HERBICIDAL MIXTURES

Abstract: The invention relates to a herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally acceptable carrier and/or surface active agent and, asactive ingredient, a synergistically effective amount of (1) at least one compound of formula I in which R<1>, R<2>, A, m and n are as defined in claim (1); and (2) at least one additional herbicidal compound, which is active against broad-leaved weeds and/or annual grasses; and/or (3) at least one additional safening compound; which provides a synergistic effect against a broad spectrum of weed species, e.g., in cereal crops and/or reduces crop injuries. The invention also provides a respective method for controlling weeds and/or reducing crop injuries.

Description: HERBICIDAL MIXTURES Description The present invention relates to an improvement in the efficacy of herbicidal 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines by combination with a selected second herbicidal compound and/or a safener. The herbicidal 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines to be used according to the present invention are a group of compounds, disclosed for example by the European Patent Application EP 0 723 960, which display excellent herbicidal performance, in particular against broad-leaved weeds in cereal crops. However, the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines, when used as the sole active ingredient, do not always achieve effective control of the full spectrum of weed species encountered in commercial agronomic applications, in conjunction with reliable selectivity for the crop species . Such gaps in the spectrum of control can be over- come by co-treatment with another herbicide known to be effective against the relevant weed species and/or with a safener to reduce crop injury. The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition com- prising, as active ingredient, a synergistically effective amount of (1) at least one 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines of formula I wherein A represents an optionally substituted phenyl group or an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic group or a difluorobenzodioxolyl group; m represents an integer from 0 to 2 ; n represents an integer from 0 to 5 ; R 1 (or each R 1 ) independently represents a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, dialkoxyalkyl , alkoxyalkoxy, alkylthio, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkoxyamino or formami- 5 dino group; R 2 (or each R 2 ) independently represents a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, haloal- kyl, haloalkoxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, al- ^ ■ 0 kylthio, haloalkylthio group or a nitro, cyano, SF 5 or a alkylsulphonyl or alkylsulfinyl group; or its environmentally compatible salts, X3 (2) at least one additional herbicidal compound, which is active against broad-leaved weeds and/or annual grasses; and/or 20 (3) at least one additional safening compound. The present invention also includes a method for controlling undesirable plant species comprising application of at least one compound of group (1) and at least one compound of group (2) 25 and/or at least one compound of group (3), as defined above. In the method of this invention, these compounds may be applied separately or together, in herbicidally effective and/or safening effective amounts . 30 Surprisingly, it has now been found, that the combined herbicidal activity of compounds from the above mentioned 2-phenyl-4- (hetero) -aryloxy-pyrimidines with various compounds of group (2) against many broad-leaved weeds and annual grasses is much greater than expected when applied pre- or post-emergence and 35 that this activity cannot be ascribed to an additive effect, but to a remarkable degree of synergism on many broad-leaved weed species and annual grasses, for example on grass weeds such as Alopecurus myosuroides, Apera spica-venti , Lolium perenne, Seta- ria viridis, and broadleaf weeds such as Galium aparine, Lamium 40 purpureum, Matricaria inodora, Papaver rhoeas, Stellaria media and Veronica persica . (i.e. the combinations according to the invention show a much higher level of activity than predicted from that of the individual compounds) which enables also a greater selectivity for the crop species . 