Pyroxasulfone Herbicidal Compositions for Post-Emergent Weed Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing herbicides, such as herbicide A, face challenges in achieving effective post-emergent weed control with a broad spectrum of activity, compatibility with crop plants, and efficient weed control, particularly against Commelinids, while maintaining low application rates.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising herbicide A, pyroxasulfone, and optionally herbicide C (such as saflufenacil, trifludimoxazin, glyphosate, or glufosinate) is applied post-emergently, resulting in a synergistic herbicidal effect exceeding expected additive activity, enhancing weed control efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single herbicide A is used for post-emergent weed control, then the application is simple and cost-effective, but the herbicidal activity and spectrum of control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveherbicidal activityVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines herbicide A with pyroxasulfone and optionally herbicide C to create a synergistic composition. This merging of multiple herbicidal agents achieves enhanced and broad-spectrum weed control that cannot be obtained with herbicide A alone, while maintaining practical application simplicity through formulated mixtures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite herbicidal composition containing multiple active ingredients (herbicide A, pyroxasulfone, and optionally herbicide C) with complementary modes of action. This composite approach provides synergistic effects that improve reliability of weed control across diverse weed species while managing the complexity through optimized formulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If higher application rates of herbicide A are used to improve weed control efficacy, then the herbicidal activity increases, but the compatibility with crop plants decreases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control efficacyVSAvoidcrop plant compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compositional parameters by introducing pyroxasulfone and optionally herbicide C into the formulation. This parameter change allows reduction of the overall application rate while maintaining or improving weed control efficacy, thereby preserving crop plant compatibility and reducing potential harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the limitation of herbicide A (insufficient efficacy at low rates) into an opportunity by combining it with pyroxasulfone. The synergistic interaction between the herbicides allows achieving superior weed control at lower total application rates, which benefits crop plant compatibility and reduces environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a broad spectrum of herbicidal activity is achieved using multiple herbicides, then the control of diverse weeds including Commelinids improves, but the application complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum of activityVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal herbicidal composition that effectively controls diverse weed species including Commelinids, grasses, and broadleaf weeds. The multi-functional formulation achieves broad-spectrum activity through the complementary modes of action of herbicide A, pyroxasulfone, and optionally herbicide C, while the optimized formulation keeps application complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If post-emergent weed control is implemented to allow easy identification of weed species, then specific weed control is enabled, but the control efficacy against emerged weeds is reduced compared to pre-emergent application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed identification easeVSAvoidherbicidal activity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the disadvantage of post-emergent application (reduced efficacy compared to pre-emergent) into an advantage by creating a synergistic composition. The enhanced herbicidal activity from combining multiple herbicides with different modes of action compensates for the later application timing, maintaining reliable control while enabling easy weed identification and species-specific management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20250261640A1Herbicidal compositions comprising pyroxasulfone

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 BASF SE

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for post-emergent weed control, which comprises applying an effective amount of a composition comprising herbicide A (component A), pyroxasulfone (component B) and optionally herbicide C (component C) to emerged weeds, or an area, where weeds are growing.