,2- benzisothiazolin-3-one; or formaldehyde as such or as paraformaldehyde; or inorganic materials such as sulphurous acid and its salts, typically in amounts of 0.01 wt.% to 1 wt.% of the formulation.The agrochemical formulation according to the present invention may also contain components, such as surfactant materials which form part of the emulsifier system. Said surfactants may include surfactant dispersants.Adjuvants may be included in the compositions and formulations of and used in this invention.The invention further includes a method of treating or providing nutrients to plants using spray formulations including at least one dispersed phase agrochemical, a spray drift reductant of the first aspect, an inorganic mineral solid, and a compatibilser. The agrochemical may be one or more phytoactives, for example growth regulators and / or herbicides, and / or pesticides, for example insecticides, fungicides or acaricides, or may be a nutrient.Accordingly the invention further includes methods of use including:■ a method of killing or inhibiting vegetation by applying to the vegetation, or the immediate environment of the vegetation e.g. the soil around the vegetation, a spray formulation including at least one dispersed phase agrochemical and a spray drift reductant of the first aspect;■ a method of killing or inhibiting pests of plants by applying to the plants or the immediate environment of the plants e.g. the soil around the plants, a spray formulations including at least one dispersed phase agrochemical which is one or more pesticides, for example insecticides, fungicides or acaricides, and a spray drift reductant of the first aspect; and■ a method of providing nutrients to vegetation by applying to the vegetation, or the immediate environment of the vegetation e.g. the soil around the vegetation, a spray formulation including at least one nutrient and a spray drift reductant of the first aspect.Spray drift reductants refer to materials that reduce the amount of undesired small spray droplets (driftable fines) and / or the amount of undesired large droplets, both in a commercially significant and desirable manner. It is understood that the modification of spray drift characteristics is achieved through the modification of the size and size distribution of droplets in the spray.Spray applied formulations typically exhibit decreasing tendency to drift when a decreased amount of small size spray droplets are formed, that is spray droplets having a droplet size below typically 105 pm. This amount of small driftable droplets may be expressed as a volume percentage of the droplet volume of the total spray applied. There is a desire to reduce the amount of spray drift when compared to formulations either comprising alternative non-ionic surfactants or no spray drift reductant. Spray drift of pesticides can have undesirable consequences which include unintended contact of phytotoxic pesticides with non-pest pest plants causing damage to these non-pest plants, such as crops or ornamental plants.In addition, use of the spray drift reductants of the present invention results in no or few extremely large droplets being created which might otherwise be expected when using polymer surfactants in agrochemical formulations.The present invention will be understood to improve spray droplet characteristics with none or little degradation of spray pattern, and whilst maintaining formulation stability by reducing component incompatibilities.It will be understood that all values of particle and droplet size stated herein are with reference to the TeeJet 8002 spray nozzle 80° and the flow rate is 0.2 gallons per minute. Fluid pressure for spray testing is stated at 40psi unless stated otherwise. Values for spray drift reduction are with reference to spray formulations comprising 0.5 wt.% of the reductant.Droplet size and spray measurement values may be readily determined by laser light scattering, image analysis, or phase doppler laser measurement. Droplet size measurements as used in the present application are with reference to measurement by laser light scattering using a Sympatec Helos Vario KF laser sizing system. The spray plume was directed down and traversed across the instrument laser beam; data was averaged over the spray plume.Preferably the spray drift reductant decreases the volume of driftable fine droplets (fines). In particular, driftable fine droplets are those which are of size less than 105 pm, where this is understood by ASTM El 519- 10 to represent the droplet size below which the droplets are driftable.The reduction in spray drift will be therefore understood as a reduction in the volume percentage of droplets having a droplet size of less than 105 pm compared to an analogous agrochemical formulation which does not comprise the spray drift reductant of the present invention.The spray drift reductant of the present invention may provide a percentage reduction of droplets having a size of less than 105 pm of at least 10% at a spray pressure of 40 psi. More preferably, at least 15%. Further preferably, at least 20%. Most preferably, at least 25%.In the form of a distribution of particle sizes, the spray droplet would have a median volume particle / droplet diameter value. It will be understood that the median volume particle diameter refers to the equivalent spherical diameter corresponding to the point on the distribution which divides the population exactly into two equal halves. It is the point which corresponds to 50% of the volume of all the particles, read on the cumulative distribution curve relating volume percentage to the diameter of the particles i.e. 50% of the distribution is above this value and 50% is below. This value is referred to as the ‘D(v,0.5)’ value and is determined as described herein.Preferably the spray drift reductant increases the D(v,0.5) value. The increase in the D(v,0.5) of the spray will be therefore understood as an increase in the spray droplet median volume particle / droplet diameter value compared to an analogous agrochemical formulation which does not comprise the spray drift reductant of the present invention.The spray drift reductant of the present invention may provide a percentage increase of the D(v,0.5) value of at least 10% at a spray pressure of 40 psi. More preferably, at least 15%. Most preferably, at least 20%.The spray drift reductant of the present invention, by reducing the amount of undesired small and large droplets, may change the droplet size distribution of a sprayed formulation.The ‘drift reduction efficiency" is defined as the amount of reduced drift obtained per 1 wt.