Herbicidal and plant growth regulating compositions

Abstract: A herbicidal composition which can be safely applied to crops without causing any chemical damage comprising a mixture, which exerts excellent potentiating effects on various herbicidal chemicals and has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average, of compounds represented by the following general formula (I) and a herbicide, wherein the weight ratio of the mixture to the herbicide ranges from 0.1 to 20: wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms, -SO 3 Na, -SO 3 K, -SO 3 H·N(C 2 H 4 OH) 3 or -SO 3 H·NH(C 2 H 4 OH) 2 ; (EO) x1 , (EO) x2 and (EO) x3 each represent a polyoxyethylene chain; (PO) y1 , (PO) y2 and (PO) y3 each represent a polyoxypropylene chain; (BO) z1 , (BO) z2 and (BO) z3 each represent a polyoxybutylene chain; n represents an integer of 1 or more; x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3 and z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more; x1+y1+z1 , x2+y2+z2 and x3+y3+z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 to 200; and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 600.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to herbicidal and plant growth regulating compositions. Agricultural chemical compositions such as insecticide compositions, bactericide compositions, herbicide compositions, miticide compositions and plant growth regulator compositions have been used in various forms, for example, emulsions, wettable powders, granules, dusts or flowables. In the preparation of these agricultural chemical compositions, various attempts have been made to make good use of the efficacy of the agricultural chemicals, but it has been found to be difficult under current circumstances to further potentiate the agricultural chemicals through formulated contrivances. Further, it is difficult to develop various novel active ingredients for agricultural chemical compositions. Thus it is highly important from an industrial viewpoint to further potentiate the existing agricultural chemicals. In the field of agricultural chemicals, it has been known that moisture plays an important role in the surface absorption of agricultural chemicals and that the content of retained water is increased by using a humectant. This seemingly suggests that humectants such as glycerol, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol could potentiate agricultural chemicals. Japanese Patent Publication-A Nos. 146804/1988 (published on June 18, 1988) and 33305/1988 (published on February 13, 1988) disclosed an agricultural chemical composition containing, as a stabilizer, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyglycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyoxyethyleneoxypropylene glycol, polyoxyethyleneoxybutylene glycol and polyoxyethyleneoxypropyleneoxybutylene glycol. U.S. Patent No. 4,868,217 (pulished on September 19, 1989; Eisai Co., Ltd. and Kao Corporation) disclosed a bactericide composition containing an alkylene oxide adduct of a polyfunctional alcohol having tri- or more functional groups. Japanese Patent Publication-A No. 286608/1990 (published on November 26, 1990) disclosed a bactericide composition containing a (poly)glycerol fatty acid ester. Furthermore, U.S. Patent No. 4,840,942 (pulished on June 20, 1989; Kao Corporation) disclosed an agricultural biocidal composition containing an emulsifier comprising a nonionic surfactant of the formula: R 1 -Y 1 -(R 3 O) n -Y 2 -R 2 (wherein R 1 and R 2 are each a saturated or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon group, with the proviso that at least one of R 1 and R 2 has at least 8 carbon atoms, Y 1 is -COO- or -0-, Y 2 is -OC- or represents a direct valence bond between (R 3 O) n and R 2 , R 3 is C 2 -C 4 alkylene, and n is an integer of from 1 to 100). EP-A-0 417 896 discloses a water based pesticidal composition containing 100 weight parts of substantially water-insoluble pesticide, such as insecticide, fungicide or herbicide and 1.7 to 200 weight parts of a surface active agent. The surface active agent contains component A and component B in a weight ratio of A/B = 80/20 - 20/80. Component A is a polyalkylene glycol ether derivative of a polyethylene polyamine having a molecular weight of 20.000 to 100.000 and component B includes one or more selected from the group consisting of partial esters of polyhydric alcohol selected from sorbitol, sorbitan, glycerine and polyglycerine and unsaturated aliphatic acid with 16 to 22 carbon atoms and ethylene oxide adducts of such partial esters. DE-A-35 33 806 discloses a new process for lowering the surface tension of aqueous solutions wherein a specific reaction product of polyglycerine and a fatty acid is added to the solution. This process may be applied for the herbicide sodium methyl arsonate. Chemical Abstracts (1986), 104, 181762j (JP-A-60 224 602) relates to emulsifiers for agrochemicals in water. According to this document a composition containing one or more of R[CX l Ym)-H] n (R = C 8-22 alkyl, C 8-18 alkylphenyl = benzylphenyl, etc. X = glyeryl; Y = oxyalkylene; l = 1 - 20; m = 0, 1 - 20; n = 1, 2) or one or more of glycidol and(or) alkylene oxide derivatives of natural oils and fats is disclosed as an emulsifier for agrochemichals. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION From the viewpoint that the above-described humectants, stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc. can potentiate agricultural chemicals, the present inventors have conducted extensive studies. As a result, they have found that the combination of a polyglycerol derivative and a polyoxy alkylene alkyl ester is superior to common humectants in the ability to potentiate herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, thus completing the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention provides an agricultural chemical composition comprising a component (a) being represented by a mixture of compounds of the following general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average, a component (b) being represented by polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s), and a component (c) being represented by an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the sum of components (a) and (b) to the component (c) ranges from 0.1 to 20: wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 represents an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms and the others represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms, (EO) x1 , (EO) x2 and (EO) x3 each represent a polyoxyethylene chain; (PO) y1 , (PO) y2 and (PO) y3 each represent a polyoxypropylene chain; (BO) z1 , (BO) z2 and (BO) z3 each represent a polyoxybutylene chain; n represents an integer of 1 or more; x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3 and z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more; x1+y1+z1, x2+y2+z2 and x3+y3+z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 to 200; and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 600. The agricultural chemical employed is selected from those materials herbicides and/or plant growth regulators. The above-described present invention includes an agricultural chemical composition comprising a polyglycerol derivative represented by the following general formula (II) and an agricultural chemical, wherein the weight ratio of the polyglycerol derivative and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s) to the above agricultural chemical ranges from 0.1 to 20: wherein n represents a number of from 2 to 50; R represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one R group represents an acyl group; X represents an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and m 1 , m 2 and m 3 represent each a number of from 0 to 200. In the present invention agricultural chemical composition comprises as component (a) a mixture of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average and a surfactant (component (b), polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s)) as the adjuvants, and an agricultural chemical (c) selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of the adjuvants to the agricultural chemical ranges from 0.1 to 20. The above-described present invention includes an agricultural chemical composition comprising a polyglycerol derivative represented by the above general formula (II) and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s) as the adjuvants and an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the adjuvants to the agricultural chemical ranges from 0.1 to 20. The present invention further provides a kit (1) comprising package (A) comprising or consisting essentially of a mixture of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average, package (B) comprising or consisting essentially of polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s) as surfactant and package (C) comprising or consisting essentially of an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of the mixture and the surfactant to the agricultural chemical ranges from 0.1 to 20; and a kit (2) comprising or consisting essentially of package (D) comprising or consisting essentially of a mixture of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average and polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s) as surfactant and package (C) comprising an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of the mixture and the surfactant to the agricultural chemical ranges from 0.1 to 20. The present invention also provides the use of the above described agricultural composition as herbicidal or plant growth regulators, wherein the agricultural chemical composition comprises from 0.02 to 8% by weight of adjuvants (a) and (b) (mixture of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3of from 0 to 100 on the average and as surfactant polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s)), and the above agricultural chemical which is present in an weight ratio of from 0.1 to 50 based on the total amount of the adjuvants (a) and (b). Further scope and the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. In the present invention, a mixture consisting essentially of compounds represented by the above-mentioned general formula (I) and having n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average is used as one adjuvant (component (a)). Namely, a mixture of compounds represented by the above general formula (I), which differ from each other by at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , n, x1, x2, x3, y1, y2, y3, z1, z2 and z3 is employed. Certainly, a mixture comprising two or more of the above-described mixtures may be used. The compounds represented by the above general formula (I) include mono- or polyesters of polyglycerol with a fatty acid(s), and alkylene oxide adducts of mono- or polyester of polyglycerol with a fatty acid(s). In the above general formula (I), each of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms with the proviso that at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 represents an acyl group. The acyl group represents formula R'CO- (wherein R' is selected from among, for example, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms which may be branched). Each of the R 1 , R 2 and R 3 in the general formula (I) may be derived from a condensed (hydroxy)carboxylic acid with a degree of condensation of from 2 to 20. N in the above general formula (I) represents