WO2024121638A1

WO2024121638A1 - An agrochemical composition

Info

Publication number: WO2024121638A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/060447
Authority: WO
Inventors: Achintya MONDAL; Satish Ekanath Bhoge
Original assignee: Upl Limited
Priority date: 2022-12-09
Filing date: 2023-10-17
Publication date: 2024-06-13

Abstract

The present invention discloses a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5- C11)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The present invention also discloses a process for preparation of the said composition and a method for controlling weeds using the said composition.

Description

AN AGROCHEMICAL COMPOSITION

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE:

The present disclosure relates to a liquid composition, a process for preparation thereof and a method of using the said composition. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a soluble concentrate (SL) composition comprising at least one organophosphorus herbicide; a process for preparation thereof; and a method for controlling weeds using the said composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE:

Herbicides are chemical substances, which are used to specifically control the weeds in plants. The mode of action for herbicides is a biochemical or a physical mechanism, which it uses to control unwanted plants or weeds. Most herbicides control unwanted plants or weeds by disrupting or altering one or more of the metabolic processes of plants. Some herbicides disrupt the cellular membranes of unwanted plants, while some herbicides allow cellular contents of the unwanted plant membranes to leak out. However, the herbicides do not directly disrupt other metabolic processes of the unwanted plants or the weeds. Therefore, when and how any herbicide should be applied may be determined by the mode of action of the herbicide.

The efficacy of an organophosphorous herbicide is inconsistent among weed species and is sensitive towards environmental conditions. One such organophosphorous herbicide is glufosinate. Glufosinate is a naturally occurring broad-spectrum herbicide. It is a non- selective, contact herbicide, with some systemic action. Glufosinate irreversibly inhibits glutamine synthetase, an enzyme necessary to produce glutamine and for ammonia detoxification; thereby exhibiting herbicidal properties. The application of glufosinate to plants leads to reduced glutamine levels and elevated ammonia levels in plant tissues, preventing photosynthesis and resulting in plant death. Presently, glufosinate is used in agrochemical applications in various forms such as L-glufosinate, a racemic mixture of L-glufosinate and D-glufosinate and the like.

Furthermore, it is known in the art that formulating active ingredients into agrochemical compositions involves balancing several competing factors such as physicochemical stability, regulatory profile and biological efficacy. To balance these factors, excipients and adjuvants are added to the active ingredient that play an important role by boosting bio -performance and improving the environmental profile of the agrochemical compositions. In turn, these excipients and adjuvants also help to realize the maximum potential of the active ingredients. It has been observed that the performance of glufosinate or its isomer or its salt in agrochemical compositions is greatly dependant on the choice of excipients and adjuvants, especially surfactants. Proper selection of these surfactants plays a dominant role to maximize the efficacy of glufosinate or its isomer or its salts by increasing penetration on to the leaf surface while decreasing evaporation rate (ER). However, the intrinsic characteristic of surfactants is that they are soapy in nature, and in the presence of air, they tend to create foam and froth.

During manufacturing of agrochemical compositions comprising glufosinate or its isomer or its salts, mixing and blending actions are performed, which cause air movement within the system. These actions trigger foam generation, which in-tum results into non-uniformity within the agrochemical composition and also slows down the manufacturing process. Another major problem associated with agrochemical compositions comprising glufosinate, its isomer, or salts thereof, is handling froth. Frothing problem is different as compared to foaming problem.

Foam is a thick denser form appearing due to air entrapment in the liquid droplets. Due to presence of dispersing agents and surfactants, agrochemical compositions exhibit unfavourable foam behaviour when diluted with water prior to application, and during spraying in the course of application, unless defoamers are added. The consequences comprise overflow of spray apparatus, contamination of the environment, uneven spray deposits on the crops, and crop protectant ingredient residues in the spray apparatus. When one or more active ingredients are used for tank- mixing with water and other tank- mix partners, the surrounding air gets entrapped within the tank-mix preparation and triggers foam.

Frothing problem occurs while bottling the glufosinate-based agrochemical compositions. During packaging, concentrated formulations are filled in bottles. Tilting and pouring mechanisms for transferring concentrated formulation in the bottle in the presence of surrounding air results into froth generation. In the industrial bottle filling set-up, agrochemical composition is passed through speed- controlled and pressure-controlled nozzles to the bottles, which results into froth making the handling of the bottle difficult. It also leads to undesirable delay in bottle filling. Further, managing uniform quantity in all the bottles also become difficult. As it is not possible to avoid the presence of excipients and adjuvants, especially surfactants, in the glufosinate-based agrochemical composition and also exposure of the formulation to air, while preparation of the agrochemical composition, filling the same in bottles, and performing tank-mix operations, there exists a need to tackle both foam and froth issues.

There are various solutions available in the art to handle foaming problems in the glufosinate-based agrochemical compositions. However, there are hardly any solutions available in the art to handle frothing challenges during bottle filling of the composition/formulation. There, thus, remains a need for development of an agrochemical composition in water-soluble concentrate formulations, which address the aforementioned challenges of both foaming and frothing, and also does not affect the efficacy associated with the agrochemical compositions.

OBJECTIVE OF THE DISCLOSURE:

It is a primary objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition, more particularly, a herbicidal composition. It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one glutamine synthetase inhibitor herbicide.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one enolpyruvyl shikimate phosphate synthase inhibitor herbicide.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide and one or more additives.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorus herbicide, which is capable of lowering froth during bottle-filling processes.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a process for preparation of an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorus herbicide.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for controlling weeds by using an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorus herbicide.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE:

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide and one or more additives. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a process for preparation of an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide and one or more additives.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or a locus thereof, an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide and one or more additives.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a liquid herbicidal composition comprising:

(a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof.

In another aspect, present disclosure provides a soluble concentrate herbicidal composition comprising:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; wherein said N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and said glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof are present in a weight ratio from about 5:1 to about 1:5.

In a preferred embodiment, N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are in a weight ratio from about 5:1 to about 1:5.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising: (a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least two glycols, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least two glycols, derivatives, or combinations thereof in a weight ratio from about 5:1 to about 1:5; and

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

In yet another aspect, the process for preparing a water-soluble concentrate composition comprises:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; wherein said process comprises: mixing organophosphorous herbicides, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof with an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof to obtain the water-soluble concentrate composition.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling undesirable plants, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, an effective amount of a herbicidal composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to use of a water-soluble concentrate herbicidal composition for improving efficacy, the composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a kit comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

DETAILED DESCIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE:

The present disclosure now will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying examples, 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. For example, features illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments, and features illustrated with respect to a particular embodiment may be deleted from that embodiment. Thus, the disclosure contemplates that in some embodiments of the disclosure, any feature or combination of features set forth herein can be excluded or omitted. 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.

Unless defined otherwise, 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.

“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.

