A method for controlling weeds

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling weeds of Rottboellia genus with herbicidal combinations / compositions comprising chloroacetamide herbicides and dinitroaniline herbicide. The present disclosure further provides a method for controlling weeds using the herbicidal combination possessing enhanced efficacy over the individual herbicides.

Description

[0001] A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WEEDS

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE:

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling undesired vegetation / weeds. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for controlling weeds of Rotboellia genus with herbicidal combinations / compositions thereof.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE:

[0005] Weeds are undesirable plants that are detrimental to agriculture and significantly affect crop yields. Farmers use various types of herbicides to control weeds. Herbicides are chemical substances, which are used to specifically control the unwanted plants / weeds.

[0006] Rotboellia cochinchinensis (Family: Poaceae) is an annual grass weed in the humid tropics in a wide range of crops, especially com, maize, sorghum, upland rice and sugarcane. The weed mainly thrives in moist permeable heavy-textured soils. It is an extremely variable species and numerous ecotypes exist that are adapted to specific crops or locations. Single plants can produce thousands of seeds over one growing season and populations can build up rapidly to levels where the weed becomes dominant. Effective control methods for this weed are therefore essential. In practice, however, Rotboellia cochinchinensis is often not controlled effectively between crops and more seeds are added to the seed bank.

[0007] Herbicides tend to be largely ineffective either because of problems with resistance and selectivity, or because they are too expensive for the farmers. Also, because the weed can produce multiple flushes in the presence of adequate water and light, control measures have to be applied regularly until the canopy closes. Chemical control of Rotboellia cochinchinensis is not an easy task in several crops. Many of the herbicides applied in these crops such as chlorotriazines, acetanilides, certain phenyl ureas such as linuron, and S-Ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) plus dichlormid do not control Rotboellia cochinchinensis. Crop areas repeatedly treated with these herbicides commonly have increased Rotboellia cochinchinensis infestations. Furthermore, determination of economic thresholds may be an aid in decision-making for costly chemical control.

[0008] As a consequence of its characteristics, its control requires a herbicide with long effective period of (residual) control. In such cases, an effective herbicidal combination may hold some potential for good control over this weed. The herbicides, solo or combinations presently known are not sufficient to control resistant and persistent Rotboellia genus weeds, for example Rotboellia cochinchinensis. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method of protecting crops from Rotboellia genus weeds using herbicidal combinations that have advantageous properties such as being efficacious, helping in resistance management, reducing dosage of herbicides used and providing improved residual effects.

[0009] OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCLOSURE:

[0010] It is a primary objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for controlling or preventing unwanted plants / weeds in crops.

[0011] It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for controlling weeds and achieving increased yield in the crops, by reducing the number of weeds in the crops.

[0012] It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for controlling weeds using a herbicidal combination possessing enhanced efficacy over the individual herbicides.

[0013] It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for improving the plant health by application of a herbicidal combination. It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for increasing yield in a plant by application of a herbicidal combination.

[0014] It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, wherein the method comprises applying a herbicidal combination, to a plant or a locus thereof, where the weeds occur or are expected to occur.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE:

[0016] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds.

[0017] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rottboellia genus weeds.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for efficient control, suppression and eradication of Rottboellia genus weeds, by applying an effective amount of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide.

[0019] Additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description that follows, which illustrates by way of example, the most preferred features of the present disclosure which are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure described herein.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE:

[0021] The present disclosure now will be described hereinafter, in which embodiments of the disclosure are shown. This description is not intended to be a detailed catalogue of all the different ways in which the disclosure may be implemented, or all the features that may be added to the instant disclosure. In addition, numerous variations and additions to the various embodiments suggested herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the instant disclosure, which do not depart from the instant disclosure. Hence, the following descriptions are intended to illustrate some particular embodiments of the disclosure, and not to exhaustively specify all permutations, combinations and variations thereof.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described herein.

[0023] “About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” can mean within one or more standard deviations, or within ±10 or ±5 of the stated value.

[0024] It is to be noted that, as used in the specification, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0025] The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise noted. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”), is intended merely to better illustrate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure as used herein.

