Agrochemical composition for precision application

Abstract

An agrochemical composition suitable for precision application is provided, where the composition comprises an active ingredient, a polymer, an emulsifier system and an oily spray quality improving agent. The oily spray quality improving agent is either a water insoluble oil or a partially water insoluble oil having a water solubility of X w / v% and being included in the agrochemical composition at a composition of Y w / v%, wherein Y>X, wherein X w / v% is 0.25 w / v% or less.

Description

[0001] 111617-FF (83248)

[0002] Composition

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates generally to an agrochemical composition, a precision application device comprising said composition and use of said composition in a precision application device.

[0005] Crop protection techniques typically comprise the use of agrochemical sprays, such as herbicidal, insecticidal, or fungicidal compositions for reducing unwanted weed, insect, or fungus growth. These compositions are typically aqueous solutions comprising one or more active components or ingredients, as well as a number of adjuvants for improving effectiveness of the composition. The adjuvants themselves are typically not pesticidal but work synergistically with the composition to improve the efficacy.

[0006] Historically, pesticides have been applied widely across large areas of land to improve crop yields through specialist crop spraying equipment. Due to both regulatory pressure as well as financial considerations for farmers, it is desirable to minimise the use of pesticides and untargeted techniques. In precision spraying processes, such as banded or spot spraying, targeted areas are sprayed directly without requiring the entire field be sprayed with the pesticide, such as in broadcast spraying.

[0007] In precise application techniques, the use of single nozzles can lead to an uneven application of the Crop Protection (CP) products across the targeted area. This is compounded by the effect of crosswinds, which can lead to sprays becoming fully or partially off-target. This means that weeds may receive a lower than intended dosage of the CP product and could result in increased pesticidal resistance. Typically, “driftable” droplets are considered to be droplets of 105 pm or less. It is therefore desirable in the field to minimise the volume percentage of spray that forms driftable droplets to improve the precision and accuracy of sprays.

[0008] To this end, various adjuvant chemistries have been explored as “drift reducing agents” which typically function to modify the properties of the composition such that larger, less driftable, droplets are formed when sprayed, especially through a precision application device. Water-soluble high molecular weight polymers, such as polyethylene oxide or guar gums have been used in the field as drift reducing agents.

[0009] High molecular weight polymers have also been observed to improve droplet retention on target surfaces and thus appears to reduce or minimise droplet bounce off or shatter. “Droplet shatter” is defined as the break-up of primary liquid droplet(s) of nominal diameter upon impact with a surface, that subsequently results in a higher number of smaller secondary droplets which fall outside the area of initial impact and thus cause the agrochemical droplets to land some distance from the target. This increases the spread and undermines the principles of precision application.

[0010] However, the present inventors have discovered that, when agrochemical compositions comprising high loadings of high molecular weight polymer are sprayed through precision application devices / nozzles swath width collapse or narrowing is observed. This is a significant issue for precision application devices which have a much lower spray angle than conventional broadcast nozzles and thus the efficacy of the spray is significantly affected by reductions in swath width. For example, a reduction in swath width is undesirable as it may result in lower doses being applied to crops than is desired.

[0011] It would therefore be advantageous to provide an agrochemical composition which mitigates or ameliorates one or more of the above problems. of Invention

[0012] In a first aspect of the invention an agrochemical composition suitable for precision application (e.g. through a single nozzle) is provided, the composition comprising: a. an active ingredient; b. a polymer (e.g. a polymeric drift reducing agent); c. an emulsifier system comprising one or more emulsifiers; and d. an oily spray quality improving agent, wherein the oily spray quality improving agent is either: i. a water insoluble oil; or ii. a partially water insoluble oil having a water solubility of X w / v% and being included in the agrochemical composition of Y w / v%, wherein Y>X (e.g. such that the partially water insoluble oil is insoluble in the aqueous phase of the agrochemical composition), wherein X w / v% is 0.25 w / v% or less. The present inventors have surprisingly found that by adding an insoluble or a partially insoluble oil to agrochemical compositions for precision application, the amount of polymeric drift reducing agent can be increased whilst mitigating spray quality deterioration such as the swath width collapse. As such, by using insoluble or partially insoluble oils, a greater quantity of polymeric drift reducing agent may be used which in turn reduces drift and improves the likelihood of retention. The present invention thus provides an improved agrochemical composition for precision application that, when sprayed, provides a spray footprint (i.e. swath width and uniformity) comparable to that observed when water is sprayed through the same device. To the inventors knowledge, it has never been considered to include insoluble oils (e.g. with a view to increasing spray quality such as swath width) in an agrochemical composition in combination with high polymer loadings and especially not for use with precision application devices which present unique changes compared to broadcast spraying.

[0013] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is currently believed that the use of (fully or partially) water insoluble (or hydrophobic) oils provides the aforementioned advantages in a mechanism similar to that of an emulsion-based defoamer. Namely, it is thought that the oil droplets rise to the liquid-air interface and spread, resulting in perforations in the liquid sheet when result in earlier liquid sheet break-up during the spray atomization process. It is thought that this is what prevents swath collapse that is observed with compositions comprising higher polymer loadings when sprayed through a precision application device. It is also thought that a reduction in the dynamic surface tension may also contribute to the improvement in swath quality.