% of the reductant present, the value using as a base line an identical formulation comprising no reductant. As noted, the reduction in spray drift can be seen by the reduction in the volume percentage of droplets having a droplet size of less than 150 pm compared to an analogous agrochemical formulation which does not comprise the spray drift reductant of the present invention. Therefore, a value for drift reduction efficiency can be calculated by measuring the difference in the volume percentage of droplets having a droplet size of less than 105 pm for a reductant comprising formulation compared to a control, and calculating a value per 1 wt.% of reductant. For example, if the percentage difference found for use of 0.2 wt.% reductant is 10%, the calculated drift reduction efficiency value would be 50 per 0.1 wt.% reductant.The drift reduction efficiency for the reductant is preferably greater than 1, more preferably greater than 3, even more preferably greater than 10, further preferably greater than 20, particularly preferably greater than 30, more preferably greater than 40, even more preferably greater than 50, further preferably greater than 70, most preferably greater than 100.The contact angle of an agrochemical formulation represents a profile measurement of a drop of the formulation when in contact with a solid surface. When a surfactant is added to water the surface tension of the solution is reduced and the droplet is therefore able to spread out over a greater leaf area. This flatter droplet has a lower contact angle. It is typically understood that a water droplet has a contact angle of93°, whilst a solution including a desired wetter adjuvant will have a contact angle of 50° or less.The contact angle of the agrochemical formulation of the present invention is preferably less than 65°. More preferably, less than 60°. Most preferably, less than 58°.The method of determining contact angle is as described herein.Surface tension is a condition that exists at the free surface of a liquid. The surface tension test measures the force required to pull a floating ring off of the surface of a liquid. This force is measured in dynes / cm (equivalent to mN / m, and water typically has a value of 74 dyn / cm. Typically surfactants will lower the surface tension value resulting in better leaf coverage.A reduction of surface tension is desired as it would indicate an improved spreading of each droplet on the target surface which would lead to better uptake. The adjuvants of the present invention are found to provide desired surface tension.The equilibrium surface tension (EST) of the adjuvant of the present invention is preferably less than 60 mN / m. More preferably, less than 50 mN / m. Further preferably, less than 45 mN / m. Most preferably, less than 40 mN / m.The method of determining equilibrium surface tension is as described herein using a 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% aqueous dilute solution of adjuvant.The lower surface tension values confirm desirable performance as non-ionic surfactant adjuvants. Lower dynamic surface tension (DST) for a material of the same molecular size or greater (as is the case of the materials of the present invention) provide improved properties related to increased droplet retention on leaf surfaces, and in combination with a lower contact angle, will provide improved spreading. The end result of this is increased leaf surface coverage.The dynamic surface tension of the adjuvant of the present invention is preferably less than 75 mN / m. More preferably, less than 70 mN / m. Most preferably, less than 65 mN / m.The method of determining dynamic surface tension is as described herein using 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% diluted adjuvant in water.Together, the series of observed physical property improvements in EST, contact angle, and DST, are generally considered important for improving the performance of contact insecticides and fungicides.The adjuvants of the present invention are polymeric and generally of larger size whereas the more common approach for reducing DST is to make the surfactant molecule smaller and more mobile at a rapidly expanding interface as well as either shrinking or branching the hydrophobe. The observed performance differentiates them from other surface active compounds used to reduce the DST of agricultural spray mixtures.The drift reduction properties are maintained in a stable formulation when comprising typically incompatible spray drift reductant and inorganic mineral solid, even at low dilution levels, on the presence of a compatibiliser as defined herein.All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.ExamplesIn order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the following description.It will be understood that all tests and physical properties listed have been determined at atmospheric pressure and room temperature (i.e. 25°C), unless otherwise stated herein, or unless otherwise stated in the referenced test methods and procedures.Test methodsThe following test methods were used to determine performance of the adjuvant compositions.