Recitation of ranges of values are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The endpoints of all ranges are included within the range and independently combinable. As used herein, all numerical values or numerical ranges include integers within such ranges and fractions of the values or the integers within ranges unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a range of about 90-100%, includes 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 95%, 97%, etc., as well as 91.1%, 91.2%, 91.3%, 91.4%, 91.5%, etc., 92.1%, 92.2%, 92.3%, 92.4%, 92.5%, etc., and so forth. All methods described herein can be performed in a suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of the terms “a”, “an” and “the” and similar referents (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms first, second etc., as used herein are not meant to denote any particular ordering, but simply for convenience to denote a plurality of, for example, layers.

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.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The expression of various quantities in terms of “%” or “% w/v” means the percentage by weight of the total solution or composition unless otherwise specified.

As used herein, the term “agrochemical” refers to all active substances which can be used in the agrochemical field, i.e., fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, molluscicides, rodenticides, repellents, plant growth regulators, herbicides and safeners, and plant nutrients. Subsequently, the term “herbicides” 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.

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.

The term “plants” refer to whole plants, plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems, twigs, roots, trunks, limbs, shoots, fruits, etc.), plant cells, or 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.

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.

As used herein, the terms “undesirable vegetation”, “undesirable species”, “undesirable plants’, “harmful plants”, “undesirable weeds”, “harmful weeds” or “weed” are synonyms The term “locus” refers to an area of planted crops or a location where the weed occurs or grows or can occur or grow and is intended to include soil, medium of growth other than soil. It also denotes the vicinity or area designated for growth of a desired crop, and in which control of the growth and/or spread of undesirable vegetation is desired. The locus includes the vicinity of desired crop plants wherein undesirable vegetation growth has either occurred, is most likely to occur, or is yet to occur.

As used herein, the term “pre-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.

The salts referred to herein are agriculturally acceptable salts. As used herein, an “agriculturally acceptable salt” means a salt which is acceptable for use in agricultural or horticultural use.

The term “stable” herein refers to a chemical and/or physical stabilization of the composition in terms of achieving chemical stability of the active ingredient and desired suspensibility and dispersibility of the composition by maintaining homogeneity of the components that impart shelf life up to two years.

The term “water-soluble concentrate” herein refers to a clear to opalescent liquid, which can be applied as a solution of the active ingredient after dilution in water. The liquid may contain water- insoluble formulates. It is also known as soluble liquid. The term “deaerators” herein refers to a combination of N,N-dimethyl (Cs-Cn)- alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof that is capable of controlling froth generated during bottle filling mechanism of an phosphinic acid herbicide. Deaerators minimize froth that is generated when water- soluble concentrates are poured in bottles in the presence of surrounding air as a packaging operation.

The term “additive” herein refers to a compound or compounds capable of controlling froth, generated due to air entrapment and controlling foam that is generated while the compositions are diluted with water.

While developing a water-soluble concentrate (SL) comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, it was found by the inventors of the present disclosure that the integrity of soluble concentrate can be maintained by using a combination of two additives. The combination of two additives in a particular ratio facilitates soluble concentrate formation. The selected combination of the additives in a selective weight ratio is found to successfully reduce the foaming and frothing problems of the agrochemical composition.

As used herein, the term “L-glufosinate” or “Glufosinate-P” includes the L-isomer of Glufosinate, a salt and an ester thereof. The L-isomer of glufosinate is a structural analogue of glutamate and, therefore, is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) of bacteria and plants. The L-enantiomer of glufosinate acts by inhibition of glutamine synthetase thereby causing accumulation of toxic levels of ammonium ion and indirectly stopping photosynthesis. It is also known as phosphinothricin or (S)-2-amino-4-(hydroxy(methyl)phosphinyl)butanoic acid. The term can generically refer to any form of L-glufosinate such as solvates, hydrates, esters, anhydrous form, polymorph forms, pseudo polymorph forms, amorphous form or mixture thereof, and sodium, potassium or ammonium salts. The salts of L-glufosinate such as monosodium salt, disodium salt, monopotassium salt, dipotassium salt, calcium salt, ammonium salt, -NH3(CH3)⁺ salt, -NH2(CH3)²⁺ salt, -NH(CH₃)³⁺salt, -NH(CH3)2(C₂H₄OH)⁺ salt, and -NH2(CH3)(C₂H₄OH)⁺ salt are included in the definition. The agronomic ally acceptable salts include L- glufosinate-ammonium (Glufosinate-P-ammonium), L-glufosinate-sodium, and L- glufosinate-potassium. The term may also refer to an isomeric (racemic) mixture of L-glufosinate, D-glufosinate and salts thereof, wherein the content of L-glufosinate in the mixture is about 70% or greater, preferably about 80% or greater and more preferably about 90% or greater. Typically, the ratio of L-glufosinate: D-glufosinate can be in the range from about 90:10 to about 99.9:0.1, preferably from about 95:5 to about 99.9:0.1.

Furthermore, the inventors of the present disclosure found that the presence of N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof effectively controlled froth generated during bottle filling. The N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, acted like a deaerator, and controlled air entrapment that was responsible for undesirable froth and foam. The inventors screened various surfactants and successfully controlled the frothing issue by carefully combining N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof to control destabilization in terms of froth caused due to the presence of air. The N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide not only satisfied the surfactant requirement in the water-soluble concentrate (SL) composition but also contributed to the froth control generated during bottle filling. At the same time, N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide also efficiently controlled foam generated upon dilution. The combination of N,N-dimethyl(Cs- Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof successfully controlled froth in glufosinate or its isomer or its salt based water- soluble concentrate compositions/formulations.

Accordingly in an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an agrochemical composition, more particularly a herbicidal composition. Accordingly in an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a herbicidal composition comprising an organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the organophosphorous herbicide comprises glycine derivative herbicides, phosphinic acid herbicides, phosphonate herbicides, phosphoramidate herbicides, phosphoro thiolate herbicides, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the organophosphorous herbicide is selected from the group comprising amiprofos-methyl, amiprophos, anilofos, bensulide, bilanafos, butamifos, clacyfos, 2,4-DEP, (O-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) O-methyl isopropylphosphoramidothioate) (DMPA), ethyl bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphinate (EBEP), fosamine, DL-glufosinate, L-glufosinate, glyphosate, piperophos, salts, isomers, derivatives, or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, glutamine synthetase inhibitor herbicide comprises phosphinic acids.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one phosphinic acid herbicide.

In an embodiment, the phosphinic acid herbicide comprises bilanafos, glufosinate, glufosinate-P, or combinations thereof.

According to another embodiment, the phosphinic acid herbicide is glufosinate. It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide an agrochemical composition comprising at least one enolpyruvyl shikimate phosphate synthase inhibitor herbicide.

In another embodiment, enolpyruvyl shikimate phosphate synthase inhibitor herbicide comprises glyphosate.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, wherein the organophosphorous herbicide is glufosinate.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, wherein the organophosphorous herbicide is glyphosate.

As used throughout the disclosure, the glufosinate or other active ingredients, for example glyphosate, 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.