[0014] As outlined above, the oily spray quality improving agent comprises a water insoluble oil or a partially water insoluble oil. Optionally, the agrochemical composition may comprise one or more oily spray quality improving agents. In other words, the agrochemical composition may comprise an oily spray quality improving system comprising one or more water insoluble oils and / or one or more partially water insoluble oils. Within the meaning of the present invention, the oily spray quality improving agent (or system) is thus an adjuvant that functions to increase one or more (e.g. a plurality of) features of the spray quality (e.g. the swath width, e.g. the retention of the composition on a surface, e.g. surface tension) of the composition when sprayed through a nozzle, such as a nozzle of a precision application device. In other words, an agrochemical composition comprising the oily spray quality improving agent (or system) has an improved spray quality (e.g. improved swath width, e.g. improved retention, e.g. improved surface tension) when compared to an identical agrochemical composition that differs only in that the oily spray quality improving agent is omitted, when sprayed through an identical nozzle with identical spraying conditions. The oily spray quality improving agent (or system) may therefore be considered to be an oily swath increasing agent (or system). For example, preferred embodiments of the agrochemical composition of the present invention (i.e. comprising both a polymer and an oily spray quality improving agent) have a swath width that is larger than (i.e. increased in size with respect to) a comparable agrochemical composition where the oily spray quality improving agent is absent (i.e. comprising only the polymer (e.g. diutan gum).

[0015] Within the meaning of the present invention, a water insoluble oil is an oil that is insoluble in an aqueous solvent (e.g. water) at substantially any w / v% loading. For example, an insoluble oil is insoluble when included in the agrochemical composition at a composition greater than 0.001 w / v%. For example, an insoluble oil has a water solubility of less than 0.001 w / v%. In contrast, a partially water insoluble oil, within the meaning of the present invention, is an oil that may be soluble in an aqueous solvent (e.g. water) at some (e.g. low) loading w / v%, but is insoluble when included at a loading, Y w / v%, above its water solubility, X w / v.%. As such, partially water insoluble oils are insoluble when Y>X.

[0016] Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises water. Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises more than 70 wt% water, e.g. more than 71 wt% water, e.g. more than 72 wt% water, e.g. more than 73 wt% water, e.g. more than 74 wt.% water, e.g. more than 75 wt.% water. Optionally, the agrochemical composition is a concentrated solution intended to be diluted to comprise more than 70 wt% water, e.g. more than 71 wt% water, e.g. more than 72 wt% water, e.g. more than 73 wt% water, e.g. more than 74 wt.% water, e.g. more than 75 wt.% water.

[0017] Optionally, the partially water insoluble oil used in the present invention has a water solubility of X w / v% that is 0.25 w / v% or less. For example, X w / v% is 0.24 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.22 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.2 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.18 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.16 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.14 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.12 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.10 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.08 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.06 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.04 w / v% or less, e.g. e.g. 0.02 w / v% or less, e.g. 0.01 w / v% or less. Optionally, X w / v% is from 0.01 w / v% to 0.25 w / v%, e.g. from 0.05 w / v% to 0.2 w / v%, e.g. from 0.1 w / v% to 0.18 w / v%, e.g. from 0.12 w / v% to 0.16 w / v%.

[0018] Optionally, the oily spray quality improving agent is or comprises: a disubstituted amide, a fatty amide, a benzyl ester, an acetate, a lactate, a diester, a fatty acid ester (such as a vegetable oil ester), a fatty alcohol, a fatty aldehyde, a fatty ketone, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a silicone oil, a triglyceride, or combinations thereof. For example, the oily spray quality improving agent may comprise one or more of N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N,N- dimethyl 9-decenamide, methyl caprylate, methyl benzoate, C18 methyl canolate ester, ethoxylated triglyceryl trioleate, C10 aromatic compounds, C12 aromatic compounds, C13 aromatic compounds, 1-octanol, 1-ethylhexyl-lactate, tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, isobornyl acetate, 1 ,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid di-isononyl ester, oleic acid, or mixtures or derivatives thereof.

[0019] Optionally, the oily spray quality improving agent (or system) is not (or does not comprise) an aliphatic hydrocarbon. The inventors have appreciated that, whilst agrochemical compositions comprising insoluble aliphatic hydrocarbons as an oily spray quality improving agent (or system) may function to improve the retention of the agrochemical system on a surface (thus reducing bounce off or droplet shatter) and lower the agrochemical systems surface tension (thus improving aspects of the swath quality), these compositions exhibit significant swath collapse (e.g. the swath width is reduced with respect to water) such that the overall swath quality may be less improved with respect to other embodiments of the invention, or even reduced overall.

[0020] Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises at least 0.1 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system). For example, the agrochemical composition comprises 0.2 wt% or more of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system), e.g. 0.3 wt% or more, e.g. 0.4 wt% or more, e.g. 0.5 wt% or more, e.g. 0.6 wt% or more, e.g. 0.7 wt% or more, e.g. 0.8 wt% or more, e.g. 0.9 wt% or more, e.g. 1 wt% or more, e.g. 1.5 wt% or more, e.g. 2 wt% or more, e.g. 2.5 wt% or more, e.g. 3 wt% or more, e.g. 4 wt% or more, e.g. 5 wt% or more. Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises less than 20 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system). For example, the agrochemical composition comprises 20 wt% or less of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system), e.g. 18 wt% or less, e.g. 16 wt% or less, e.g. 15 wt% or less, e.g. 14 wt% or less, e.g. 12 wt% or less, e.g. 10 wt% or less, e.g. 8 wt% or less, e.g. 6 wt % or less, e.g. 5 wt% or less.

