Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
1~66906
- B.4CKGRaJND OF THE INVENll ON
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for
seed or soil treatment as an in-furrow application method. More
particularly, this invention relates to the method of applying
to the rows of a seed prior to planting, as in a furrow, various
materials beneficial to the germination, growth and development
of said seed.
The problem exists in which various beneficial crop
species are injured by herbicides. Which herbicides are pre-
ferred to be used in the control of undesirable vegetation, which
undesirable vegetation appears in or at the same time the bene-
ficial crop germinates and is grown.
Among the many herbicidal compounds commercially avail-
able are, for example, the thiocarbamates, alone or admixed with
other herbicides such as triazines, which have reached a relatively
high degree oE commercial success. The herbicides are immediately
toxic to a large number of weed pests at different concentrations
depending upon the resistance of the weed pests. Some examples of
these compounds are described and claimed in the U.S. Patents No.
2,913,327, 3,037,853, 3,175,897, 3,185,720, 3,198,786 and
3,582,314. It has been found in practice that the use of various
compounds as herbicides on crops sometimes causes serious in~uries
to the crop plant. Uhen used in the soil at the reco ended
amounts to control many broadleaf and grass weeds, various herbi-
cidal compounds may cause serious malfonnation, stunting and
inhibited germination of the crop plants. This abnormal growth in
the crop plants results in loss of crop yield. Previous attempts
to overcome this problem involves the treatment of the crop seed
~,, ~
1066906
with certain antagonistic agents prior to planting, see U.S.
Patents 3,131,509 and 3,564,768. This method of seed treating
with antagonistic agents has not been notably successful. The
aforementioned patent specifically exemplifies the treatment of
seed prior to planting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have found a convenient and effective method for
in-furrow treatment of seeds whereby the seed and soil immediately
adjacent thereto is treated. Apparatus is employed for depositing
of a seed and soil treating material, or soil treating material in
close proximity to the locus of the seed, as the seed rests in the
furrow prior to planting, followed by covering the treated seed or
soil to achieve a planted state. The apparatus comprises a means
for discing or forming a furrow in soil, a seed drop tube or the
like for dispersing seed into the open furrow, means for delivery
of the treating material into the open furrow and a means for clos-
ing the furrow.
The principle object of the present invention is to
advantageously produce, prior to or during planting, a zone of
. ! 20 protection around the crop seed in the soil.
Another object of the present invention is to carry
out said crop seed protection to prevent injury to the crop from
herbicides already applied and in the soil. Conversely, an object
of the present invention is to carry out said crop seed protection
to prevent injury to the crop from herbicides to be applied after
` planting of the crop seed.
Thus, by a broad aspect of the present teachings, a
method is provided which comprises applying herbicide antidotes
into a seed furrow during the planting procedure.
More specifically, and in accordance with the present
teachings, a method is provided for directly applying herbicide
antidote into a seed furrow in soil which comprises having an open
~.
-3-
~066906
furrow, planting the seed crop in the open furrow, applying the
herbicide antidote to the seed and adjacent soil thereunder and
covering the seed to achieve a planted state.
By a further embodiment of the present teachings a
method is provided for protecting crop seed during planting in
soil containing an injurious herbicide which comprises applying
- to the seed and adjacent soil in an open furrow a herbicidal
antidote therefor and covering the seed to achieve a planted state.
Other objects of the present invention will be
apparent from the following description.
~.,
.
-3a-
., ~
10 6 69 ~ 6
. , .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
' ' :
- - The technique of this invention aids the antidote com-
pounds to interfere with the normal herbicidal action of the thio-
carbamate-type and other herbicides to render them selective in
their action. Whichever mode of action is present, the corres-
ponding beneficial and desirable effect is the continued herbi-
cidal effect of the thiocarbamate or other herbicides with the
accompanying decreased herbicidal effect on desired crop species.
This advantage and utility will become more apparent hereinafter.
Therefore, the terms herbicide antidote or antidotal
- 10 amount, is meant to describe that effect which tends to counter-~ct the normal injurious herbicidal response that the herbicide
might otherwise produce. Whether it is to be termed a remedy,
interferant, protectant, or the like, will depend upon the exact
- mode of action. The mode of action is varied, but the effect,
which is desirable, ls a direct result of the method of treating
;~ the soil in which a crop is to be planted. Hitherto, there have
been no methods which have been satisfactory for this purpose.