[0026] The term “Rotboellia genus weeds” or “weeds of Rotboellia genus” in the present scope of discussion refers to an annual grass weed growing in fields wherein other crops are being grown. It may also be referred to as itchgrass. Therefore, Rotboellia genus weed is a weed as it is not the target crop. Rotboellia genus weeds means all the species falling within genus Rotboellia in the family Poaceae and comprises species such as Rotboellia cochinchinensis, Rotboellia coelorachis, Rotboellia goalparensis , Rotboellia laevispica, Rotboellia paradoxa, Rotboellia purpurascens, or combinations thereof.

[0027] The term “control” relates to a weed, includes control of the weed, as well as protecting a plant, a portion of the plant, or a plant seed from attack or invasion by said weed.

[0028] Subsequently, the term “herbicide” encompasses both herbicides as well as plant growth regulators, in so far as this does not otherwise emerge from the context. The term herbicide as used herein denotes a compound which controls or modifies the growth of undesired weeds / plants.

[0029] The term “herbicidally effective amount” indicates the quantity of such a compound or combination of such compounds which is capable of controlling or modifying effect on the growth of harmful plants / undesired vegetation / weeds. Controlling effects include all deviation from natural development, for example: killing, retardation, leaf bum, albinism, dwarfism, etc.

[0030] As used herein the term “plant” or “crop” refers to whole plants, plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems, twigs, roots, trunks, limbs, shoots, fruits etc.), plant cells, and plant seeds. This term also encompasses plant crops such as fruits. The term “plant” may further include the propagation material thereof, which may include all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers, which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, tubers, spores, corms, bulbs, rhizomes, sprouts basal shoots, stolon, and buds and other parts of plants, including seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil. As used herein, the term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of a plant, such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants, germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion.

[0031] The term “locus” refers to an area of planted crops or a location where Rottboellia genus weeds occurs or grows or can occur or grow and is intended to include soil, medium of growth other than soil.

[0032] As used herein, the term “increased yield” of an agricultural plant means that the yield of a product of the respective plant is increased by a measurable amount over the yield of the same product of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without the application of the compositions described herein. According to the present disclosure, it is preferred that the crop yield be increased by at least 0.5%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 5%, upon application of the combinations and compositions described herein.

[0033] As used herein, the terms “undesirable vegetation”, “undesirable species”, “undesirable plants”, “harmful plants”, “undesirable weeds”, “harmful weeds” or “weed” are synonyms and particularly refer to Rotboellia genus and species.

[0034] The terms “g a.i. / ha” as used herein denotes the concentration of the respective active ingredient in “grams” applied “per hectare” of the crop field. The terms “g ai / ha”, “g a.i. / ha” and “g / ha” may be used interchangeably.

[0035] As used herein, the term “pre-emergence” or “before emergence” refers to the time point before seedlings emerge from the ground. When any herbicide is applied at pre-emergence stage, it prevents establishment of the germinated weed seedlings. As used herein, the term “post-emergence” refers to the time point after seedlings emerge from the ground. When any herbicide is applied at post-emergence stage, it prevents growth of the germinated weed seedlings.

[0036] An effective weed control can be achieved by usage of herbicides appropriately. The activity of herbicides can be enhanced in various ways to achieve the maximum benefit. One of the ways is to use different herbicidal combinations. However, identifying appropriate combinations, their agrochemical application rates, and ratio of the combinations is essential to achieve efficacious control.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling herbicide-resistant and / or herbicide-tolerant weeds.

[0038] More particularly, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds of Poaceae family with a herbicidal combination / composition thereof.

[0039] More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for controlling weeds of Rotboellia genus with a herbicidal combination / composition thereof.

[0040] It has been found by the inventors of the present invention that Rotboellia genus weeds, can be controlled using a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide.

[0041] It was found that in present combinations, the chloroacetamide herbicide and the dinitroaniline herbicide, provided control of Rotboellia genus weeds. The degree of enhancement in the efficacy of the above combination towards control of Rotboellia genus weeds, was unpredictable and unexpected. Moreover, the properties and advantages mentioned are required in practical weed control to keep agricultural crops free of unwanted competing plants, and thus to qualitatively and quantitatively ensure and / or increase the yield in plants. According to an embodiment, the mode of action of the chloro acetamide herbicide is inhibition of very long-chain fatty acid synthesis. According to an embodiment, the mode of action of the dinitroaniline herbicide is inhibition of microtubule assembly.