[0021] Optionally, the emulsifier system is either i) an ionic system, or ii) a non-ionic system. Optionally, the emulsifier system is a non-ionic system comprising one or more non-ionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the emulsifier system is an ionic system comprising one or more anionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the ionic system comprises at least 10 wt% (e.g. 15 wt.% or more, e.g. 20 wt% or more) of an anionic emulsifier. Optionally, the ionic system comprises, in total, at least 10 wt% (e.g. 15 wt.% or more, e.g. 20 wt% or more) of one or more anionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the ionic system further comprises one or more non-ionic emulsifiers.

[0022] Optionally, the one or more non-ionic emulsifiers (e.g. of the ionic system, e.g. of the nonionic system) are selected from: a caster oil based ethoxylate (e.g. Emulsogen EL360), ethoxylated tristyrlphenol (e.g. Soprophor BSU), an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO / PO) block copolymer (e.g. Pluronic PE6400), polyalkylene oxide block copolymer (e.g. Atlas G5000), ethoxylated sorbitan ester (e.g. Tween 80), sorbitan monolaurate (e.g. Span 20), or mixtures thereof.

[0023] Optionally, the one or more ionic emulsifiers (e.g. of the ionic system) are anionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the one or more ionic emulsifiers comprise calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (Rhodacal 60 / B-E). Optionally, the ionic system comprises one ionic emulsifier that is selected to be dodecylbenzene sulfonate (Rhodacal 60 / B-E).

[0024] Optionally, the ionic system comprises one or more non-ionic emulsifiers and one or more ionic emulsifiers, wherein the ratio of non-ionic emulsifiers to the ionic emulsifiers is from 20:80 to 80:20, e.g. from 30:70 to 70:30, e.g. from 40:60 to 60:40, e.g. from 40:60 to 80:20.

[0025] Optionally, the ionic system comprises or consists of two non-ionic emulsifiers and one ionic emulsifier. Optionally, the ratio of both (e.g. the total amount, e.g. the sum of the) non-ionic emulsifiers to the ionic emulsifier is from 20:80 to 80:20, e.g. from 30:70 to 70:30, e.g. from 40:60 to 60:40, e.g. from 40:60 to 80:20. Optionally, the ratio of a first non-ionic emulsifier to a second non-ionic emulsifier is from 1 : 1 to 4: 1 , e.g. from 2:1 to 3: 1. Optionally, the ratio of the first non-ionic emulsifier to the second non-ionic emulsifier to the ionic emulsifier is 20:20:60 or 60:20:20.

[0026] Optionally, the ionic system comprises or consists of a castor oil based ethoxylate (e.g. Emulsogen EL360, i.e. a non-ionic emulsifier), an ethoxylated tristyrlphenol (e.g. Soprophor BSU, i.e. a non-ionic emulsifier) and calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (e.g. Rhodacal 60 / B-E, i.e. an anionic emulsifier). Optionally, the ratio of the castor oil based ethoxylate to the ethoxylated tristyrlphenol to the calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate is 20:20:60, e.g. the ionic system is a “high” ionic system comprising more ionic emulsifier than non-ionic emulsifier.

[0027] Optionally, the ionic system comprises or consists of a central PO-EO block copolymer (e.g. comprising 40% PEG, e.g. Pluronic PE6400, i.e. a non-ionic emulsifier), a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer (e.g. Atlas G5000, i.e. a non-ionic emulsifier) and calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (e.g. Rhodacal 60 / B-E, i.e. an anionic emulsifier). Optionally, the ratio of the central PO-EO block copolymer to the polyalkylene oxide block copolymer to the calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate is 60:20:20, e.g. the ionic system is a “low” ionic system comprising more ionic emulsifier than non-ionic emulsifier.

[0028] Optionally, the non-ionic system comprises less than 20 wt% (e.g. 15 wt% or less, e.g. 12 wt% or less, e.g. 10 wt% or less) of non-ionic emulsifiers, the remainder being made up with a solvent (e.g. water). Optionally, the non-ionic system comprises two or more non- ionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the non-ionic system comprises two non-ionic emulsifiers, wherein the first non-ionic emulsifier and the second non-ionic emulsifier are provided in a ratio of from 1 :1 to 1:3, e.g. from 1 :1 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.2 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.4 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.5 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.8 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.8 to 1 :1.9, e.g. approximately 3.5:6.5.

[0029] Optionally, the non-ionic system comprises ethoxylated sorbitan ester (e.g. Tween 80) and sorbitan monolaurate (e.g. Span 20) as the non-ionic emulsifiers. Optionally, the ethoxylated sorbitan ester and the sorbitan monolaurate are provided in a ratio of from 1 :1 to 1 :3, e.g. from 1 :1 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.2 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.4 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.5 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.8 to 1 :2, e.g. from 1 :1.8 to 1 :1.9, e.g. approximately 3.5:6.5. Optionally, the total amount of ethoxylated sorbitan ester and sorbitan monolaurate in the non-ionic system is less than 20 wt%, e.g. 15 wt% or less, e.g. 12 wt% or less, e.g. 10 wt% or less, e.g. approximately 10 wt%. Optionally, the non-ionic system comprises from 2 to 10 wt% (e.g. from 3 to 9 wt%, e.g. from 4 to 8 wt%, e.g. from 5 to 7 wt%, e.g. from 6 to 7 wt% e.g. approximately 6.5 wt%) of ethoxylated sorbitan ester and from 0.5 to 6 wt% (e.g. from 1 to 4 wt%, e.g. from 2 to 5 wt%, e.g. from 3 to 4 wt%, e.g. approximately 3.5 wt%) of sorbitan monolaurate (e.g. the remainder being made up by a solvent, e.g. water).