According to an embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises:

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof comprises glufosinate, salts, esters, isomers, mixture of isomers, derivative, or combinations thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the organophosphorous herbicide is selected from the group comprising glufosinate ammonium, L-glufosinate ammonium, glufosinate sodium, L-glufosinate sodium, glufosinate potassium, L-glufosinate potassium, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment, glufosinate is selected from its lower alkyl esters thereof or salts thereof with acids or bases such as its hydrochloride salt, monosodium salt, disodium salt, monopotassium salt, dipotassium salt, ammonium salt, -NH₃(CH₃)⁺ salt, -NH₂(CH₃)₂ ⁺ salt, -NH(CH₃)₃ ⁺ salt, -NH(CH₃)₂(C₂H₄OH)⁺, - NH₂(CH₃)(C₂H4OH)⁺, or its methyl ester, ethyl ester, propyl ester or butyl ester.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises a water-soluble inorganic or an organic salt of glufosinate, preferably an ammonium salt of glufosinate.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises glufosinate ammonium.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises DL- glufosinate and its salts thereof.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises DL- glufosinate ammonium.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises L- glufosinate or its salts. According to another embodiment, there is provided a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising L-glufosinate or its salts having chiral purity more than about 90%.

According to another embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprises L-glufosinate and its salts having chiral purity more than about 92%.

According to another embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprises L-glufosinate and its salts having chiral purity more than about 95%.

According to another embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprising L-glufosinate and its salts has less than about 10% D-glufosinate and its salts in the water-soluble concentrate composition.

According to another embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprising L-glufosinate and its salts has less than about 8% D-glufosinate and its salts in the water-soluble concentrate composition.

According to another embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprising L-glufosinate and its salts has less than about 5% D-glufosinate and its salts in the water-soluble concentrate composition.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises L- glufosinate salts with ammonium, potassium, sodium salts and the like thereof.

According to another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises L- glufosinate ammonium.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof comprises glyphosate, salt, isomer, mixture of isomers, derivative, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises a water-soluble inorganic salt or an organic salt of glyphosate, preferably an ammonium salt of glyphosate.

In another embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises glyphosate isopropyl ammonium.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 90% w/w organophosphorous herbicide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 80% w/w organophosphorous herbicide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w organophosphorous herbicide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w DL-glufosinate or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w L-glufosinate or its salt of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition. According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w glyphosate isopropyl ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 26% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 19% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 18.5% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 19% w/w glufosinate ammonium of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises one or more additive.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises at least two N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 65% w/w glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof of total weight of the agrochemical composition. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide is N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide is such that the nitrogen atom of the amine oxide bears at least one long chain aliphatic group having 5 to 11 carbon atoms. Examples of N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide include pentyl-, hexyl-, heptyl-, octyl-, nonyl-, decyl-, tetradecyl-, pentadecyl-, and hexadecyl- and octadecyl N,N-dimethyl amine oxide, or combinations thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide is N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and is selected from the group comprising pentyl-, hexyl-, heptyl-, octyl-, nonyl-, decyl-, tetradecyl-, pentadecyl-, hexadecyl- , and octadecyl N,N-dimethyl amine oxide, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide is decyldimethyl amine N-oxide.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cs- Cn)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cs- Cn)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w decyldimethyl amine N-oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 46% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 28% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 24% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 12% w/w N,N-dimethyltetradecylamine N-oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 12% w/w myristyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof are selected from the group comprising monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE), ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME), or combinations thereof.

According to preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the glycol is propylene glycol.

According to preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the glycol is monoethylene glycol.

According to preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the glycol is butyl glycol or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises propylene glycol and butyl glycol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 30% w/w glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 13.25% w/w propylene glycol of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 12% w/w propylene glycol of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 12.25% w/w propylene glycol of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 10% w/w propylene glycol of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 1% w/w ethylene glycol monobutyl ether of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

The inventors of the present disclosure found that the ratio of the organophosphorous herbicide and one or more additives, acting as a deaerator, was quite critical. The additive(s) effectively controlled frothing problem when N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol was present in a ratio from about 3 to 7:1 to 3. As an additional advantage, inventors found that the combination of N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol also effectively controlled foam generated during tank mixing when agrochemical composition of the present disclosure is diluted with water prior to application and when the agrochemical composition is mixed with other tank-mix partners.

In a preferred embodiment, the organophosphorous herbicide; N,N-dimethyl(Cs- Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are in a weight ratio of about 1-2 : 2-7 : 0.5-2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises:

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said N,N-dimethyl (C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and said glycol or its derivatives are present in a weight ratio from about 5:1 to about 1:5.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in about 1:3 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol or its derivatives thereof in about 1:4 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in about 2:5 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in about 5:1 weight ratio. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises:

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and said glycol are present in a weight ratio from about 3 to 6: 1 to 3.

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about 2: 1 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and said glycol are present in about 1.5:1 weight ratio.

(a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and (b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof present in about 3:1 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(Cs)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof are present in about 4: 1 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said phosphinic acid herbicide, N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about l-2:2-7:0.5-2 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said phosphinic acid herbicide, N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about 1:2:0.5 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises: (a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said phosphinic acid herbicide, N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about 1.5:4.5: 1 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said phosphinic acid herbicide, N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about 2:3: 1 weight ratio.

(b) one or more additive comprising N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein said phosphinic acid herbicide, N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are present in about 2:4: 1 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises not more than about 25% w/w glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof of total weight of the agrochemical composition. Preferably, the additive comprises from about 1% w/w to about 25% w/w glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof of the total weight of the agrochemical composition. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises not more than about 20% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition. Preferably, the additive comprises from about 1% w/w to about 20% w/w glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof of the total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the additive comprises not more than about 15% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition. Preferably, the additive comprises from about 1% w/w to about 5% w/w glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof of the total weight of the agrochemical composition.

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least two glycol or their derivatives.

(a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; and

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

(a) at least one phosphinic acid herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; (b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; and

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

(a) at least one phosphinic acid herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in about 5:1 to about 1:5 weight ratio; and

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least two glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in about 5:1 to about 1:5 weight ratio; and