[0042] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling grass weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: at least one chloroacetamide herbicide; and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide.

[0043] In another embodiment, the chloroacetamide herbicide is selected from the group comprising metolachlor, S-metolachlor, acetochlor, alachlor, allidochlor, amidochlor, butachlor, butenachlor, CDEA, delachlor, diethatyl, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, ethachlor, ethaprochlor, metazachlor, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlor, xylachlor, or combinations thereof.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the chloroacetamide herbicide is selected from the group comprising metolachlor, S-metolachlor, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the chloroacetamide herbicide is metolachlor.

[0045] In another embodiment, the dinitroaniline herbicide is selected from the group comprising pendimethalin, benfluralin, butralin, chlomidine, dinitramine, dipropalin, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, isopropalin, methalpropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, prodiamine, profluralin, prosulfalin, trifluralin, or combinations thereof.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the dinitroaniline herbicide is pendimethalin.

[0047] As used throughout the disclosure, the chloroacetamide herbicide or the dinitroaniline herbicide or any other active ingredient, include their salts, esters, ethers, polymorphs including solvates and hydrates. A salt includes salts that retain the biological effectiveness and properties of the active ingredient, and which are not biologically or otherwise undesirable, and include derivatives of the disclosed compounds in which the parent compound is modified by making inorganic and organic, non-toxic, acid or base addition salts thereof. The salts can be synthesized from the parent compound by conventional chemical methods.

[0048] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: at least one chloroacetamide herbicide; and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide.

[0049] In another embodiment, the chloroacetamide herbicide is metolachlor. In another embodiment, the dinitroaniline herbicide is pendimethalin.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: metolachlor; and pendimethalin.

[0051] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds by application of an effective amount of the herbicidal combination to a plant, or a plant propagation material, or a locus thereof.

[0052] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds, wherein the weeds are treated by applying concurrently or subsequently or sequentially with the herbicidal combination. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds, preferably grass weeds. In another embodiment, the Rotboellia genus weed is selected from the group comprising Rotboellia cochinchinensis. Rotboellia coelorachis, Rotboellia goalparensis, Rotboellia laevispica, Rotboellia paradoxa, Rotboellia purpurascens, or combinations thereof.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the Rotboellia genus weeds is Rotboellia cochinchinensis. In a preferred embodiment, the weed of Rotboellia genus is Rotboellia cochinchinensis.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia cochinchinensis weed, the method comprising treating the weed with a herbicidal combination comprising: metolachlor; and pendimethalin.

[0055] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: at least one chloroacetamide herbicide; at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and at least one additional herbicide.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment, the method for controlling Rottboellia genus weeds further comprises at least one additional herbicide.

[0057] In another embodiment, the additional herbicide is selected from the group comprising aliphatic acid herbicides, amide herbicides, aromatic acid herbicides, benzofuran herbicides, benzonitrile herbicides, benzophenone herbicides, benzothiadiazinone herbicides, benzyl ether herbicides, botanical herbicides, carbamate herbicides, cyclohexanedione oxime herbicides, dinitroaniline herbicides, dinitrophenol herbicides, diphenyl ether herbicides, diphenyl heterocycle herbicides, dithiocarbamate herbicides, fumigant herbicides, halogenated alkanoic acid herbicides, imidazolinone herbicides, inorganic herbicides, isoxazole herbicides, isoxazolidinone herbicides, isoxazoline herbicides, N-phenyl heterocycle herbicides, N-phenylimide herbicides, N- phenyloxadiazolone herbicides, N-phenyltriazolinone herbicides, organochlorine herbicides, organophosphorous herbicides, oxirane herbicides, oxyacetamide herbicides, phenol herbicides, phenoxy herbicides, phenylcarboxylic acid herbicides, phenyl ether herbicides, phenylthiourea herbicides, pyrazole herbicides, pyridazine herbicides, pyridazinone herbicides, pyridine herbicides, pyrimidinediamine herbicides, pyrimidinyloxybenzylamine herbicides, quaternary ammonium herbicides, quinone herbicides, alpha-thioacetamide herbicides, thiocarbamate herbicides, thiocarbonate herbicides, triazine herbicides, triazinone herbicides, triazole herbicides, triazolone herbicides, triazolopyrimidine herbicides, triketone herbicides, uracil herbicides, urea herbicides, unclassified herbicide, or combinations thereof.