the degree of polymerization of glycerol and is an integer of 1 or more. In the above general formula (I), (EO) x1 , (EO) x2 and (EO) x3 each represent a polyoxyethylene chain; (PO) y1 , (PO) y2 and (PO) y3 each represent a polyoxypropylene chain; and (BO) z1 , (BO) z2 and (BO) z3 each represent a polyoxybutylene chain. Either one of these alkylene oxides or two or more of them may be added in block or in random. In the general formula (I), x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3 and z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more, preferably 0 or an integer of 1 to 30; x1+y1+z1, x2+y2+z2 and x3+y3+z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 to 200, preferably 0 or an integer of 1 to 90; and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 600, preferably 0 or an integer of 1 to 200. Further, x1+x2+x3, y1+y2+y3 and z1+z2+z3 each represent preferably an integer of 1 to 200, still preferably an integer of 1 to 100. In the present invention, a mixture consisting essentially of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) and having n of from 2 to 50 on the average, preferably from 2 to 15 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3of from 0 to 100 on the average, preferably from 0 to 25 on the average is used as one adjuvant. When the average degree of polymerization ( n ) is below 2, the dispersibility of the agricultural chemical in the agricultural chemical composition deteriorates. On the other hand, when n exceeds 50, the production of the mixture according to the present invention is not economical. When the average of x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 i.e., x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 , exceeds 100, the production of the mixture according to the present invention is not economical. Additionally, the mixture which has the average of x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3of more than 100 shows a low potentiating effect of agricultural chemicals because it has a low surface activity. The average number of moles of the ethylene oxide added ( x1+x2+x3 ), to the compounds constituting the mixture according to the present invention, is taken as the number of moles of ethylene oxide added to the mixture; the average number of moles of the propylene oxide added ( y1+y2+y3 ), to the compounds constituting the mixture, is taken as the number of moles of propylene oxide added to the mixture, and the average number of moles of the butylene oxide added ( z1+z2+z3 ), to the compounds constituting the mixture, is taken as the number of moles of butylene oxide added to the mixture. In the present invention, x1+x2+x3 , y1+y2+y3 and z1+z2+z3 each represent preferably 1 to 100. In the present invention, a mixture of polyglycerol derivative (mono- or polyesters of polyglycerol, and alkylene oxide adducts of mono- or polyester of polyglycerol), i.e., mixture (i) of compounds represented by the general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 1 to 100 on the average or mixture (ii) of compounds represented by the following general formula (I') which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average, is preferably employed: wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 represent an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 1 or more. Furthermore, mixture (iii), which is a mixture of compounds represented by the following general formula (I") and having n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3of from 1 to 100 on the average, is also more preferable: wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 each represent a hydrogen atom, an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms, provided that R 1 , R 2 and R 3 do not simultaneously represent hydrogen atoms and that R 1 , R 2 and R 3 do not simultaneously represent C 2-31 -acyl. (EO) x1 , (EO) x2 and (EO) x3 each represent a polyoxyethylene chain; (PO) y1 , (PO) y2 and (PO) y3 each represent a polyoxypropylene chain; (BO) z1 , (BO) z2 and (BO) z3 each represent a polyoxybutylene chain; n represents an integer of 1 or more; x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3 and z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more; x1+y1+z1, x2+y2+z2 and x3+y3+z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 to 200; and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 600. The mixture consisting essentially of compounds represented by the above general formula (I), i. e., a mixture of polyglycerol derivatives to be used in the present invention may be obtained by any commonly known method. For example, polyglycerol may be synthesized by a method which is employed on an industrial scale at present and comprises dehydrating and condensing glycerol at a temperature as high as from 200 to 300°C in the presence of an alkali catalyst. Examples of the alkali catalyst include NaOH, KOH, LiOH, Na 2 CO 3 , K 2 CO 3 , Li 2 CO 3 , CaO and MgO. Although the degree of polymerization may be controlled by varying the reaction conditions, the product thus obtained is not a single compound but a mixture having a certain molecular weight distribution. For example, a commercially available product called "hexaglycerol" consists of polyglycerols of various degrees of polymerization and glycerol as the case may be, though its hydroxyl value agrees with the theoretical value. The mixture of polyglycerols thus obtained is in the form of a yellow to dark brown liquid having a high viscosity. The hue of the mixture of polyglycerols is worsened (i.e., darkened) as the degree of polymerization is elevated. It is a practice to decolor the mixture of polyglycerols by treating it with an adsorbent such as active carbon or active clay. Or alternatively, it is a