■ Phytotoxicity - effects were assessed visually from 1 to 5 after treatment using a 0 to 6 scale as shown below. Plants were grouped into treatments and photographed:■ Spray parameters - Spray droplet size distributions were measured in the Croda recirculating low speed wind tunnel apparatus (LSWT).The samples were tested by spraying at 1.0% in tap water from an XR11002 nozzle at 40 psi. Droplet size distributions measured 12 inches outside the nozzle exit under 15 mph wind speed using a Sympatec HELOS-KR laser diffraction system equipped with an R7 lens that intersects the spray perpendicular to the spraying axis approximately 10 inches below the nozzle exit. Spent spray solution was removed using a mist eliminator. Measures reported in this report include the D(v,0.1), D(v,0.5), and D(v,0.9), which arethe droplet sizes below which 10, 50, and 90% of the spray volume is contained.The percent less than 105 pm (% <105 pm) are the percentages of the spray volume that is 105 pm and smaller.The samples were sprayed to obtain particle size and distribution results, and therefore determine spray drift properties. The values reported are the average of at least four measurements.■ Equilibrium Surface Tension - Surface tension measurements were made using a Kruss model K100 tensiometer with a Wilhelmy plate. The temperature of the sample chamber was controlled at 25.0°C ± 0.1 °C using a VWR model 1156D refrigerated / heated circulating water bath.The performance of the instrument was verified by measuring the surface tension of HPLC-grade water prior to making measurements on sample solutions. Approximately 2 / 3 of clean measurement unit was filled with HLPC grade water to establish baseline surface tension for water alone without surfactant (72.8 mN / m).Aqueous solutions of each sample material were prepared at concentrations of 0.5 wt.% and 1.0 wt.%. Burdick & Jackson HPLC grade water was used. The samples were subject to manual agitation, and allowed to equilibrate for at least 24 hours.Approximately 20 ml of sample solution was gently poured into a sample dish and placed in the instrument sample holder. The evolution of surface tension was monitored for fifteen minutes, by which time it was determined that equilibrium had been effectively attained. The value of surface tension at this time was recorded. Measurements on at least two aliquots were made and the average value was reported.■ Dynamic Surface Tension (DST) - DST was determined using standard ASTM D3825-09 “Standard Test Method for Dynamic Surface Tension by the Fast- Bubble Technique” with 1.0 wt. % aqueous dilution of adjuvant at ambient temperature.■ Contact angle - Aqueous solutions of each sample material were prepared at a concentration of 0.5 wt% and 1.0 wt. %. Burdick & Jackson HPLC grade water was used. The samples were shaken by hand and allowed to equilibrate for 24 hours.Measurements of the contact angle of each solution on Parafilm were made using a Lauda Scientific goniometer, model number LSA 100. A thin strip of Parafilm was affixed to a microscope slide using double stick tape; the protective barrier on the Parafilm was removed after applying the Parafilm to the tape. Droplets 5 microliters in volume were applied to the Parafilm using a micropipette. The contact angle of each droplet was measured immediately upon application by visually aligning the cross-hairs of the goniometer along the tangent of the droplet / substrate / air interface. Contact angles on each side of ten droplets were measured. These values were averaged to determine the value reported.■ Stability - the stability of all formulations was assessed after the stated time period at room temperature (RT, 25°C.) and 54°C. All samples were visually assessed to measure sedimentation / creaming that may have occurred.The following materials were used in the examples:• COMP1 - ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600)• COMP2 - cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride.• polyoxyethylene (16) sorbitan monolaurate (commercially available as Tween 24)• PEG (4MM) - polyethylene glycol (MW 4 million)• PG 5% - propylene glycolThe following formulations were made up for testing as shown in Table 1 :Table 1. FormulationsThe formulations were made by accurate weighting the required amount of each ingredient into a beaker then stirred until uniform liquid was obtained.PhytotoxicityPhytotoxicity for the formulations was tested to ensure that use and application would not harm any crops on which it was used. A separate trial was conducted for each sample, Fl and F2. Five rates of the samples were compared to a water control (Table 2). The trial contained four plants per treatment, giving 24 pots per trial for soybean and lettuce, respectively. Therefore 72 soybean and 72 lettuce pots will be sown for all trials, 144 in total.Table 2. Treatment rates to be used in three trials for each sample with a water controlThe greenhouse growth conditions were set to 22°C day and 19°C night temperature with 14 hours of supplementary lighting. One litre pots (3.5”) were filled with compost (Levington F2+S). Two seeds were sown per pot and thinned to one after emergence.Plants were watered as required using the watering lance until treatment application. After spraying, plants were watered into pot trays to avoid washing treatments off the leaves. Watering was applied at a consistent speed and fully passed end pots (watering an extra invisible pot). Biological control Bioline (Amblyseius cucumeris) was used to control western flower thrips. Yellow sticky traps were used to control Scarid flies. Plants were checked for signs of disease, nutrient deficiency or other stress symptoms.All treatment were applied when lettuce had 3-4 true leaves and soybean had two trifoliate leaves, using a micro-sprayer. Untreated control plants were sprayed with deionised water. Before spraying, plants were randomly selected and placed in treatment groups, one group at a time, on the greenhouse floor in a one-meter square. Care was taken to avoid spray drift contaminating off-target plants.The sprayer was calibrated for an output of 200L / ha with a fan nozzle (XR TEEJET 11001 VS), with the 100-mesh filter removed, at 3 bar pressure. Note that the spray pattern was greatly affected by the high concentration of adjuvants. Spraying was done at a consistent speed and all treatment solution used. After spraying, plants were returned to the greenhouse