[0058] In another embodiment, the additional herbicide is selected from triazine herbicides comprising chlorotriazine herbicides, alkylazine herbicides, alkylthiotriazine herbicides, methoxytriazine herbcides, or combinations thereof.

[0059] In another embodiment, the additional herbicide is preferably selected from chlorotriazine herbicides comprising atrazine, chlorazine, cyanazine, cyprazine, eglinazine, ipazine, mesoprazine, procyazine, proglinazine, propazine, sebuthylazine, simazine, terbuthylazine, trietazine, or combinations thereof.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the additional herbicide is atrazine.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: metolachlor; pendimethalin; and atrazine.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia cochinchinensis weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal combination comprising: metolachlor; pendimethalin; and atrazine.

[0063] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, by application of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, wherein the chloroacetamide herbicide is applied at a rate from about 100 g a.i. / ha to about 2000 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 300 g a.i. / ha to about 1800 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 500 g a.i. / ha to about 1500 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 600 g a.i. / ha to about 1400 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 700 g a.i. / ha to about 1300 g a.i. / ha, and preferably from about 800 g a.i. / ha to about 1200 g a.i. / ha.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the chloroacetamide herbicide is applied at a rate of about 1000 g a.i. / ha. In a preferred embodiment, metolachlor is applied at a rate of about 1000 g a.i. / ha.

[0065] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, by application of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, wherein the dinitroaniline herbicide is applied at a rate from about 10 g a.i. / ha to about 1200 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 50 g a.i. / ha to about 1100 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 100 g a.i. / ha to about 1000 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 300 g a.i. / ha to about 900 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 500 g a.i. / ha to about 850 g a.i. / ha, and preferably from about 650 g a.i. / ha to about 800 g a.i. / ha.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment, the dinitroaniline herbicide is applied at a rate of about 774 g a.i. / ha. In a preferred embodiment, pendimethalin is applied at a rate of about 774 g a.i. / ha.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, by application of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide; at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and at least one additional herbicide, wherein the additional herbicide is applied at a rate from about 100 g a.i. / ha to about 2000 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 300 g a.i. / ha to about 1800 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 500 g a.i. / ha to about 1500 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 600 g a.i. / ha to about 1400 g a.i. / ha, preferably from about 700 g a.i. / ha to about 1300 g a.i. / ha, and preferably from about 800 g a.i. / ha to about 1200 g a.i. / ha.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the additional herbicide is applied at a rate of about 1000 g a.i. / ha. In a preferred embodiment, atrazine is applied at a rate of about 1000 g a.i. / ha.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, by application of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, wherein the chloroacetamide herbicide and the dinitroaniline herbicide are present in a weight ratio from about 1: 100 to about 100: 1, preferably from about 1:90 to about 90: 1, preferably from about 1:80 to about 80: 1, preferably from about 1:70 to about 70: 1, preferably from about 1:60 to about 60: 1, preferably from about 1:50 to about 50: 1, preferably from about 1:40 to about 40: 1, preferably from about 1:30 to about 30: 1, preferably from about 1:20 to about 20: 1, preferably from about 1: 10 to about 10: 1, and preferably from about 1:5 to about 5: 1. Unless otherwise indicated, the ratios disclosed throughout the specification are weight ratios.

[0070] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, the method comprising treating the weeds with a herbicidal composition comprising: at least one chloroacetamide herbicide; at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient thereof.

[0071] According to an embodiment, the herbicidal combination / composition comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide is present either in a form of a tank mix or a pre-formulated (pre-mix) composition.

[0072] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, wherein the combination controls from about 10% to about 100% of the weeds.

[0073] In an embodiment, the herbicidal combination / composition comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide are applied to a plant, or a plant propagation material, or a locus thereof, in an effective amount. The selection of the effective amount depends on the density of weed infestation, weather patterns, crop health, etc.