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the group comprising N,N-dimethyl(Ci2-C2o)-alkyl amine oxide, alcohol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglucoside, alkyl glucamide, fatty acid methyl ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, ethoxylated sorbitan ester, ethoxylated alkylphenol, ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, vegetable oil ethoxylates, alkyl amide, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from N,N-dimethyl(Ci2-C2o)-alkyl amine oxide. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the N,N-dimethyl(Ci2-C2o)- alkyl amine oxide is selected from the group comprising N,N-dimethyl(Ci2)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Ci3)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Ci4)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Cis)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Ci6)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Ci7)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Cis)- alkyl amine oxide, N,N-dimethyl(Ci9)- alkyl amine oxide and N,N-dimethyl(C2o)- alkyl amine oxide.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, alcohol ethoxylates are selected from the group comprising 2-ethylhexanol ethoxylate, oleyl amine ethoxylates, 2-15 ethylene oxide (EO), dodecyl phenyl ethoxylates, 5EO, tallow amine ethoxylates, 8-15 EO, tridecyl alcohol branched alcohol ethoxylate, octylphenol ethoxylated, nonylphenol ethoxylated, castor oil ethoxylated fatty acids, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan oleate, and linear alcohol ethoxylated linear alcohol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, alkyl polyglucosides are selected from the compounds containing an alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms and preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms and containing a glucoside group preferably comprising 1.2 to 3 glucoside units. The alkylpolyglucosides may be chosen for example from 1 -Deoxy- l-(methyl-(Cs-io-(even)- alkanoyl)amino)- D-Glucitol, Cs- Cio alkyl polyglucoside, decylglucoside (C9-C11 alkyl-glucoside), caprylyl/capryl glucoside and the like.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fatty acid methyl ester is selected from the group comprising methyl octanoate/decanoate, methyl dodecanoate, methyl oleate (methyl cis-9-octadecenoate), and soybean oil methyl ester.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, sorbitan fatty acid ester is selected from the group comprising lauric, stearate (mono), stearate (tri) and oleate, respectively, for the fatty acid portion of the molecule. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, vegetable oil ethoxylates are selected from the group comprising castor oil ethoxylate, hydrogenated castor oil ethoxylates and the like.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 50% w/w non-ionic surfactant of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 40% w/w non-ionic surfactant of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.5% to about 30% w/w non-ionic surfactant of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 18% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Ci4)-alkyl amine oxide of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 28% w/w non-ionic surfactants of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 18.25% w/w non-ionic surfactants of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 6.25% w/w 2-ethyl hexanol ethoxylate of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises: (a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(c) at least one or more non-ionic surfactant; and

(d) at least one phosphate ester; wherein the phosphate ester is added either as a pre-mix or a tank-mix.

(b) one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and

(d) at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester; wherein the alkoxylated phosphate ester is added either as a pre-mix or a tank-mix.

(a) at least one organophosphorous herbicide, its salt, isomer or derivative thereof;

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and

(d) at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester; wherein the alkoxylated phosphate ester is added either as pre-mix or tank-mix.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the phosphate ester is selected from the group comprising butanol phosphate (mono/di-ester), 2- ethylhexyl phosphate (mono/di-ester), 2-ethylhexyl ethoxylated phosphate (mono/diester), lauryl alcohol (ethoxylated) phosphate, tridecyl alcohol phosphate, tridecyl alcohol (ethoxylated) phosphate, polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether phosphate, cetyl alcohol phosphate, oleyl alcohol phosphate, phosphate esters of other fatty alcohols or alkoxylates, methacrylic acid (propoxylated) phosphate), methacrylic acid (ethoxylated) phosphate, hydroxyethyl methyacrylate phosphate, allyl alcohol (ethoxylated) phosphate, phenol (ethoxylated) phosphate, styrenated phenol (ethoxylated) phosphate, nonyl phenol (ethoxylated) phosphate, glycol ether, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 50% w/w, and preferably from about 0.1% to about 40% w/w alkoxylated phosphate ester of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.5% w/w to about 20% w/w alkoxylated phosphate ester of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 2% w/w glycol ether of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 1% w/w glycol ether of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester is added as one of the ingredients and becomes a part of agrochemical composition pre-mix.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester is added as one of the ingredients upon dilution with water before application and becomes a part of the agrochemical composition tank-mix. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition may further comprise anionic surfactants selected from carboxylic acid type surfactants including polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid, copolymer of maleic acid and olefins (such as isobutylene and diisobutylene), copolymer of acrylic acid and itaconic acid, copolymer of methacrylic acid and itaconic acid, copolymer of maleic acid and styrene, copolymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, copolymer of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate, copolymer of acrylic acid and vinyl acetate, copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid, N-methyl- (C12-C18 fatty acid) sarcosinates, resin acid and C12-C18 fatty acids, and salts thereof; sulfate type surfactants including sulfates such as (C12-C18 alkyl) sulfates, polyoxyethylene (C12-C18 alkyl) ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene ((mono- or di-) Cs- C12 alkyl)phenyl ether sulfates, sulfates of polyoxyethylene ((mono- or di-) Cs- Ci2alkyl)phenyl ether polymers, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)phenyl phenyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)benzyl phenyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)styryl phenyl ether sulfates, sulfates of polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-) styryl phenyl ether polymers, sulfates of polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block polymers, sulfonated oil, sulfated fatty acid esters, sulfated fatty acids and sulfated olefins, and salts thereof; sulfonic acid type surfactants including (C12-C22 paraffin)sulfonic acids, (C8-C12 alkyl)benzenesulfonic acids, formalin condensates of (C8-C12 alkyl)benzenesulfonic acids, formalin condensate of cresolsulfonic acid, (a- olefin(Ci4-Ci6))sulfonic acids, di(Cs-Ci2 alkyl)sulfosuccinic acids, lignin sulfonic acid, polyoxyethylene ((mono- or di-)Cs-Ci2 alkyl)phenyl ether sulfonic acids, polyoxyethylene (C12-C18 alkyl)ether sulfosuccinic acid half esters, naphthalenesulfonic acid, ((mono- or di-) Ci-Ce alkyl) naphthalenesulfonic acids, formalin condensate of naphthalenesulfonic acid, formalin condensates of ((mono- or di-) Ci-Ce alkyl)naphthalenesulfonic acids, formalin condensate of creosote oil sulfonic acid, (C8-C12 alkyl)diphenyl ether disulfonic acids, polystyrene sulfonic acid and copolymer of styrenesulfonic acid and methacrylic acid, and salts thereof; phosphate type surfactants including (C8-C12 alkyl)phosphates, polyoxyethylene (C12-C18 alkyl) ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene ((mono- or di-) C8-C12 alkyl) phenyl ether phosphates, phosphates of polyoxyethylene ((mono-, di- or tri-) Cs- C12 alkyl)phenyl ether polymers, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)phenyl phenyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)benzyl phenyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)styryl phenyl ether phosphates, phosphatesofpolyoxyethylene (mono-, di- or tri-)styryl phenyl ether polymers, phosphates of polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block polymers, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolimine and condensed phosphoric acid (such as tripolyphosphoric acid), and salts thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.1% w/w to about 50% w/w, and preferably from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w anionic surfactants of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 6.5% w/w ammonium sulfate of total weight of the agrochemical composition. In a preferred embodiment, the agrochemical composition comprises about 4.5% w/w ammonium sulfate of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition may further comprise an additional herbicide for improving the effectiveness of the herbicidal composition.

Examples of additional herbicides which may be used in combination with glufosinate in accordance with the present disclosure comprise herbicides or their salts such as lactofen, fomesafen, oxyflurofen and its salts, Pyrimidinyloxybenzoic analogue herbicides such as pyrithiobac sodium, bispyribac sodium; bilanafos and its salts, bialaphos and its salts; chloroacetanilide herbicide such as acetolachlor, pretilachlor, metolachlor; Bipyridinium herbicides such as paraquat and diquat and salts thereof; aryloxyphenoxy acetic acid herbicide such as clodinafop, haloxyfop and their derivatives; aryloxyalkanoic acid herbicides such as 2,4-D and its salts, 2- methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and its salts, 4-(4-chloro-2- methylphenoxy)butyric acid (MCPB) and their salts; Pyridine herbicides such as triclopyr, picloram, aminopyralid and salts thereof; Aromatic herbicides such as dicamba, 2,3,6-Trichlorobenzoic acid, tricamba and their salts; Pyridinecarboxylic acid herbicides such as clopyralid; Imidazolinones selected from imazameth, imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr or mixtures of such herbicides.