An herbicide as used herein means a compound which con-
trols or modifies the growth of vegetation or plants. Such con-
trollir~ or modifyirlg effects include all deviations from natural
development; for example, killing, retardation, defoliation,
desiccation, regulation, stuntir~, tillering, stimulation, dwarf-
ing and the like. By "plants", it is meant germinant seeds, emer-
gir~ seedlings, and established vegetation, includir~ the roots
and above-ground portions.
.
; '' _4_ ' .
~,
~(~66~06
It is clear that the classes of herbicidal agents are
characterized as effective herbicîdes exhibiting herbicidal
activity. The degree of herbicidal activity varies among specific
compounds and among combinations of specific compounds within the
classes. Similarly, the degree of activity to some extent varies
among the species of plants to which a specific herbicidal compound
or combination may be applied. Thus, selection of a specific
herbicidal compound or combination to control undesirable plant
species readily may be made. Within the present invention, treat-
ment for prevention of injury to a desired crop species in the
presence of a specific compound -0 combination may be achieved.
The beneficial plant species which can be protected by this method
i8 not intended to be limited by the specific crops employed in
the exsmples.
The herbicides indicated in the tables and elsewhere
are used at rates which produce effective control of undesirable
vegetation. The rates are within the recommended amounts set
forth by the supplier. Therefore, the weed control in each
iD~tance is commercially acceptable within the desired or recom-
m~nded amount.
The herbicidal compounds that can be counteracted by
the in-furrow treatment of this invention are active herbicides
of a general type. That is,.the members of various classes that
are herbicidally effective sgainst a wide range of plant species
with no, or limited, discrimination between desirable and undesir-
able species. The method of controlling vegetation comprises
applying an herbicidally effective amount of various herbicidal
compounds to the area or plant locus where control is desired. The
~066906
method useful as set forth in this invention includes in-furrow
treatment of seed and soil for protection against active herbici-
dal compounds, as for example, selected from S-ethyl dipropyl
thiocarbamate, S-ethyl diisobutyl thiocarbamate, S-propyl di-
propyl thiocarbamate, S-2,3,3-trichlo~oallyl-diisopropyl thio-
carbamate, S-ethyl cyclohexyl ethyl thiocarbamate, 2-chloro-2',6'-
diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl) acetanilide, S-ethyl hexahydro-l~-azepine-
l-carbothioate, 2-chloro-N-isopropylacetanilide, N,N-diallyl-2-
chloroacetamide, S-4-chlorobenzyl diethyl thiocarbamate, 2-chloro-
4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine, 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethyl-
amino)-s-triazine, 2(4-chloro-6-ethyl2mine-s-triazine-2-yl-amino)-
2-methylpropionitrile, 2-chloro-4-cyclopropylamino-6-isopropyl-
amino-s-triazine, ~,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, its esters and
salts, and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and combinations
thereof.
Thus, in the method of the present invention, while the
seed furrow is exposed or while the seed drill hole is exposed
prior to closure, an antidotally effective amount of the antidote
i5 applied to the exposed area by spraying, dusting and the like.
Application may be in a continuous band or discrete increments in
the precise area where the seed is situated or will be situated
when planted. Following the application of the antidote to the
open furrow, the removed soil is replaced. The seed is now
planted. The soil may contain an herbicide or the herbicide may
be applied at some later time.
,
--6--
.
.
10669~:)6
In-Furrow Antidote CroP Treatment
T~e following descr~^ption illustrates the use of the
instant procedure. The present illustration is useful in green-
- house treatments, although by using a paxallel procedure~ one
skilled in the art easily can make this treatment applicable to
field conditio~s.
The antidote compounds employed in this example corres-
pond to phthalic acid monoanilides having the formula
~: R-NH
R'
in which R is tetrahydrophthaloyl, halophthaloyl in which halo is
chlorine or bromine from L to 4, inclusive, or phthaloyl; R' is
hydrogen or fluorine.
The following table more specifically identifies the
antidote compounds.
1066906
TABLE I
COMPOUND
NUMBER Structure m p. C.
1 ~ COOH ~ *
O
- ' ' ' .