bench, with each group grown in a column to aid visual inspection. Plants were not watered for 12 hours after treatment application to ensure treatments are not washed off.Treatments were applied in concentration order from the control to the most concentrated, to avoid contamination of treatments. Table 3. Fl average phytotoxicity score from four soybean plants per treatment.No phytotoxic effects were observed with application of Fl up to a concentration of 1.5% v / v, at which point minor brown patches were visible of older leaves. Moderate crop damage, with a few patches of cell death and some brown discolouration was visible following Fl application at 3% v / v, which increased in frequency as the concentration increased to 4.5% v / v.Table 4. Fl average phytotoxicity score from four lettuce plants per treatment.No phytotoxic effects were seen in lettuce plants at any rates of Fl.Table 5. F2 average phytotoxicity score from four soybean plants per treatment.Table 6. F2 average phytotoxicity score from four lettuce plants per treatment.The spray pattern was greatly affected by the high concentration of adjuvants, which meant that the spray filter had to be removed and pressure increased from 2 to 3 bar (29-43.5 psi). It was possible to determine the point at which each of the adjuvants began to cause phytotoxic damage. Fl began to cause phytotoxic damage when applied at a rate of 1.5% v / v. F2 appeared more phytotoxic, with the first signs of damage resulting from application of caused damage at 0.75% v / v.Spray drift performance The formulations were tested for spray drift performance using a low-speed wind tunnel to ensure that use of the adjuvants did not cause any unwanted degradation in drift.Table 7. Droplet size distribution results at 40psi with XR11002 nozzleThe results show that all the treatments were effective at reducing driftable fines compared to water alone.Stability and compatibilityThe stability was tested at room temperature, 5°C and 54°C and the no phase separation was observed for two weeks, which was considered that formulation stability was acceptable.The compatibility of the two variants with previously tested commercial agrochemicals were checked. It was found that both variants could greatly improve the compatibility issue. Instead of the 30% (10 out of 33 agrochemicals) of the tested agrochemicals that showed the incompatibility issue in the case of the original recipe, only 1 agrochemical has shown incompatibility for F2 and none for Fl.Equilibrium Surface TensionThe breakup of surfactant solutions is similar to that of pure water but results in droplets that are on average smaller. The resulting droplet size distribution can be well described using the predictions for simple liquids by the parameter of the equilibrium surface tension and the dynamic surface tension.The equilibrium surface tension was evaluated for the formulations.Table 8. Equilibrium surface tension value (Dyn / cm)From Table 8, it can be seen that the EST of the inventive formulations Fl and F2 are almost the same and slightly higher compared to the control Cl. Dynamic Surface Tension (DST)The dynamic surface tension was compared with the original version at 0.5 and 1.0%.Table 9. Dynamic surface tension value (Dyn / cm)From Table 9 it can be seen that the DST of the three samples is quite similar.It is clear when looking at particle sizes, equilibrium surface tension, and dynamic surface tension, that the components of the present invention do not have any negative effects with regard to spray drift properties.Contact AngleReduced contact angle indicates enhanced spreading of water droplets on leaf surfaces. Contact angles are also not so low as to overly increase droplet runoff, helping to maximise droplet retention on treated plants.The contact angle of the three samples on the parafilm was tested at the concentration of 0.5% and 1.0%.Table 10. Contact angle of the samples on the parafilmFrom Table 10, it can be seen that F2 has a much lower contact angle at both the use rates. The contact angle at 0.5% shows a little difference with the Fl versus Cl.CompatibilityAn essential element of the present invention is not only that there are no negative effects with regard to phytotoxicity and spray drift performance, but that the addition of the components ensures a stable and compatible formulation which would otherwise be observed with combinations of high molecular weight drift agents and inorganic mineral solids.The compatibility results are shown in Table 11.Table 11. Compatibility resultsSANS / NSC - naphthalene sulfonic acid / formaldehyde condensation polymer which is a dispersant commonly used in agriculture recipes and one of root cause of the incompatibility normally observed when high molecular weight drift agents and inorganic mineral solids are both present.It can be seen that when compared to the control formulation, the formulations of the present invention provide good compatibility.It was found that by adding ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated quaternary amine, or fatty amine ethoxylates into the control formulation Cl, can help to improve the compatibility with MAS and NSC. The stability of the inventive formulations was deemed acceptable, in comparison to the control Cl which would not be deemed acceptable due to the reduced stability.In-house test results showed that the performance of the inventive formulations was more or less similar to the control Cl in terms of the low speed wind tunnel tests, equilibrium, and contact angle. The inventive formulations also did not show any undesired phytoxicity.As compatibility with agrochemicals is one of the critical features for tank mix adjuvants, especially with low spray volume application such as drone application, it has been found that minimum inclusion of surfactant to achieve compatibility with common co-formulants that are used in liquid agrochemicals.It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of the above embodiments, which are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible.