In a preferred embodiment, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprises:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least two glycols, derivatives, or combinations thereof in a weight ratio of about 5:1 to 1:5;

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and

(d) optionally an agrochemically acceptable excipient.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a water-soluble concentrate composition comprises:

(b) an additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof in a weight ratio of about 5:1 to 1:5;

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant;

(d) at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester; and

(e) optionally an agrochemically acceptable excipient.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemically acceptable excipients are selected from one or more of solvents, inert materials, stickers, wetters, binders, stabilizers, dispersants, emulsifiers, penetrants, preservatives, fillers, carriers and colorants, and pH modifiers (buffers, acids and bases) or viscosity modifiers (e.g., thickeners), and optionally also defoamers.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises polar or nonpolar organic solvents or polar or nonpolar inorganic solvents or mixtures thereof.

Non-limiting examples of nonpolar solvents according to the present disclosure include aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as mineral oils or toluene, xylenes, and naphthalene derivatives; halogenated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride or chlorobenzene; oils, plant-based oils such as com germ oil and rapeseed oil, for example, or oil derivatives such as rapeseed oil methyl ester.

Non-limiting examples of polar solvents according to the present disclosure include polar ethers such as tetrahydro furan (THF), dioxane, alkylene glycol monoalkyl and dialkyl ethers such as, for example, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether or monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether (cellosolve); alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, n- and isopropanol, n-, iso-, tert-and 2-butanol; diglyme and tetraglyme; amides such as dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide, dimethylcaprylamide, dimethylcapramide and N-alkylpyrrolidones; ketones such as acetone; fatty acid based methyl ester (methyl palmitate/oleate), esters based on glycerol and carboxylic acids, such as glycerol mono-, di-and triacetate; lactams; lactate esters having chain lengths of 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester moiety; carbonic diesters; nitriles such as acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, and benzonitrile; sulfoxides and sulfones such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), sulfolane and polycarbonate solvents.

Suitable stabilizers are selected from hexamethylenetetramine, formaldehyde, orthoesters and epoxides. Suitable defoamers are selected from fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates, organopolysiloxanes such as polydimethylsiloxanes and mixtures thereof with microfine, optionally silanized silica, perfluoroalkylphosphonates, perfluoroalkylphosphinates, paraffins, waxes and microcrystalline waxes and mixtures thereof with silanized silica or mixtures of different foam inhibitors.

Suitable preservatives are selected from organic acids and their esters, examples being ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, sorbate, benzoic acid, methyl 4- hydroxybenzoate, propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, propionates, phenol, 2-phenyl phenate, l,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, formaldehyde, sulfurous acid, and salts thereof.

Suitable drift retardants are selected from water-soluble polymers, as for example polyacrylamides, acrylamide/acrylic acid polymers, sodium polyacrylate, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polysaccharides, and natural and synthetic guar gum. It is also possible, furthermore, for certain emulsions or self-emulsifying systems to be used as drift retardants.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 0.01% w/w to about 50% w/w, and preferably from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w agrochemically acceptable excipient of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 5% w/w to about 30% w/w agrochemically acceptable excipient of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w organophosphorus herbicide, from about 1% w/w to about 80% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w organophosphorus herbicide, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 5% w/w to about 50% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w organophosphorus herbicide; from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol of total weight of the composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 15% w/w to about 50% w/w organophosphorus herbicide, from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 5% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w organophosphorus herbicide, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide and glycol or its derivatives are present in a weight ratio from about 3 to 5:1 to 2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 65% w/w DL-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 45% w/w glycol or its derivatives of the total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide and glycol or its derivative are present in a weight ratio from about 3 to 5:1 to 2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 80% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol or its derivatives of the total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)- alkyl amine oxide and glycol or its derivative are present in a weight ratio from about 3 to 5:1 to 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N- dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w propylene glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the composition; wherein N,N- dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol are in a weight ratio of about 3-5 : 1-2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w propylene glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol are present in about 3:1 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 80% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol ether of total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl(Cn)- alkyl amine oxide and ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol ether are present in a weight ratio from about 5:2 ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w propylene glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol are present in about 2.5:1 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol ether of total weight of the agrochemical composition, wherein N,N-dimethyl(Cn)- alkyl amine oxide and ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol ether are present in about 2.5:1 weight ratio.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w glufosinate - ammonium; from about 1% w/w to about 80% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine, from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol, from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w one or more non-ionic surfactant; and from about 1% w/w to about 30% w/w alkoxylated phosphate ester of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium; from about 1% w/w to about 80% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine, from about 1% w/w to about 60% w/w glycol, from about 1% w/w to about 25% w/w one or more non-ionic surfactant; and from about 1% w/w to about 15% w/w alkoxylated phosphate ester of total weight of the agrochemical composition.

(a) 10% w/w to 50% w/w of an organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof;

(b) 10% w/w to 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide; and

(c) 2% w/w to 50% w/w glycol or its derivative, based on total weight of the composition; wherein N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and ethylene glycol monobutyl glycol ether are present in about 3:1 weight ratio; and wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol act as deaerators.

According to an embodiment the agrochemical composition comprises at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide, and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, wherein the agrochemical composition is present in a form of a liquid formulation.

In an embodiment, the stable agrochemical composition is selected from Capsule suspension (CS), Dispersible concentrate (DC), Emulsion, water in oil (EO), Emulsion, oil in water (EW), Oil dispersion (OD), Oil miscible flowable concentrate (oil miscible suspension (OF), Oil miscible liquid (OL), Suspension concentrate (SC), soluble concentrate (SL) or Suspo-emulsion (SE).

In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition is formulated as soluble concentrate (SL).

In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the agrochemical composition is formulated as water-soluble concentrate (SL). In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprises from about 1% to about 50% w/w organophosphorus herbicide, from about 1% to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine and from about 1% to about 40% w/w glycol, derivative, or combinations of total weight of the water-soluble concentrate composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition comprises from about 10% to about 50% w/w glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% to about 50% w/w decyldimethylamine oxide; from about 1% to about 40% w/w propylene glycol, from about 1% to about 50% w/w one or more non-ionic surfactant; and from about 0.1% w/w to about 50% w/w polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether of total weight of the water-soluble concentrate composition.

In an embodiment, the process for preparing a water-soluble concentrate composition, the process comprising:

(a) mixing at least one organophosphorous herbicides, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof, to obtain a mixture; and

(b) adding water to the mixture of step (a) to obtain the composition.

According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process for preparation of the agrochemical composition, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol or its derivatives thereof; and wherein said process comprises mixing organophosphorous herbicides, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof with N,N- dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof to obtain the water-soluble concentrate composition. According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process for preparation of the agrochemical composition, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; and wherein said process comprises mixing organophosphorous herbicides, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof with N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof to obtain the water-soluble concentrate composition.