practice to remove the catalyst from the mixture of polyglycerols and to decolor the mixture with the use of an ion exchange resin. There are marketed di-, tetra-, hexa- and decaglycerols, i.e., a mixture of polyglycerols ( n = 2, 4, 6 or 10) in general. The mixture of alkylene oxide adducts of polyglycerol is produced by, for example, a known method which comprises adding an alkali catalyst to the mixture of polyglycerols obtained above and conducting an addition reaction with an alkylene oxide under an elevated pressure at an elevated temperature. Examples of the alkylene oxide to be added involve those having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, i. e., ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide. Either one of these alkylene oxides or two or more of them may be added in block or at random. A mixture of polyglycerol/fatty acid esters which is a mixture consisting essentially of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) according to the present invention, is produced through direct esterification of a mixture of polyglycerols. A number of esters including hydrophilic and lipophilic esters can be produced by appropriately combining mixtures of polyglycerols having various average degrees of polymerization, various fatty acids and various degrees of esterification. Thus a mixture of esters having a desired hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) can be produced. The esterification may be effected at a temperature of 200°C or above without using any catalyst or in the presence of an alkali catalyst. Means for obtaining a product excellent in hue and odor include the addition of a sulfite to the reaction mixture during the reaction, the use of a fatty acid having a high heat stability, and the use of lipase in the synthesis, and products of various degrees of purification are commercially available depending on the purpose. In order to obtain a mixture of fatty acid esters of polyglycerols of excellent qualities, it is essential to use a mixture of polyglycerols of good quality. This need increases particularly when, as a product, a mixture comprising fatty acid esters of polyglycerols having a higher degree of polymerization is desired. Since the qualities of the mixture of esters largely depend on the qualities of a mixture of polyglycerols, a mixture of polyglycerols should be sufficiently purified. A polyglycerol/condensed ricinoleic acid ester, i.e., a mixture of condensed ricinoleic acid esters of polyglycerols, is synthesized by precondensing ricinoleic acid (castor oil fatty acid) by dehydration with heating for 3 to 6 minutes and then esterifying the product with a mixture of polyglycerols. The reaction conditions therefor are almost the same as those employed for producing a mixture of polyglycerol fatty acid esters. Further, esterification similar to that mentioned above may be carried out by using a mixture of polyglycerol/alkylene oxide adducts as a starting material. Alternately, an alkylene oxide may be added to a mixture of fatty acid esters of polyglycerols with polyglycerols in the presence of an alkali catalyst at a high temperature under an elevated pressure. Examples of the alkylene oxide which can be added include ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide. Either one of these alkylene oxides or two or more of them may be added in block or at random. When used together with an agricultural chemical, the mixture (a) comprising compounds represented by the above general formula (I) and component (b) as adjuvants can enhance the effects of a herbicide and/or plant growth regulator without causing any chemical damage. It is not necessarily evident why component (a), i.e. the mixture comprising compounds represented by the above general formula (I), and component (b), i.e. polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s), have remarkable effect of potentiating the above agricultural chemicals used in agricultural chemical compositions, irrespective of their structure. It is conceivable, however, that one reason therefor may reside in the fact that the mixture according to the present invention has such a potent power of solubilizing the agricultural chemical used in the agricultural chemical composition that the agricultural chemical becomes finely grained, thus promoting the diffusion of the agricultural chemical on a surface of a plant, thus facilitating the permeation of the agricultural chemical into the plant. The mixture comprising compounds represented by the general formula (I) according to the present invention is used together with a surfactant (polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s)) other than the compounds (I). Thus, the amount of the mixture can be reduced and the stability of the agricultural chemical composition can be increased while the potentiating effect of the mixture to the agricultural chemical is maintained. Although the ratio of the mixture (a) comprising compounds represented by the general formula (I) to the surfactant (b), i.e. polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s), in the agricultural chemical composition is not particularly restricted, the weight ratio of the surfactant (b) to the mixture (a) may range from 0(excluded)/100 to 50/50, preferably from 10/90 to 40/60. When the surfactant (b) is used in an amount exceeding the ratio as defined above, the potentiating effect of the adjuvants deteriorates, and thus the obtained adjuvant composition, which contains a mixture (a) of compounds represented by the general formula (I) and said surfactant (b) is not practically usable. In this case, however, a satisfactory effect can be achieved by increasing the amount of the mixture (a) comprising compounds represented