[0030] Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises at least 0.005 wt% of the emulsifier system. For example, the agrochemical composition comprises 0.01 wt% or more of the emulsifier system, e.g. 0.015 wt% or more, e.g. 0.02 wt% or more, e.g. 0.025 wt% or more, e.g. 0.03 wt% or more, e.g. 0.035 wt% or more, e.g. 0.04 wt% or more, e.g. 0.045 wt% or more, e.g. 0.05 wt% or more, e.g. 0.08 wt% or more, e.g. 0.1 wt% or more, e.g. 0.12 wt% or more, e.g. 0.15 wt% or more, e.g. 0.18 wt% or more, e.g. 0.2 wt% or more, e.g. 0.25 wt% or more. Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises less than 1.5 wt% of the emulsifier system. For example, the agrochemical composition comprises 1 wt% or less of the emulsifier system, e.g. 0.95 wt% or less, e.g. 0.9 wt% or less, e.g. 0.85 wt% or less, e.g. 0.8 wt% or less, e.g. 0.75 wt% or less, e.g. 0.7 wt% or less, e.g. 0.6 wt% or less, e.g. 0.5 wt % or less, e.g. 0.4 wt% or less, e.g. 0.3 wt% or less, e.g. 0.25 wt% or less. Optionally, the ratio of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system) to the emulsifier system is from 95:5 to 80:20, e.g. from 90:10 to 85:15.

[0031] Optionally, the polymer is a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500000 g / mol. Optionally, the polymer is a polyacrylamide, a polyethylene oxide or a polysaccharide. Optionally, the polymer is a polysaccharide such as diutan gum or derivatives thereof, guar gum or derivatives thereof, cellulose or derivatives thereof, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

[0032] Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises from 0.001 wt% to 1 wt% of the polymer. For example, the agrochemical composition comprises from 0.005 wt% to 0.9 wt% of the polymer, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.8 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.7 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.6 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.5 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.4 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.3 wt%, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.2 wt%. For example, the agrochemical composition comprises from 0.005 wt% to 1 wt% of the polymer, e.g. from 0.01 wt% to 0.8 wt%, e.g. from 0.02 wt% to 0.6 wt%, e.g. from 0.04 wt% to 0.4 wt%, e.g. from 0.05 wt % to 0.3 wt%, e.g. from 0.05 wt% to 0.2 wt%, e.g. from 0.08 wt% to 0.2 wt%, e.g. from 0.1 wt% to 0.2 wt%.

[0033] Optionally, the agrochemical composition comprises: b. from 0.02 wt% and 0.08 wt% inclusive of the polymer; c. between 0.01 wt% and 0.25 wt% inclusive of the emulsifier system; and d. between 0.1 wt% and 2 wt% inclusive of the oily spray quality improving agent (or system).

[0034] Optionally, the ratio of the active ingredient with respect to the oily spray quality improving agent (or system) is between 1 :1.1 to 1 :1.6, e.g. from 1 :1.2 to 1 :1.5, e.g. from 1 :1.25 to 1 :1.45.

[0035] In a second aspect of the invention, use of an agrochemical composition (e.g. the agrochemical composition of the first aspect) in a precision application device is provided.

[0036] In a third aspect of the invention, use of an oily spray quality improving agent (e.g. as described above with respect to the first aspect of the invention) in an agrochemical composition (e.g. the agrochemical composition of the first aspect) for increasing the swath width of a spray profile of an agrochemical composition when sprayed using a precision application device is provided. In other words, the oily spray quality improving agent is an oily spray quality increasing agent. In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a precision application device and an agrochemical composition suitable for precision application (e.g. the agrochemical composition of the first aspect) is provided. Optionally, the precision application device comprises the agrochemical composition. For example, the precision application device may comprise a chamber to hold the agrochemical composition, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with one or more nozzle(s) of the precision application device.

[0037] It will be appreciated that any of the features described above with respect to the first aspect apply equally to any aspect of the invention. Similarly, any feature described below in relation to the second, third and / or fourth aspects applies equally to any other aspect of the invention, including the first aspect defined above. For example, the second, third and fourth aspects may comprise any one or more features of the precision application device described herein. Similarly, the features relating to the composition of the first aspect, described above are relevant to the agrochemical composition used in the second, third or fourth aspects.

[0038] Optionally, the precision application device is a single nozzle precision application device. For example, the precision application device comprises a single agricultural spray nozzle. Preferably the nozzle is a small angle flat fan nozzle (such as an OC1X502E nozzle or a Teejet40-03E nozzle) or a pre-orifice nozzle (such as a SpotFan40-03 nozzle, a Lechler ARE 3002 nozzle, or a Lurmark LD 80-03 nozzle).