According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process for preparation of the agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; one or more additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof; wherein, N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof are present in about 3 to 7:1 to 3 weight ratio; and wherein said process comprises:

(a) mixing an organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof to obtain a mixture;

(b) adding water to the mixture of step (a) to obtain the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process for preparing the agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, wherein said organophosphorous herbicide is glufosinate ammonium; at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide wherein said N,N-dimethyl(Cs- Cn)-alkyl amine oxide is decylamine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof, wherein said glycol is propylene glycol; and wherein said process comprises mixing glufosinate-ammonium, decylamine oxide, water, propylene glycol to obtain a mixture; and optionally mixing agrochemically acceptable excipients to obtain the agrochemical composition.

According to an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process of preparing agrochemical composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, wherein said organophosphorous herbicide is L-glufosinate ammonium; at least one N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide is decylamine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof, wherein said glycol is propylene glycol; and wherein said process comprises:

(a) mixing L-glufosinate-ammonium, decylamine oxide and propylene glycol to obtain a mixture; and

(b) adding water to the mixture of step (a) to obtain the composition.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, organophosphorous herbicides, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, at least one N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof, are added under agitation to obtain the mixture.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of the present agrochemical composition for controlling weeds, wherein the agrochemical composition comprises an organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of the present stable agrochemical composition for controlling weeds, wherein the stable agrochemical composition comprises an organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, an additive comprising at least one N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to a plant or to a locus thereof, an effective amount of a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

In another embodiment, the composition comprises L-glufosinate ammonium, decyldimethyl amine N-oxide and propylene glycol.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises L-glufosinate ammonium, decylamine oxide and propylene glycol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus a herbicidally effective amount of at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; an additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivative, or combinations thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus a herbicidally effective amount of an at least one glufosinate, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof, at least one N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, wherein said N,N-dimethyl(C8-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and a glycol is in a weight ratio from about 3 to 5:1 to 2.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of glufosinate-ammonium; decylamine oxide and propylene glycol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of L-glufosinate-ammonium; decylamine oxide and propylene glycol.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; at least one N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; one or more non-ionic surfactant; and an alkoxylated phosphate ester.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling undesirable plants, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, combinations thereof; at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; one or more non-ionic surfactant; and an alkoxylated phosphate ester, wherein said phosphate ester is added as a pre-mix.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; at least one N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide, at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof; one or more non-ionic surfactant; and an alkoxylated phosphate ester, wherein said phosphate ester is added as a tank-mix. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of glufosinate-ammonium, decylamine oxide, propylene glycol, a D-glucitol l-deoxy-l-(methyl-amino)-N-C8-io acyl derivative and polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether phosphate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to the plants or to their locus thereof, a herbicidally effective amount of L-glufosinate-ammonium, decylamine oxide, propylene glycol, a D-glucitol 1 -deoxy- l-(methyl-amino)- N-Cs-io acyl derivative and polyethylene glycol monotridecyl ether phosphate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the herbicidal composition of the present invention may be applied to the following crops to control weeds, the crops are selected from the group comprising allium cepa, ananas comosus, arachis hypogaea, asparagus officinalis, avena sativa, beta vulgaris spec altissima, beta vulgaris spec rapa, brassica napus var. napus, brassica napus var. napobrassica, brassica rapa var. silvestris, brassica oleracea, brassica nigra, camellia sinensis, carthamus tinctorius, carya illinoinensis, citrus limon, citrus sinensis, coffea arabica (coffea canephora, coffea liberica), cucumis sativus, cynodon dactylon, daucus carota, elaeis guineensis, frag aria vesca, glycine max, gossypium hirsutum, (gossypium arboreum, gossy-pium herbaceum, gossypium vitifolium), helianthus annuus, hevea brasiliensis, hordeum vulgare, humulus lupulus, ipomoea batatas, juglans regia, lens culinaris, linum usitatissimum, lycopersicon lycopersicum, malus spec., manihot esculenta, medicago sativa, musa spec., nicotiana tabacum (n.rustica), olea europaea, oryza sativa, phaseoius iunatus, phaseoius vul garis, picea abies, pinus spec., pistacia vera, pisum sativum, prunus avium, prunus persica, pyrus communis, prunus armeniaca, prunus cerasus, prunus dulcis and prunus domestica, ribes sylvestre, ricinus communis, saccharum officinarum, secale cereale, sinapis alba, solanum tuberosum, sorghum bicolor (s. vulgare), theobroma cacao, trifolium pratense, triticum aestivum, triticale, triticum durum, viciafaba, vitis vinifera, zea mays.

According to an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to crops that can be treated to control weeds, the crops are selected from the group comprising cereals, corn, soybeans, rice, oilseed rape, cotton, potatoes, and peanuts.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition is used to control weeds in crops.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the weeds to be controlled by the uses and methods of the disclosure are for example economically important monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous harmful plants, such as broad-leaved weeds, weed grasses or Cyperaceae. The active compounds also act efficiently on perennial weeds which produce shoots from rhizomes, root stocks and other perennial organs and which are difficult to control. Specific examples may be mentioned of some representatives of the monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed flora which can be controlled by the uses and methods of the disclosure, without the enumeration being restricted to certain species.

Examples of weed species on which the water-soluble concentrate composition act efficiently are, from amongst the monocotyledonous weed species, Avena spp., Alopecurus spp., Apera spp., Brachiaria spp., Bromus spp., Digitaria spp., Lolium spp., Echinochloa spp., Leptochloa spp., Fim-bristylis spp., Panicum spp., Phalaris spp., Poa spp., Setaria spp. and also Cyperus species from the annual group, and, among the perennial species, Agropyron, Cynodon, Imperata and Sorghum and also perennial Cyperus species. In the case of the dicotyledonous weed species, the spectrum of action extends to genera such as, for example, Abutilon spp., Amaranthus spp., Chenopodium spp., Chrysanthemum spp., Galium spp., Ipomoea spp., Kochia spp., Lamium spp., Matricaria spp., Pharbitis spp., Polygonum spp., Sida spp., Sinapis spp., Solanum spp., Stellaria spp., Veronica spp. Eclipta spp., Sesbania spp., Aeschynomene spp. and Viola spp., Xanthium spp. among the annuals, and Convolvulus, Cirsium, Rumex and Artemisia in the case of the perennial weeds.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition is usually applied to the plants by spraying on the leaves. Here, the application can be carried out using, for example, water as carrier by customary spraying techniques.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the application of the water- soluble concentrate composition be done before, during and/or after, preferably during and/or after, the emergence of the undesirable vegetation.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition can be applied pre- or post-emergence or together with the plant propagation material of a crop plant. It is also possible to apply the water- soluble concentrate composition by applying plant propagation material, pretreated with the agrochemical composition, of a crop plant.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, use of water-soluble concentrate composition comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, for improving the effectiveness of an herbicide according to the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, use of water-soluble concentrate composition comprising at least one glufosinate herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; additive comprising at least one N,N- dimethyl(Cs)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, for improving the effectiveness of a herbicide according to the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, use of water-soluble concentrate composition comprising at least one L-glufosinate herbicide; additive comprising at least one N,N-dimethyl(Cs)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, for improving the effectiveness of a herbicide according to the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition is designed to be diluted with water (or a water-based liquid) to form the corresponding end-use agrochemical formulations, typically spray formulations.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition requires a formulation which allows the active compounds to be taken up by the weeds and undesirable plants.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the water-soluble concentrate composition is used as the source of active agrochemical ingredients and will typically be diluted to form end-use formulations, typically spray formulations. The dilution may be with water at from 1 to 10,000, particularly 10 to 1,000, times total weight of the water-soluble concentrate composition to form the spray formulation. Said water-soluble concentrate composition may be diluted for use having an agrochemical active concentration of about 0.5% w/w to about 1 w/w. In said diluted composition the agrochemical active concentration may be in the range from about 0.001% w/w to about 1% w/w of the total formulation as sprayed.