Claims

Claims1. A sprayable agrochemical formulation comprising; i) at least one spray drift reductant being a polyethylene glycol or polyacrylamide having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons; ii) a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylate; iii) at least one inorganic mineral solid; and ii) optionally at least one agrochemical active, nutrient, or biostimulant.

2. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to claim 1, wherein the number-average molecular mass of the spray drift reductant is in the range from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 daltons3. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the amount of compatibiliser in the formulation is in the range from 0.01 to 0.10 wt.% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to any preceding claim, wherein the ethoxylated polyethylenimine has a molecular weight (weight average) in the range from 4,000 to 20,000.

5. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to any preceding claim, wherein the degree of ethoxylation of the polyethyleneimines, is in the range from 10 to 30.

6. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to any preceding claim, wherein the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine is selected from, ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (400), ethoxylated (16EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine(700), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (500), ethoxylated (26EO) polyethyleneimine (400), and ethoxylated (24EO) polyethyleneimine (400).

7. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to claim 6, wherein the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine is selected from, ethoxylated (18EO) polyethyleneimine (600), ethoxylated (20EO) polyethyleneimine (600), and ethoxylated (22EO) polyethyleneimine (600).

8. The spray able agrochemical formulation according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds is selected from those which conform to the following structure (I):whereinR is a C6-C32 fatty alkyl chain;R' is a C1-C6 alkyl or alkylene group; the sum of m and n is in the range from 8 to 40; andX is a salt-forming counterion which renders the compound water soluble or water dispersible.

9. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to claim 8, wherein the ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds is selected from, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (20EO) chloride, cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, andcocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, stearylalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (20EO) chloride, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride, and stearylalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)ethyl ethoxylated (10EO) chloride.

10. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to claim 9, wherein the ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary ammonium compounds is selected from, stearyl alkylbi s(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride, and cocoalkylbis(hydroxyethyl)methyl ethoxylated (15EO) chloride.

11. The sprayable agrochemical formulation according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fatty amine ethoxylate is selected from those which conform to the following structure (II):wherein:R is a C6-C32 fatty alkyl chain; and the sum of m and n is in the range from 3 to 20.

12. A concentrate formulation suitable for making a sprayable agrochemical formulation according to any of claims 1 to 11, said concentrate comprising a spray drift reductant of polyethylene glycol having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons, and optionally a compatibiliser selected from ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylate.

13. The concentrate formulation according to claim 12, wherein the amount of compatibiliser in the formulation is in the range from 1 to 10 wt.% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

14. Use of ethoxylated polyethylene imine, ethoxylated alkyl amine quaternary, or fatty amine ethoxylate, as a compatibiliser for a spray drift reductant being a polyethylene glycol or polyacrylamide having molecular weight in the range from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 Daltons, in an agrochemical formulation, said formulation comprising at least one inorganic mineral solid, and optionally at least one agrochemical active, nutrient, or biostimulant.

15. A method of reducing spray drift by using an agrochemical formulation according to any of claims 1 to 11, and / or a diluted concentrate formulation according to claims 12 or 13.

16. A method of treating vegetation to control pests and / or to provide nutrients, the method comprising applying a formulation according to any of claims 1 to 11, and / or a diluted concentrate formulation according to claims 12 or 13, either to said vegetation or to the immediate environment of said vegetation.

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