[0039] Optionally, the mean swath width of the agrochemical composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 10° to 80° (e.g. 20° to 70°, e.g. 30° to 65°) at 3 bar spray pressure is greater than the mean swath width of a comparable composition that comprises the same polymer at the same loading wt.% as the agrochemical composition but does not comprise the oily spray quality improving agent or the emulsifier system (e.g. the difference in wt% being made up with by the solvent (e.g. water)).

[0040] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle (e.g. a flat fan nozzle or a pre-orifice nozzle) having a spray angle of from 10° to 80°. Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the agrochemical composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 10° to 80° at 3 bar spray pressure is greater than 1.58 cm (e.g. greater than 1 .6 cm, e.g. greater than 1.7 cm, e.g. greater than 1.8 cm, e.g. greater than 1.9 cm, e.g. greater than 2 cm) when measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from said nozzle. Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the agrochemical composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 10° to 80° at 3 bar spray pressure is greater than at least 37% (e.g. greater than 40%, e.g. greater than 45%, e.g. greater than 50%) of the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measured at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0041] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 30° to 65° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02, Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40-03). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 30° to 65° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02, Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40-03) at 3 bar pressure is greater than 4.1 cm (e.g. greater than 4.2 cm, e.g. greater than 4.3 cm, e.g. greater than 4.4 cm, e.g. greater than 4.5 cm, e.g. greater than 4.75 cm, e.g. grater than 5 cm, e.g. greater than 5.5 cm, e.g. greater than 6 cm, e.g. greater than 7 cm, e.g. greater than 10 cm). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 30° to 65° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02) at 3 bar pressure is at least 70% (e.g. 75% or more, e.g. 80% or more, e.g. 85% or more, e.g. 90% or more) the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measured at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0042] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 40° to 65° (such as Teejet 40-03E, Teejet 4002E, SpotFan 40-03). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 40° to 65° (such as Teejet 40-03E, Teejet 4002E, SpotFan 40-03) at 3 bar pressure is greater than 5.4 cm (e.g. greater than 5.5 cm, e.g. greater than 5.6 cm, e.g. greater than 5.8 cm, e.g. greater than 5.9 cm, e.g. greater than 6 cm, e.g. grater than 6.2 cm, e.g. greater than 6.3 cm, e.g. greater than 6.4 cm, e.g. greater than 6.5 cm, e.g. greater than 7 cm). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 40° (such as Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40-03) at 3 bar pressure is at least 70% (e.g. 72% or more, e.g. 74% or more, e.g. 76% or more, e.g. 78% or more, e.g. 80% or more, 85% or more, e.g. 90% or more) the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measures at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0043] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 30° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 30° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02) at 3 bar pressure is greater than 4.1 cm (e.g. greater than 4.2 cm, e.g. greater than 4.3 cm, e.g. greater than 4.4 cm, e.g. greater than 4.5 cm, e.g. greater than 4.75 cm, e.g. grater than 5 cm, e.g. greater than 5.5 cm). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 30° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02) at 3 bar pressure is at least 70% (e.g. 71 % or more, e.g. 72% or more, e.g. 73% or more, e.g. 74% or more, e.g. 75% or more) the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measured at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0044] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 40° (such as Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40-03). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 40° (such as Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40- 03) at 3 bar pressure is greater than 5.4 cm (e.g. greater than 5.5 cm, e.g. greater than 5.6 cm, e.g. greater than 5.8 cm, e.g. greater than 5.9 cm, e.g. greater than 6 cm, e.g. grater than 6.2 cm, e.g. greater than 6.3 cm, e.g. greater than 6.4 cm, e.g. greater than 6.5 cm, e.g. greater than 7 cm). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 40° (such as Teejet 40-03E, SpotFan 40-03) at 3 bar pressure is at least 70% (e.g. 72% or more, e.g. 74% or more, e.g. 76% or more, e.g. 78% or more, e.g. 80% or more, 85% or more, e.g. 90% or more) the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measured at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0045] Optionally, the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 80° (such as Teejet 80-03 EVS or Teejet 80-04 EVS). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 80° (such as Teejet 80-03 EVS or Teejet 80-04 EVS) at 3 bar pressure is greater than 11.7 cm (e.g. greater than 11.8 cm, e.g. greater than 11.9 cm, e.g. greater than 12 cm, e.g. greater than 12.2 cm, e.g. greater than 12.4 cm, e.g. grater than 12.6 cm, e.g. greater than 12.8 cm, e.g. greater than 13 cm, e.g. greater than 13.2 cm, e.g. greater than 13.5 cm). Optionally, the mean swath width (e.g. at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip) of the composition when sprayed through an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of 80° (such as Teejet 80-03 EVS or Teejet 80-04 EVS) at 3 bar pressure is at least 80% (e.g. 82% or more, e.g. 84% or more, e.g. 86% or more, e.g. 88% or more, e.g. 90% or more, 92% or more, e.g. 94% or more, e.g. 96% or more) the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through the same nozzle (and measured at the same distance (e.g. 7.5 cm) from the nozzle tip). Preferably the swath width is measured at a distance of 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0046] Optionally, the surface tension of the agrochemical composition when sprayed through a single small angle flat fan nozzle of the precision application device at 3 bar spray pressure is greater than 35 mN / m at 15 ms surface age.