[0074] In an embodiment, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to control undesired vegetation / weeds in a variety of crop and non-crop applications. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used for controlling undesired vegetation / weeds in crops. Examples of the crops on which the combinations according to the present disclosure may be used include, but are not limited to, corn, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oat, sorghum, cotton, soybean, peanut, buckwheat, beet, rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, tobacco, etc.; vegetables: solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, pimento, pepper, potato, etc., cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, water melon, melon, squash, etc., cruciferous vegetables such as radish, white turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, leaf mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., Asteraceae vegetables such as burdock, crown daisy, artichoke, lettuce, etc, liliaceous vegetables such as green onion, onion, garlic, and asparagus, ammiaceous vegetables such as carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc., chenopodiaceous vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, etc., lamiaceous vegetables such as Perilla frutescens, mint, basil, etc, strawberry, sweet potato, Dioscorea japonica, colocasia, etc., flowers, foliage plants, turf grasses, fruits: pome fruits such apple, pear, quince, etc, stone fleshy fruits such as peach, plum, nectarine, Pr n s mume, cherry fruit, apricot, prune, etc., citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, rime, grapefruit, etc., nuts such as chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almond, pistachio, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, etc. berries such as blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc., grape, kaki fruit, olive, plum, banana, coffee, date palm, coconuts, etc. , trees other than fruit trees; tea, mulberry, flowering plant, trees such as ash, birch, dogwood, eucalyptus, Ginkgo biloba, lilac, maple, Quercus, poplar, Judas tree, Liqaidambar formosana, plane tree, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae, fir wood, hemlock, juniper, Pinas, Picea, and Taxus cuspidate, etc.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, for controlling weeds. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of a herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide, for improving yield of the desired crop.

[0076] In another embodiment, the herbicidal combination of the present disclosure may be applied in combination with agrochemically active components such as fertilizers, macronutrients, micronutrients, biologicals, bio stimulants, plant extracts, synergists, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the macronutrients or a micronutrient is selected from the group comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, boron, manganese, chlorine, molybdenum, nickel, or combinations thereof.

[0077] In another embodiment, the additional herbicide / agrochemical may be admixed with an adjuvant or a bio-stimulant or an agrochemical or a fertilizer compound such that said components may be tank mixed before spraying.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide is applied from a pre-dosage device, a knapsack sprayer, a spray tank, a spray plane, or an irrigation system, or a drone, or an spot spray system. Typically, the herbicidal combination is made up with water, buffer, and / or further auxiliaries to the desired application concentration and the ready-to-use spray liquor or the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide is thus obtained.

[0079] In another embodiment, the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide may be used for foliar application, application to a ground, or to the soil, or to a plant, or a locus or a plant propagation material, or combinations thereof.

[0080] In another embodiment, the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide can be used in agricultural lands such as fields, paddy fields, lawns and orchards or in non- agricultural lands, fallow fields, or for the purpose of chemical fallow application.

[0081] In another embodiment, the disclosure also provides a kit comprising the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide for controlling weed growth or for improving yield of desired crop and instructions for use. The instructions for use typically comprise instructions for the application of the herbicidal combination comprising at least one chloroacetamide herbicide and at least one dinitroaniline herbicide to a plant, or a locus, or a plant propagation material thereof.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the kit of parts comprises:

[0083] (a) at least one chloroacetamide herbicide;

[0084] (b) at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and optionally further comprises:

[0085] (c) instructions for use.

[0086] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several advantages of the disclosure are achieved, and other advantageous results attained. Although the present disclosure has been disclosed in full, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0087] The disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0088] EXAMPLES:

[0089] Evaluation of bio-efficacy:

[0090] Methodology: Trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the herbicidal combination on Rotboellia cochinchinensis weed.

[0091] The soil used was red soil. All treatments were in 3 replications per treatment with a spray volume of about 500 L / ha and the application timing was pre-emergence. Efficacy Evaluation:

[0092] The expected efficacy of the herbicidal combination was calculated using the well- established Colby method. Any difference between the observed and “expected” efficacy could be attributed to synergy between the two compounds.