by the general formula (I). The agricultural chemical composition of the present invention comprises a mixture (a) comprising compounds represented by the general formula (I) and surfactant (b) as adjuvants and (c) an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators. It is necessary for the agricultural chemical composition of the present invention to have a weight ratio of the total amount of the adjuvants (a) and (b) to the agricultural chemical (c) within a range of from 0.1 to 50, preferably from 0.1 to 10. When this weight ratio is below 0.1, no satisfactory effect can be achieved. When this ratio exceeds 50, on the other hand, the effect cannot be further improved. The adjuvant(s) according to the present invention can be safely applied to various crops without causing any chemical damage. The agricultural chemical composition of the present invention may be in any form, for example, an emulsion, a wettable powder, a granule, a flowable powder, a dust or the like without restriction. Thus, the agricultural chemical composition according to the present invention may further contain other additives such as emulsifiers, dispersing agents and supports depending on the form of preparation. Now, the agricultural chemicals, i.e., active ingredients used for agricultural chemical compositions, and the agricultural chemical compositions or formulations of agricultural chemicals, to be used in the preparation of the agricultural chemical composition of the present invention will be described, though it is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted thereto. In the case of herbicides, they include Stam (3,4-dichloropropionanilide) mfd. by Sankyo Co., Ltd, Saturn [S-(4-chlorobenzyl) N,N-diethylthiolcarbamate] mfd. by Kumiai Chemical K.K., Roundup [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine isorpopylamine salt] mfd. by Monsant, Karmex [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] mfd. by Tomono Agrichemical K.K., Paraquat (1,1-dimethyl-4,4'-dipyridinium dichloride) mfd. by Nihon Agrichemical K.K., Basta [ammonium DL-homoalanin-4-yl-(methyl)phosphinate] mfd. by Ishihara K.K., Herbace (sodium salt of L-2-amino-4-[(hydroxy)(methyl)phosphinoyl]butylyl-L-alanyl-L-alanine) mfd. by Meiji Seika Co. Ltd., Lasso [2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N-(methoxyethyl)acetanilide] and VASTA. In the case of plant growth regulators, they include MH (maleic hydrazide), Ethrel (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), UASTA and Bialaphos. The agricultural chemical composition of the present invention may further contain one or more plant growth regulators other than those cited above, fertilizers and preservatives. The agricultural chemical composition according to the present invention may contain all components and may be used as it is or after dilution. Alternately, the agricultural chemical composition may be prepared before using by blending or mixing an agricultural chemical composition free from the above-described adjuvant(s) with the above-described adjuvant(s), and it may be used as it is or after dilution. The potentiating effect due to the above-described adjuvant(s) can be achieved in either case. The kit (1) according to the present invention, which comprises package (A) comprising the mixture (a) of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average, package (B) comprising the surfactant (b), polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s), and package (C) comprising an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, and the kit (2) according to the present invention, which comprises package (D) comprising the mixture (a) of compounds represented by the above general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3of from 0 to 100 on the average and the above surfactant (b) and package (B) comprising an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, are used for the preparation of the agricultural chemical composition according to the invention. For package (C), a package comprising a commercially available agricultural chemical composition (C), that is, a commercially available agricultural chemical formulation selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators may be employed. In the present invention, an agricultural chemical composition which contains from 0.02 to 8% by weight of the adjuvant(s) (a) and (b) according to the present invention and an agricultural chemical (c) selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators which is present in an amount of 0.1 to 50 times as much as the adjuvant(s), are used in order to achieve herbicidal or plant growth regulating effects. The above agricultural chemical composition is generally prepared by diluting the agricultural chemical compositions as defined in claim 1. Examples: To further illustrate the present invention in greater detail, and not by way of limitation, the following Examples are given. Production Example 1 441 g of a mixture of polyglycerols (average molecular weight: 500, manufactured by Sakamoto Yakuhin K.K.), 282 g of stearic acid and 0.7 g of NaOH were fed into a reactor. After replacing the atmosphere in the system with N 2 , the mixture was heated to 100°C and stirred. After 2 hours, the mixture was further heated to 240°C and then maintained at this temperature for 5 hours (distillate in the system: 120 g). A sampling analysis indicated that the saponification value of the reaction mixture was 85 while the hue thereof was G (Gardner color scale) 6 or below. Then the mixture was cooled and the moisture was removed by filtration (corresponding to the adjuvant 5). Example 1 The adjuvants used according to the present invention and comparative ones, as listed in Table 1, and the