[0047] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0048] Figure 1 shows images of the spray footprint captured by high speed videos of a) pure water; b) an agrochemical composition without an oily spray quality improving agent; ,... and c) an agrochemical composition in accordance with the present invention sprayed out of a precision application device nozzle;

[0049] Figure 2 is a bar chart showing the swath width of various agrochemical compositions with respect to pure water when sprayed out of a precision application device nozzle;

[0050] Figure 3 shows images of the spray footprint captured by high speed videos of various different agrochemical compositions, the swath width of which are illustrated in Figure 2;

[0051] Figure 4 shows the relationship between surface tension and swath width for different agrochemical compositions with respect to pure water;

[0052] Figure 5 shows the percentage coverage of different agrochemical compositions with respect to water;

[0053] Figure 6 shows the amount of agrochemical composition deposited and retained on the surface of a Chenopodium alblum (cheal) plant for various different agrochemical compositions with respect to water; and

[0054] Figure 7 shows the swath width of a preferred agrochemical composition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with respect to a comparison composition when sprayed through different nozzles. Detailed Description

[0055] Figure 1 shows high speed video stills of the spray footprint of different solutions when sprayed through a precision application device (e.g. comprising a nozzle with a low spray angle of between 10° and 80°). For exemplary purposes, approximate fit lines are shown for the spray footprint. It will be appreciated that these lines have been approximated by eye and are in no way limiting or intended to be statistically or numerically accurate.

[0056] Figure 1a) shows the footprint provided when spraying tap water and Figure 1b) shows the footprint provided when spraying a composition comprising a high loading (i.e. 0.55 wt%) of a polymer (in this case, a polysaccharide termed diutan gum). As can be seen, the swath width (wa) of the water spray is significantly larger than the swath width (Wb) of the composition comprising the polymer when measured at 7.5 cm (D) from the nozzle. The comparison of Figures 1 a) and 1 b) therefore exemplify the aforementioned problem of using an agrochemical composition comprising a high loading wt% of polymer (e.g. a polysaccharide, e.g. diutan gum) in a precision application device, namely, the polymer results in swath collapse.

[0057] Figure 1c) shows the footprint of an agrochemical composition in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention when sprayed through the same nozzle as Figures 1a) and 1 b). In this example, the composition comprises 0.055 wt% of a polymer (i.e. diutan gum as with the comparative composition shown in Figure 1 b), a disubstituted amide oily spray quality improving agent (i.e. Hallcomid M10) and an emulsifier system (i.e. a “high” ionic emulsifier system). As can be clearly seen by comparison of Figures 1b) and 1c), the inclusion of the oily spray quality improving agent significantly increases the swath width (wc) of the spray compared to the composition comprising the polymer but absent the oily spray quality improving agent. Indeed, including the oily spray quality improving agent results in a spray swath width (wc) that is much closer to the swath width shown for tap water (wa). As water is considered to provide a good spray quality and footprint, achieving a spray that tends towards that observed for water is an objective in the technical field.

[0058] It should be noted that this effect shown in Figures 1 b) and 1c) is not limited to the polysaccharide diutan gum, diutan gum has merely been used here (and in the following discussion) to demonstrate the effect and provide comparable data to exemplify the improvement offered by the present invention. In fact, this same effect is observed for a vast array of polymers used in agrochemical compositions, particularly those included as drift reducing agents or retention adjuvants, such as high molecular weight polymers. Figure 2 shows the mean swath width (measured at 7.5 cm from the nozzle) of various compositions A to AH when sprayed through a nozzle of a precision application device. The data as well as the components of the compositions shown in Figure 2 are provided in Table 2 with the emulsifier system information shown in Table 1.

[0059] Table 1 shows the three exemplary emulsifier systems used in embodiments of the present invention Figure 3 shows high speed video stills of the spray footprint of a number of the solutions shown in Figure 2 to visually represent the change in swath width observed for the spray.

[0060] The swath width was assessed using a single stationary nozzle (OC1X502E even flat fan nozzle with 20 degree spray angle) at 3 bar spray pressure. A high speed camera (Phantom V12.1 Highspeed camera recording at 5000 fps and an exposure of 5 ps) was used to obtain videos, which were input into a bespoke macro to identify the edges of the swath and measure the width at 7.5 cm from the nozzle tip.

[0061] With reference to Figures 2 and 3 and Table 2, it will be appreciated that compositions A to J do not fall within the scope of the present invention. Compositions A and B correspond to the compositions shown in Figures 1a) and 1 b) and are therefore provided as reference compositions comprising water only (composition A) and water and Diutan gum (composition B). As noted above with respect to Figure 1 , it is an objective of the present invention to provide an agrochemical composition that has a swath with that is increased with respect to that of composition B, with agrochemical compositions attaining values closest to that of composition A being most improved. Composition C is a further reference showing the improvement in swath width achieved by an oily spray quality improving agent and emulsifier if the polymer is omitted.

[0062] 111617-FF (83248)

[0063] Table 2 shows a number of agrochemical compositions that were tested to exemplify the improvements provided by the invention

[0064] 1Trade names are shown in table 1 with further information given in Table 3 below.

[0065] 2see table 1 for composition information.

[0066] 3at 7.5 cm from nozzle.

[0067] 4at 15 ms surface age.