Spray formulations include all the components which it is desired to apply to the plants or their environment. Spray formulations can be made up by simple dilution of water-soluble concentrate composition containing agrochemically active ingredients (herbicide), or by mixing of the individual herbicide, or a combination of diluting an herbicide and adding further individual herbicides or mixtures of herbicides. Typically, such end use mixing is carried out in the tank from in which the formulation is sprayed, or alternatively in a holding tank for filling the spray tank. Such mixing and mixtures are typically termed tank mixing and tank mixtures.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a kit comprising at least one organophosphorous herbicide, salt, ester, isomer, derivative, or combinations thereof; and an additive comprises of at least one N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof, for improving the effectiveness of a herbicide according to the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the kit may include one or more, including all, components that may be used to prepare a water-soluble concentrate composition. For example, the kit may include active ingredients, N,N- dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof. One or more of the components may already be combined together or pre-formulated. In those embodiments, where more than two components are provided in a kit, the components may already be combined together and as such are packaged in a single container such as a vial, bottle, can, pouch, bag, canister, or combinations thereof.

In other embodiments, two or more components of a kit may be packaged separately, i.e., not pre-formulated. As such, kit may include one or more separate containers such as vials, cans, bottles, pouches, bags or canisters, each container containing a separate component for water-soluble concentrate composition.

In both forms, a component of the kit may be applied separately from or together with the further components or as a component of the composition according to the disclosure for preparing the water-soluble concentrate composition according to the disclosure.

The composition described above is herbicidally efficacious and is stable. It has been found that the presence of N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and at least one glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof in the water-soluble concentrate composition of the present disclosure provides excellent control of froth during bottle filling that leads to hassle free bottling with uniform volume in each bottle. The water-soluble concentrate composition found to remain stable over time and at various temperatures, and even when the stable water-soluble concentrate composition undergoes shear forces for example on mixing.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition exhibits less than about 50 mm froth and less than about 70 mm foam in 5 minutes.

All the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustration only, since numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of skill in the art. The disclosure should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and following examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

The following examples illustrates the composition, underlying effect and basic methodology of the present disclosure. EXAMPLES:

Example 1: L-Glufosinate ammonium 280 g/L Soluble Liquid (SL)

Process for preparation: In this process, 46g N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, 10g propylene glycol, 2g glycol ether, 6.5g ammonium sulfate were mixed in water under agitation to obtain a mixture. 26g L-glufosinate ammonium was added to the mixture under agitation to obtain a water-soluble concentrate composition. Example 2: Glufosinate ammonium 200 g/L Soluble Liquid (SL)

Process for preparation:

In this process, 19g Glufosinate ammonium, 10g propylene glycol, 6.5g ammonium sulfate, 24g N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and water were mixed together in above quantity and processed as per the process described in Example 1 to obtain a water-soluble concentrate composition.

Example 3: L-Glufosinate ammonium 200 g/L (SL)

Process for preparation:

In this process, 19g L-Glufosinate ammonium, 12g propylene glycol, 6.5g ammonium sulfate, 18g N, N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, 28g non-ionic surfactants and water were mixed together in above quantity and processed as per the process described in Example 1 to obtain a water-soluble concentrate composition.

Example 4: L-Glufosinate ammonium 280 g/L (SL)

Process for preparation:

In this process, 26g L-Glufosinate ammonium, 12.25g propylene glycol, 1.00g butyl cellosolve, 4.50g ammonium sulfate, 28g N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, 18.25g non-ionic surfactants and water were mixed together in above quantity and processed as per the process described in Example 1 to obtain a water- soluble concentrate composition.

Example 5: L-Glufosinate ammonium 200 g/L

Process for preparation:

In this process, 26g L-Glufosinate ammonium, 13.25g propylene glycol, 4.50g ammonium sulfate, 28g N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide, 18g N,N-dimethyl (Ci4)-alkyl amine oxide, and water were mixed together in above quantity and processed as per the process described in Example 1 to obtain a water-soluble concentrate composition.

Example 6: Physico-chemical stability study

The water-soluble concentrate composition of Example 1 was assessed on the following physico-chemical parameters as disclosed in Table 1.

Example 7 : Froth formation study

To study the effect of the presence of N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol in controlling the frothing behaviour, compositions of Examples 1-5 were subjected to bottle filling test. Also, compositions of Examples 1-5 were tested for foam height as per the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council (CIPAC) Miscellaneous techniques (MT) 47.3. Froth height and foam height were measured at different time intervals. All the five compositions exhibited minimal froth and appeared to be free from froth at different intervals (e.g., 30 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes). Thus, the compositions were found suitable for bottle filling operation. Furthermore, diluted compositions of Examples 1-5 were subjected to foam height measurement. All the four compositions exhibited controlled foam within acceptable limit. Thereby, making it suitable for field applications. The details have been disclosed in Table 2.

Further, to study the effect of the presence of N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol in controlling the frothing behaviour, several compositions were prepared and subjected to bottle filling test.

Compositions of Examples 6-12 were prepared as soluble liquid compositions of L-Glufosinate ammonium. 100ml of each composition was separately filled in syringes (200ml capacity, length: 30cm; syringe diameter: 32mm; orifice diameter: 5mm). The compositions were transferred from a syringe to a graduated cylinder under normal thumb pressure in a controlled manner such that entire 100ml content was transferred from syringe to a graduated cylinder in 5 seconds (average dispensing time). It was found that the compositions of Examples 6-12 showed very slight froth (< 10mm) while transferring the respective compositions from syringe to the graduated cylinder.

Composition of Example-8 did not show any froth while transferring the contents. The presence of N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol ascertained the controlled frothing behaviour in the compositions of Example 6-8.

Contrasting results were observed when the compositions of Example 9 and Example 10 were tested. Both compositions resulted into froth with approximately 40mm height. It was concluded that N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol were not able to control froth if not present in a specific ratio. In composition of Example 9, glycol and N,N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide were present in about 1:8 ratio and had failed to control the froth. Similarly, composition of Example 10, wherein glycol and N-dimethyl (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide were present in about 1:2 ratio, also failed to control the froth.