2Cl ~ COOH 190-191C. ~-
Cl ~ C-NH
F
.
3 ~ COOH *
I C~
o
F
* 3 structure confirmed by infrared and n.m.r. spectroscopy.
Fiber flats were filled with Felton loamy sand soil.
A variety of grass and broadleaf crops were used in these tests.
An herbicide, of the triazine-type, was applied pre-emergence
surface at 1.0 lb/A., while a constant rate of 5 lb/A.~of the
additive was used. The herbicide, Atrazine 80 W (2-chloro-4-
eth~lamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine), was applied on an indi-
vidual flat by spraying on a linear spray table an amount of stock
solution onto the soil. Application of the additive antidote was
made in-furr~w on the exposed seed before covering to achieve a
planted state. For example, the stock solution for Atrazine was
prepared as foll~ws:
.
~ . .
10 6 69 0 6
A. 1 lb/Ao 1875 mg. of Atrazine 80 W was diluted
with 1000 ml. of deionized ~ater and applied
with linear spray table so that l lb/A was
appl~ed per flat.
Antidote additive stock solutions were prepared using 95 mg. ~f
technical material with 15 mlO of æ etone 1% Tween 20 @9 (polyoxy-
ethylene sorbitan monolaurate) so that 1.5 ml. applied to one-
half of the fiber flat equals 5 lb/A.
The iDitial preparatory step was to remove a one pint
; sample of soil from each flat to be retained and use~ to cover
the seeds after treatment with the antidote additivès. The soil
was leveled and rows one-quarter inch deep were made lengthwise
- in each flat. Flats were then seeded, for example, with Acala
cotton (GossYPium hirsutum).
After seeding, the flats were sectioned into two equal
port~ons using a wooden barrier. One and one-half milliliters
of antidote additive stock solution was atomlzed directly onto the
exposed seed and into the furrow in one-half of the flat. The
untreated section of the flat served as an herbicide check. The
seeds were then covered with the one pint sample of soil removed
earlier.
After the treated seeds were covered, the stock solution
of Atrazine 80 W was applied on the linear spray table so that
1 lb/A. was applied per flat. The flats were placed on greenhouse
benches where temperatures were maintained between 70-90F. The
soil was watered by sprinkling to assure good plant growth.
Injury ratings were taken 2 and 4 weeks after treatments
wexe applied. Indivi~ual flats treated with the herbicide alone
o9_
. .
.
- ~66906
at 1.0 lb/A. were included to provide a basis for determining the
amount of in~ury reduction provided by the herbicide antidotes.
. ,
TABLE II
Percent Protection to Cotton from Atrazine
(1 lb/A.); In-Furrow Application
Antidote (5 lb/A.)
CO~POVIID
NUMBER 2 Weeks4 Weeks
. . .
5? 20
. 2 71 40
3 .o 50 '`
Screen* 70 100
* ~ Percent in~ury Atrazine at 1 lb/A.
; Antidote compounds and compositions used in the present
invention can be used in any convenient form. Thus, the antidote
compounds can be formulated into emulsifiable liquids~ emulsifi-
able concentrates, liquid, wettable powder, powders, granular or
any other convenient form. In lts preferred form, a non-phytotoxic
quantity of an herbicidal antidote compound is applied to the soil
of the open furrow prior to or after placing the seed therein.
The addition of the antidote compound does not affect the herbici-
dal activity of the herbicides.
The amount of antidote compound applied to the furrow
`; ranges between about 0.01 to about 15 parts by weight of antidote
compound described herein per each part by weight of herbicide
used or present in the soil. The ex~ct amount of Entidote com-
pound usually will be determined on economic ratios and on the
-10
~ , ., .. :
- 1C166906
most effective amount usable. It is understood that a non-
- - phytotoxic quantity of antidote compound will be employed in the
treatment method described herein.
Broadly considered, the method described herein is use-
ful for the purpose of applying herbicide antidotes to crop seed
and the adjacent soil prior to planting. This method allows a
grower to change the crop seed after the application of an herbi-
cide, which otherwise would be injurious to the crop. By apply-
ing the antidote to the seed and soil, a zone of protection
thereby is formed around the germQnation area. Due to differing
susceptibility to injury by various crop seeds to various herbi-
cides, this method is particularly advantageous.
11-
'; '
. . - . . -