[0068]

[0069] 111617-FF (83248)

[0070] Table 3 shows chemical information relating to the oils used in the compositions shown in Table 2 and their water solubilities at 1 atm and 20°C or25°C. Compositions K to AH correspond to compositions falling within the scope of the present invention in its broadest aspects. Upon inspection of the data, it can be seen that compositions N and O (i.e. comprising Sunspray 11 N) have a reduced swath width in comparison to composition B. Without wishing to be constrained by theory, the inventors currently consider that this deviation with respect to the rest of the compositions comprising insoluble oils is due to the chemistry of the oil, namely the fact that Sunspray 11 N is an aliphatic hydrocarbon. Thus, the inventors have surprisingly appreciated that aliphatic hydrocarbons are less suitable as oily spray quality improving agents compared to other insoluble oils such that in preferred embodiments of the present invention, the oily spray quality improving agent is selected to not be an aliphatic hydrocarbon such that the oily spray quality improving agent is an oily swath width increasing agent.

[0071] Compositions D to J correspond to compositions that do not fall within the scope of the present invention as they include soluble or miscible oil’s. The inventors have surprisingly found that, when the surface tension of compositions D to J are compared to the swath width of the spray resulting therefrom, these compositions demonstrate a significantly lower swath width at a given surface tension when compared to compositions comprising insoluble (or partially soluble) oily spray quality improving agents. This is clearly shown in Figure 4 where the relationship between swath width and surface tension (measured at 27 ms surface age) for compositions comprising soluble / miscible oils (i.e. trend 150) is significantly lower than the relationship between swath width and surface tension for compositions comprising insoluble oils (i.e. trend 100).

[0072] As noted above, the aim of the present invention is to provide an improved agrochemical composition that has an improved spray quality. One aspect of improving the spray quality is provided by improving the swath width. However, another aspect is improving the retention and coverage of the resulting droplets on the desired surface (e.g. crops or leaves), thus minimising the likelihood of droplets bouncing off the surface and / or droplet shatter. To this end, it has been found that a lower surface tension is correlated with a significant improvement in surface retention and coverage. As such, the inventors have surprisingly appreciated that the best compromise in spray quality is provided by compositions that improve the swath width but have a low surface tension.

[0073] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is currently believed that the presence of insoluble oil droplets within the agrochemical composition of the present invention can provide an additional benefit of lowering the surface tension, which in turn increases the swath width. It is therefore a premise of the present invention that a combination of a low surface tension and an insoluble oil (preferably an insoluble oil that is not aliphatic hydrocarbon oil) provides the highest swath width and therefore the most improved agrochemical composition exhibiting the best compromise of spray quality features.

[0074] Figure 5 shows photographs representing the percentage coverage of different agrochemical compositions (measured at approximately 2 minutes when the surface is dry and droplet spreading is complete) with respect to water for compositions A, B, C, AB, AD, AE, Q and M outlined in Table 2. Figure 6 and Table 4 shows the amount of agrochemical composition deposited and retained on the surfaces of a Chenopodium alblum (cheal) plant for various different agrochemical compositions. The data shown in Figures 5 and 6 and Table 4 was obtained by performing a HELIOS wash-off study. HELIOS fluorescent dye was used as a model active ingredient, with the %coverage determined by lightbox imaging and a bespoke image analysis macro. Plants were washed with solvent to extract the deposited HELIOS dye, which was measured and normalized to the leaf surface area. The results were obtained a single stationary nozzle (OC1X502E even flat fan nozzle with 20 degree spray angle) at 3 bar spray pressure.

[0075] With reference to Figure 5, it can be seen that both tap water (composition A) and the composition comprising only diutan gum (composition B) show very poor surface coverage. In contrast, all compositions comprising Hallcomid M10 as the oily spray quality improving agent (compositions C, AD and AE) show an excellent surface coverage due to the reduction in surface tension (see Table 4 and Figure 5). Compositions comprising methyl benzoate and Stephan C25 (compositions Q and AB) also show a significantly improved surface coverage. Sunspray 11 N (composition M) shows an improved coverage with respect to compositions A and B, but a reduced coverage with respect to other compositions comprising oily spray quality improving agents.

[0076] The results presented above focus on the performance of different agrochemical compositions when sprayed out of a single stationary nozzle (OC1X502E even flat fan nozzle with 20 degree spray angle) at 3 bar spray pressure. To confirm that the effects were not limited to this nozzle (or spray angle), the composition exhibiting one of the best spray quality improvements (i.e. composition AC) was selected to be investigated (using the same method described above with respect to the data shown in Table 2) via a number of different nozzles having a range of spray angles shown in Table 5. At the same time, the effect of the loading of the oil (i.e. Hallcomid M10) was also investigated by varying the %wt of oil in the compositions tested. Table 6 shows the compositions relating to the data in Table 7. Table 4 shows HELIOS tracer wash-off study results with retained amount per surface area and %coverage reported for different compositions outlined in Table 2

[0077] Table 5 shows the nozzles used to provide the data shown in Table 8.

[0078] Table 6 shows the compositions used to provide the data shown in Table 7 Table 7 shows swath width data (comparable to data shown in Table 2) for different nozzles Figure 7 shows the results of the swath width data (normalised with respect to the water spray of composition A) shown in Table 7 for compositions AC and B when sprayed through the nozzles. As can be seen, all nozzles show an improvement in swath width with respect to the compositions comprising only diutan gum (i.e. composition B), with several nozzles able to provide swath width getting very close to the “ideal” of pure water (i.e. 100%). As such, the effect of the present invention is not limited to precision application devices having nozzles (i.e. OC1X502E) with low spray angles (i.e. 20°).