Compositions of Examples 11-12 were prepared without glycol and N, N-dimethyl 5 (Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and failed severely as they resulted into highly viscous composition having air entrapped within the viscous liquid. Due to entrapped air, froth was not visible at the top of the vessel, but it was within the height of the vessel. Therefore, it was concluded that the stable liquid composition of L- glufosinate-ammonium can be prepared in the presence of N, N-dimethyl (Cio)- 0 alkyl amine oxide and glycol in about 3 to 7:1 to 3 weight ratio. Such compositions exhibit controlled frothing behaviour within acceptable range as disclosed in Table 3.

Example 8: Bio-efficacy study

The compositions developed according to present disclosure were tested for efficacy on soybean crop. Composition of Example 1 with L-Glufosinate 5 ammonium 280g/L was tested at three different dose rates i.e., 500 g a.i./ha, 250 g a.i./ha and 262.5 g a.i./ha.

Treatment details:

Crop: Soyabean, Condition: Green house and field, Spray volume: 150 L/ha. Weeds targeted: Eleusine indica, Glycine max, Amaranthus viridis, Brachiaria decumbens, Raphanus raphanistrum, Amaranthus comelina benghalhensis andconyza spc.

Sand type: Sandy clay loam (greenhouse) and Silty clay (field)

Observations were made at various intervals from 7^th day after application (7 DAA) to 35^th day after application (35 DAA). While studying weed control in greenhouse, around 90% weed control was observed on 7 DAA at all three doses (500, 250 and 262.5 g/ha). Similarly, more than 90% weed control continued till 35 DAA. When study was done in the field condition, more that 65% weed control was observed on 7 DAA. At 35 DAA, around 45% weed control was observed at all three doses as disclosed in Table 4.

Weed control

Treatment details:

Condition: Green house and Field

Spray volume: 150 L/ha

Weeds targeted: Eleusine indica, glycine max, amaranthus viridis, Brachiaria decumbens, Raphanus raphanistrum and conyza spc.

Composition of Example 1 was taken to determine weed control in the greenhouse and field conditions. Different varieties of weeds i.e., Eleusine indica, Amaranthus viridis, Conyza sp and Brachiaria decumbens was considered to study the effect of the composition developed according to the present disclosure. Trials were conducted on three dose rates 500 g a.i./ha, 262 g a.i./ha and 250 g a.i./ha. Observations were made at 7 DAA (days after application) and 14 DAA. In the greenhouse, about 90 to 100% control of amaranthus viridis was observed at 500 g a.i./ha, 250 g ai./ha and 262.5 g a.i./ha between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. About 80 to 100% control of Brachiaria decumbens was observed at all three doses between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. About 85 to 99% control of eleusine indica was observed at 500 g a.i./ha, 250 g a.i./ha and 262.5 g a.i./ha between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. Similarly, in the field condition, good weed control was observed. About 65 to 85% weed control was obtained at 7 DAA and 14 DAA. Therefore, it was concluded that composition of Example 1 performed well in the greenhouse as well as field. Foaming issues remained under control that was reflected into uniform dose spray and ultimately its effectiveness in controlling targeted weeds as disclosed in Table 5.

Composition of Example 2 was taken to determine weed control potential in the field. Different varieties of weeds i.e., Eleusine indica, Amaranthus viridis, Commelina benghalhensis and Euphorbia hirta were considered to study the effect of the composition.

Trials were conducted on two dose rates 200 g a.i./ha and 400 g a.i./ha. Observations were made at 7 DAA and 14 DAA. Study was performed on soyabean crop in which composition of Example 2 at 200 g a.i./ha showed about 70% control on 7 DAA. At 400 g a.i./ha, more than about 90% control was observed at 7 DAA and maintained even after 14 DAA.

About 60 to 85% control of eleusine indica at 200 g a.i./ha and 400 g a.i./ha between 7 DAA and 14 DAA. About 80 to 91% control of amaranthus viridis at 200 g a.i./ha dose and 400 g a.i./ha was observed between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. About 70 to 90% control of commelina benghalhensis at 200 g a.i./ha and 400 g a.i./ha was observed between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. More than about 90% control of euphoria hirta was observed at 200 g a.i./ha dose and about 80 to 95% between 7 DAA to 14 DAA. Therefore, it was concluded that the composition of Example 2 performed well in the field. Foaming issues remained under control that reflected into uniform dose spray and ultimately its effectiveness in controlling targeted weeds as disclosed in Table 6.

The inventors of the present disclosure successfully developed various stable water- soluble concentrate compositions of an organophosphorous herbicide using N,N- dimethyl (C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol derivatives. The presence of N,N- dimethyl (C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol derivative demonstrated controlled foaming as well as frothing behaviour which resulted into stable composition and also helps in bottle filling operations. The active ingredients were found to remain quite stable after preparation and even during storage studies. Further the present compositions were found to efficiently control broadleaf weeds and grasses.

Claims

Claims:

1. A water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organophosphorous herbicide is selected from the group comprising glufosinate ammonium, L- glufosinate ammonium, glufosinate sodium, L-glufosinate sodium, glufosinate potassium, L-glufosinate potassium, or combinations thereof.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide is N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cii)-alkyl amine oxide and is selected from the group comprising pentyl-, hexyl-, heptyl-, octyl-, nonyl-, decyl-, tetradecyl-, pentadecyl-, hexadecyl-, and octadecyl N,N-dimethyl amine oxide, or combinations thereof.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glycol is selected from the group comprising monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, or combinations thereof.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 10% w/w to about 60% w/w organophosphorus herbicide; from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide; and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w glycol of total weight of the composition.

6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additive comprises not more than about 25% w/w glycol, derivatives, or combinations thereof of total weight of the composition.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein N,N-dialkyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide and glycol are in a weight ratio from about 5:1 to about 1:5.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organophosphorous herbicide; N,N-dimethyl(C5-Cn)-alkyl amine oxide; and glycol are in a weight ratio of about 1-2 : 2-7 : 0.5-2.

9. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from about 1% w/w to about 50% w/w L-glufosinate ammonium, from about 1% w/w to about 70% w/w N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and from about 1% w/w to about 40% w/w propylene glycol or its derivatives of total weight of the composition; wherein N,N-dimethyl(Cio)-alkyl amine oxide and propylene glycol are in a weight ratio of about 3-5 : 1-2.

10. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits less than about 50 mm froth and less than about 70 mm foam in 5 minutes.

11. A water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

(c) at least one non-ionic surfactant; and

(d) optionally an agrochemically acceptable excipient.

12. The composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the group comprising N,N-dimethyl(Ci2-C2o)-alkyl amine oxide, alcohol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglucoside, alkyl glucamide, fatty acid methyl ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, ethoxylated sorbitan ester, ethoxylated alkylphenol, ethoxylated tristyrylphenol, alkyl amide, or combinations thereof.

13. A process for preparing a water-soluble concentrate composition, the process comprising:

(b) adding water to the mixture of step (a) to obtain the composition.

14. A method for controlling weeds, said method comprising applying to a plant or to a locus thereof, an effective amount of a water-soluble concentrate composition comprising:

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the composition comprises L- glufosinate ammonium, decylamine oxide and propylene glycol.