marketed herbicide compositions, namely, Karmex wettable powder, Herbiace water-soluble powder and Roundup solution were employed for the evaluation of the herbicidal effect. Each of the adjuvants and each of the marketed herbicide compositions were dissolved in city water in such a manner as to give a concentration of 0.2% by weight and a dilution ratio of 300-fold, respectively. Then 10 ml/pot of each of the agricultural chemical compositions thus prepared was applied to crabgrass (a woody herb), which had been uniformly grown, to evaluate the herbicidal effect. In the case where no adjuvant was added (free from any adjuvant), the same procedure was conducted. The crabgrass plants were grown to the tri- or tetrafoliate stage to a height of about 10 cm. Each pot had 25 plants. The herbicidal rate (%) was expressed as a ratio of the fresh weight of the above-ground part measured 10 days after the application to that of the control (untreated) lot [refer to formula (III)]. Formula (III): herbicidal effect = (above-ground part fresh weight of control lot) - (above-ground part fresh weight of test lot) (above-ground part fresh weight of control lot) × 100 (%) Table 1 summarizes the results. Others-1: The compounds employed in the invention compositions as the adjuvants are each a mixture. The degree of polymerization of the polyglycerol part in the compound means an average degree of polymerization of the mixture, and the number of ester group(s) in the compound means an average value of the mixture. Others-2: POE means polyoxyethylene. The compounds having POE are provided as mixtures and each number in the parentheses shows the average of the total number of moles of oxyalkylene in the molecule. Others-3: When a mixture and a compound are used together as the adjuvants (invention composition 1), the ratio given above is by weight.

Claims: An agricultural chemical composition comprising a component (a) being represented by a mixture of compounds of the following general formula (I) which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 of from 0 to 100 on the average, a component (b) being represented by polyoxyalkylene alkyl ester(s), and a component (c) being represented by an agricultural chemical selected from herbicides and/or plant growth regulators, wherein the weight ratio of the sum of components (a) and (b) to the component (c) ranges from 0.1 to 20: wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2 and R 3 represents an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms and the others represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having from 2 to 31 carbon atoms; (EO) x1 , (EO) x2 and (EO) x3 each-represent a polyoxyethylene chain; (PO) y1 , (PO) y2 and (PO) y3 each represent a polyoxypropylene chain; (BO) z1 , (BO) z2 and (BO) z3 each represent a polyoxybutylene chain; n represents an integer of 1 or more; x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2, x3, y3 and z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 or more; x1+y1+z1, x2+y2+z2 and x3+y3+z3 each represent 0 or an integer of 1 to 200; and x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 600. The agricultural chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (a) is a mixture of compounds of the general formula (I') which has n of from 2 to 50 on the average: wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and n have the meanings as defined in claim 1. The agricultural chemical composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein x1+y1+z1+x2+y2+z2+x3+y3+z3 is an integer of 1 to 100 on the average. The agricultural chemical composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mixture of components of the general formulae (I) and (I'), respectively, has n of from 2 to 10 on the average. The agricultural chemical composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of the sum of components (a) and (b) to the component (c) ranges from 0.1 to 10. The agricultural chemical composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of the component (a) to the component (b) ranges from 90:10 to A kit comprising package (A) comprising the component (a) as defined in claim 1, package (B) comprising the component (b) as defined in claim 1 and package (C) comprising the component (c) as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the sum of the components (a) and (b) to the component (c) ranges from 0.1 to 20. The kit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the package (C) contains the component (c) in the form of an emulsion, a solution, a wettable powder, a granule, a dust or a flowable powder. A kit comprising package (D) comprising the component (a) as defined in claim 1 and the component (b) as defined in claim 1 and package (C) comprising the component (c) as defined in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the sum of the components (a) and (b) to the component (c) ranges from 0.1 to 20. The kit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the package (C) contains the component (c) in the form of an emulsion, a solution, a wettable powder, a granule, a dust or a flowable powder. Use of an agricultural chemical composition comprising from 0.02 to 8% by weight of the components (a) and (b) as defined in claim 1 and the agricultural chemical (c) as defined in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the total amount of (a) and (b) to the amount of the agricultural chemical (c) is from 0.1 to 50, as herbicide or to regulate plant growth.

Inventors: AZUMA TOSHIKAZU, HIOKI YUICHI, KURITA KAZUHIKO, SUZUKI TADAYUKI, AZUMA, TOSHIKAZU, HIOKI, YUICHI, KURITA, KAZUHIKO, SUZUKI, TADAYUKI
Applicants: KAO CORP, KAO CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A01N25
IPC codes: A01N25