[0093] In the Colby method, the expected (or predicted) response of a combination of herbicides is calculated by taking the product of the observed response for each individual component of the combination when applied alone, divided by 100, and subtracting this value from the sum of the observed response for each component when applied alone. An unexpected enhancement in efficacy of the combination is then determined by comparing the observed response of the combination to the expected (or predicted) response as calculated from the observed response of each individual component alone. If the observed response of the combination is greater than the expected (or predicted) response, or stated conversely, if the difference between the observed and expected response is greater than zero, then the combination is said to be synergistic or unexpectedly effective (Colby, S. R., Weeds, 1967(15), p. 20-22). The Colby method requires only a single dose of each herbicide applied alone and the mixture of both doses. The formula used to calculate the expected efficacy (EE) which was compared with the observed efficacy (OE) to determine the efficacy of the present disclosure is explained hereinbelow:

[0094] The expected efficacy for a combination of two active ingredients is as follows: EE = (A + B - (A x B) / 100)

[0095] The expected efficacy for a combination of three active ingredients is as follows: EE = A + B + C - (AB + AC + BC) / 100 + ABC / 10,000 wherein,

[0096] A = Observed efficacy of active ingredient A at the same concentration as used in the mixture.

[0097] B = Observed efficacy of the active ingredient B at the same concentration as used in the mixture. C = Observed efficacy of the active ingredient C at the same concentration as used in the mixture.

[0098] Example 1: Efficacy of combination Metolachlor and Pendimethalin on Rottboellia cochinchinensis

[0099] Experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of the herbicidal combination comprising metolachlor and pendimethalin to control Rotboellia cochinchinensis. The percentage efficacy was calculated after 10, 20 and 30 days of applications (DAA). The results are recorded in Table 1. Table 1

[0100] Therefore, synergy was observed in the control of weed Rotboellia cochinchinensis by application of herbicidal combination comprising metolachlor and pendimethalin even at a reduced dosage rate of pendimethalin as compared to individual application. Example 2: Efficacy of combination Metolachlor, Pendimethalin and Atrazine on Rottboellia cochinchinensis

[0101] Experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of the herbicidal combination comprising metolachlor, pendimethalin and atrazine to control Rotboellia 5 cochinchinensis. The percentage efficacy was calculated after 10, 20 and 30 days of applications (DAA). The results are recorded in Table 2.

[0102] Table 2

[0103] * Expected efficacy according to Colby ’s Formula

[0104] 10 Therefore, synergy was observed in the control of weed Rotboellia cochinchinensis by application of herbicidal combination comprising metolachlor, pendimethalin and atrazine even at a reduced dosage rate of pendimethalin and atrazine as compared to individual application.

[0105] 15 Example 3: Efficacy of combination S -metolachlor and Pendimethalin on Rotboellia cochinchinensis

[0106] Experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of the herbicidal combination comprising metolachlor and pendimethalin to control Rotboellia cochinchinensis. The percentage efficacy was calculated after 15 days of applications (DAA). The results are recorded in Table 3

[0107] Table 3

[0108] Therefore, synergy was observed in the control of weed Rotboellia cochinchinensis by application of herbicidal combination comprising S-metolachlor and pendimethalin.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for controlling Rotboellia genus weeds, by applying an effective amount of a herbicidal combination comprising: a. at least one chloro acetamide herbicide; b. at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and c. optionally an additional herbicide.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein chloroacetamide herbicide is selected from metolachlor, S-metolachlor, or combinations thereof.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein dinitroaniline herbicide is pendimethalin.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein Rotboellia genus weed is selected from the group comprising Rotboellia cochinchinensis, Rotboellia coelorachis, Rotboellia goalparensis, Rotboellia laevispica, Rotboellia paradoxa, Rotboellia purpurascens, or combinations thereof.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional herbicide is selected from the class of chlorotriazine herbicides.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein chlorotriazine herbicide is atrazine.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chloroacetamide herbicide is applied at a rate from about 100 g a.i. / ha to about 2000 g a.i. / ha.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dinitroaniline herbicide is applied at a rate from about 10 g a.i. / ha to about 1200 g a.i. / ha.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chloroacetamide herbicide and the dinitroaniline herbicide are present in a weight ratio from about 1: 10 to about 10: 1.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the herbicidal combination controls from about 10% to about 100% of the weeds.

11. A kit of parts comprising a. at least one chloro acetamide herbicide; b. at least one dinitroaniline herbicide; and c. optionally further comprises instructions for use.

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