[0079] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that several variations to the aforementioned embodiments are envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and / or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein which is defined by the appended claims. The invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An agrochemical composition suitable for precision application, the composition comprising: a. an active ingredient; b. a polymer; c. an emulsifier system comprising one or more emulsifiers; and d. an oily spray quality improving agent, wherein the oily spray quality improving agent is either: i. a water insoluble oil; or ii. a partially water insoluble oil having a water solubility of X w / v% and being included in the agrochemical composition at a composition of Y w / v%, wherein Y>X; wherein X w / v% is 0.25 w / v% or less.

2. The agrochemical composition of Claim 1 , wherein the agrochemical composition comprises from 0.001 wt% to 1 wt% inclusive of the polymer, such as from 0.01 wt% to 0.2 wt% inclusive.

3. The agrochemical composition of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the oily spray quality improving agent functions to increase the swath width of a spray footprint of the composition when sprayed through a nozzle (such as a nozzle of a precision application device).

4. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the ratio of the oily spray quality improving agent to the emulsifier system is from 95:5 to 80:20 inclusive.

5. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises at least 0.1 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent.

6. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the composition comprises less than 20 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent, such as less than 10 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent.

7. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the composition comprises: b. from 0.02 wt% and 0.08 wt% of the polymer; c. from 0.01 wt% and 0.25 wt% of the emulsifier system; and d. from 0.1 wt% and 2 wt% of the oily spray quality improving agent.

8. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the ratio of the active ingredient with respect to the oily spray quality improving agent is from 1 :1.1 to 1 :1.6.

9. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the polymer is a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500000 g / mol.

10. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the polymer is a polyacrylamide, a polyethylene oxide or a polysaccharide.

11. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the polymer is selected to be one or more of diutan gum, guar gum, cellulose or mixtures or derivatives thereof.

12. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the oily spray quality improving agent is or comprises: a disubstituted amide, a fatty amide, a benzyl ester, an acetate, a lactate, a diester, a fatty acid ester, a fatty alcohol, a fatty aldehyde, a fatty ketone, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a silicone oil, a triglyceride, or combinations thereof.

13. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the oily spray quality improving agent is not an aliphatic hydrocarbon.

14. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein oily spray quality improving agent comprises one or more of N,N-dimethyldecanamide, N,N-dimethyl 9-decenamide, methyl caprylate, methyl benzoate, C18 methyl canolate ester, ethoxylated triglyceryl trioleate, C10 aromatic compounds, C12 aromatic compounds, C13 aromatic compounds, 1 -octanol, 1-ethylhexyl-lactate, tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, isobornyl acetate, 1 ,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, oleic acid, or mixtures or derivatives thereof.

15. The agrochemical composition of any preceding Claim, wherein the emulsifier system is either i) an ionic system comprising one or more anionic emulsifiers or ii) a non-ionic system comprising one or more non-ionic emulsifiers.

16. The agrochemical composition of Claim 15, wherein the ionic system comprises at least 10 wt% of an anionic emulsifier.

17. The agrochemical composition of Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein the ionic system further comprises one or more non-ionic emulsifiers.

18. The agrochemical composition of any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the non-ionic emulsifiers are selected from: a caster oil based ethoxylate, ethoxylated tristyrlphenol, an ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO / PO) block copolymer, polyalkylene oxide block copolymer, ethoxylated sorbitan ester, sorbitan monolaurate, or mixtures thereof.

19. The agrochemical composition of any one of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the ionic emulsifiers is selected to be calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate.

20. Use of an agrochemical composition according to any one of the preceding claims in a precision application device (such as a single nozzle precision application device).

21. Use of an oily spray quality improving agent in an agrochemical composition for increasing the swath width of a spray profile of an agrochemical composition when sprayed using a precision application device.

22. A precision application device and an agrochemical composition according to any one of the preceding claims.

23. The precision application device of Claim 22, wherein the precision application device comprises a single agricultural spray nozzle, preferably a small angle flat fannozzle (such as OC1X502E or Teejet40-03E) or a pre-orifice nozzle (such as SpotFan40-03, Lechler ARE 3002, or Lurmark LD 80-03).

24. The precision application device of Claim 22 or 23, wherein the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 10° to 80°, and wherein the mean swath width of the agrochemical composition when sprayed through said agricultural spray at 3 bar spray pressure is: greater than 1.58 cm at a distance of 7.5 cm from said nozzle; and / or at least 37% the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through said nozzle.

25. The precision application device of Claim 24, wherein the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 30° to 65° (such as a Lechler ARE 30-02) wherein the mean swath width of the composition when sprayed through said agricultural spray at 3 bar spray pressure is: greater than 4.1 cm at a distance of 7.5 cm from said nozzle; and / or at least 70% the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through said nozzle.

26. The precision application device of Claim 24, wherein the precision application device comprises an agricultural spray nozzle having a spray angle of from 40° to 65° (such as a Teejet4002E nozzle or a SpotFan 4003 nozzle) wherein the mean swath width of the composition when sprayed through said agricultural spray at 3 bar spray pressure is: greater than 5.4 cm at a distance of 7.5 cm from said nozzle; and / or at least 70% the swath width of a pure water solution when sprayed through said nozzle.

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