45 Also it has been found now that injuries on crop plants caused by a compound of group (1) or by a mixture of a compound of group (1) and a compound of group (2) may be reduced by additionally applying a compound of group (3) . A mixture of herbicides shows synergistic effect if the herbicidal activity of the mixture is larger than the sum of activities of the separately applied compounds . The expected herbicidal activity for a given mixture of two herbicides can be calculated as follows (see Colby, S.R., "Calculating synergistic and antagonistic response of herbicide combinations", Weeds 15, 20-22 (1967): Y x (100 - X) WE = X + 100 wherein X is the percentage of growth inhibition upon treatment with a herbicide 1 at a dose of p kg/ha compared with an untreated control (X=0 %) Y is the percentage of growth inhibition treatment with a herbicide 2 at a dose of q kg/ha compared with an untreated control WE is the herbicidal effect to be expected upon treatment (% of growth inhibition compared with untreated control) with a combination of herbicide 1 and 2 at a dose of p + q g/ha, respectively. If the actual weed control (W) exceeds the expected (calculated) weed control (WE), the mixture displays a synergistic effect. The compounds of group (1), (2) and (3) can exist, or be used, in the form of the pure enantiomers and also as racemates or dias- tereomer mixtures . They may also exist in the form of their environmentally compatible salts, esters, thioesters and amides. Suitable salts, esters, thioesters and amides are, in general, those ones which do not adversely affect the herbicidal action of the active ingredients. Suitable cations are, in particular, ions of the alkali metals, preferably lithium, sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably calcium and magnesium, and of the transition metals, preferably manganese, copper, zinc and iron, and also ammonium, it being possible in this case, if desired, for one to four hydrogen atoms to be replaced by Cι-C 4 -alkyl, hydroxy-Cχ-C- alkyl , Cι-C 4 -alkoxy-Cι-C-alkyl, hydroxy-Cι-C 4 -alkoxy-Cι-C-alkyl , phenyl or benzyl, preferably ammonium, dimethylammonium, diiso- propylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, 2-(2-hy- droxyeth-1-oxy) eth-l-yl ammonium, di (2-hydroxyeth-1-yl) ammonium, trimethylbenzylammonium, furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri (Cι-C 4 -alkyl) sulfonium and sulfoxonium ions, preferably, tri (Cι-C 4 -alkyl) sulfoxonium. Anions of suitable acid addition salts are mainly chloride, bromide, fluoride, hydrogen sulfate, sulfate, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, nitrate, hydrogen carbonate, carbonate, hexa- fluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate and the anions of Cχ-C 4 -alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate . Suitable esters are alkyl-, alkoxyalkyl-, allyl- and propargyl- esters, especially Ci-in-alkyl esters for example methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-, pentyl-, mexyl- (1-me- thylhexyl) or isooctyl (2-ethylhexyl) ester, Cι_ 4 alkoxyethylester for example methoxyethyl-, ethoxyethyl- or butoxyethylester, allyl esters and propargyl esters . Suitable thioesters are alkylthioesters, especially Cι_ιn-alkyl- thio esters for example ethylthio ester. Suitable amides are alkyl amides, especially methyl amide and di- methylamide, and aryl amides like phenyl amide or 2-chloro-phenyl amide . The organic moieties mentioned for the substituents R 1 , R 2 and R to R f or as radicals on phenyl or heteroaromatic rings represent collective terms for individual enumerations of the individual group members. All hydrocarbon chains, ie. all alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl and alkoxycarbonyl moieties can be straight chain or branched. Unless otherwise specified, halogenated substituents preferably have at- tached to them one to five identical or different halogen atoms. Halogen means in each case fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Examples for other meanings are: - Ci_ 2 alkyl: methyl or ethyl; Cι_ 4 alkyl: Cι- 2 alkyl as mentioned above, and also n-propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl , 2-methylpropyl or 1, 1-methylethyl ; Cι_ 6 alkyl: Cι_ 4 alkyl as mentioned above, and also pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2 , 2-dimethylpro- pyl, 1-ethylpropyl , hexyl, 1, 1-dimethylpropyl, 1, 2-dimethyl- propyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl , 3-methylpentyl, 4-me- thylpentyl , 1 , 1-dimethylbutyl , 1 , 2-dimethylbutyl , 1 , 3-dime- thylbutyl, 2 , 2-dimethylbutyl, 2 , 3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dime- thylbutyl, 1-ethylbutyl , 2-ethylbutyl , 1, 1, 2-trimethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-l-methylpropyl or l-ethyl-2-methylpropyl; Cι_ 4 haloalkyl : Cι_ 4 alkyl as mentioned above which are partially or fully substituted by fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine, eg. chloromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichlorome- thyl, fluoromethyl , difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chloro- fluoromethyl , dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodifluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloroethyl, 2-bromoethyl, 2-iodoethyl, 2 ,2-difluoroethyl, 2 , 2 , 2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2 ,2-difluoroethyl, 2 , 2-dichloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2 ,2 ,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 2-fluoropropyl, 3-fluoropropyl , 2 , 2-difluoropropyl , 2 , 3-difluoropropyl , 2-chloropropyl, 3-chloropropyl, 2 , 3-dichloropropyl, 2-bromo- propyl, 3-bromopropyl , 3 , 3 , 3-trifluoropropyl, 3 , 3 , 3-trichlo- ropropyl , 2,2,3,3, 3-pentafluoropropyl , heptafluoropropyl , 1- ( fluoromethyl ) -2-fluoroethyl, 1- (chloromethyl) -2-chloroethyl, 1- (bromoethyl) -2-bromoethyl, 4-fluorobutyl, 4-chlorobu- tyl, 4-bromobutyl or nonafluorobutyl ; Cι_ 6 haloalkyl: Cι_ 4 haloalkyl as mentioned above, and also 5-fluoropentyl, 5-chloropentyl, 5-bromopentyl, 5-iodopentyl, undecafluoropentyl , 6-fluorohexyl, 6-chlorohexyl , 6-bromo- hexyl, 6-iodohexyl or dodecafluorohexyl ; Cι_ 4 alkoxy and the alkoxy part of C-. 4 alkoxycarbonyl : methoxy, ethoxy, propyoxy, 1-methylethoxy, butoxy, 1-methyl- propoxy, 2-methylpropoxy or 1, 1-methylethoxy; Cι_ 6 alkoxy: C _ 4 alkoxy as mentioned above, and also pen- toxy, 1-methylbutoxy, 2-methylbutoxy, 3-methylbuoxy, 2,2-dime- thylpropoxy, 1-ethylpropoxy, hexoxy, 1, 1-dimethylpropoxy, 1,2-dimethylpropoxy, 1-methylpentoxy, 2-methylpentoxy, 3-methylpentoxy, 4-methylpentoxy, 1, 1-dimethyIbutoxy, 1,2-di- methyIbutoxy, 1, 3-dimethylbutoxy, 2 , 2-dimethyIbutoxy, 2,3-di- methylbutoxy, 3 , 3-dimethylbutoxy, 1-ethylbutoxy, 2-ethyl- butoxy, 1, 1,2-trimethyIbutoxy, 1-ethyl-l-methylpropoxy or l-ethyl-2-methylpropoxy; Cι_ haloalkoxy: Cχ- 4 alkoxy as mentioned above which are par- tially or fully substituted by fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine, eg. dichloromethoxy, trichloromethoxy, fluoro- methoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, bromodifluorome- thoxy, chlorodifluoromethoxy, 2-fluoroethoxy, 2-chloroethoxy, 2-bromoethoxy, 2-iodoethoxy, 2 , 2-difluoroethoxy, 2,2,2-tri- fluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2-chloro-2 , 2-difluoroethoxy, 2 ,2-dichloro-2-fluoroethoxy, 2 , 2 , 2-trichloroethoxy, pentafluoroethoxy, 2-fluoropropoxy, 3-fluoropropoxy, 2,2-di- fluoropropoxy, 2 , 3-difluoropropoxy, 2-chloropropoxy, 3-chlo- ropropoxy, 2, 3-dichloropropoxy, 2-bromopropoxy, 3-bromopro- poxy, 3 , 3 , 3-trifluoropropoxy, 3 , 3 , 3-trichloropropoxy, 2,2 , 3 , 3 , 3-pentafluoropropoxy, heptafluoropropoxy, l-(fluoromethyl) -2-fluoroethoxy, 1- (chloromethyl) -2-chloroethoxy, 1- (bromoethyl) -2-bromoethoxy, 4-fluorobutoxy, 4-chlorobutoxy, 4-bromobutoxy or nonafluorobutoxy; Cι- 6 haloalkoxy: C 1 - 4 haloalkoxy as mentioned above, and also 5-fluoropentoxy, 5-chloropentoxy, 5-bromopentoxy, 5-iodopen- toxy, undecafluoropentoxy, 6-fluorohexoxy, 6-chlorohexoxy, 6-bromohexoxy, 6-iodohexoxy or dodecafluorohexoxy; Cι_ 5 alkylsulfinyl (Ci-βalkyl- (S=0) -) : methylsulfinyl, ethyl- sulfinyl, n-propylsulfinyl, 1-methylethylsulfinyl, butylsul- finyl, 1-methylpropylsulfinyl, 2-methylpropylsulfinyl, 1, 1-methylethylsulfinyl, pentylsulfinyl , 1-methylbutylsulfi- nyl, 2-methylbutylsulfinyl, 3-methylbutylsulfinyl, 2,2-dime- thylpropylsulfinyl, 1-ethylpropylsulfinyl, hexylsulfinyl, 1, 1-dimethylpropylsulfinyl, 1 , 2-dimethylpropylsulfinyl, 1-methylpentylsulfinyl, 2-methylpentylsulfinyl, 3-methylpentyl- sulfinyl, -methylpentylsulfinyl, 1, 1-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 1,2-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 1, 3-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 2, 2-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 2, 3-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 3 , 3-dimethylbutylsulfinyl, 1-ethylbutylsulfinyl, 2-ethylbutylsulfinyl, 1,1, 2-trimethylbutylsulfinyl , 1-ethyl-l-methylpropylsulfinyl or l-ethyl-2-methylpropylsulfinyl; Cι_ 6 alkylsulfonyl (Cι_ 6 alkyl- (S=0) 2 -) : methylsulfonyl, ethyl- sulfonyl, n-propylsulfonyl, 1-methylethylsulfonyl, butylsul- fonyl, 1-methylpropylsulfonyl, 2-methylpropylsulfonyl, 1, 1-methylethylsulfonyl, pentylsulfonyl, 1-methylbutylsulfo- nyl, 2-methylbutylsulfonyl, 3-methylbutylsulfonyl , 2, 2-dimethylpropylsulfonyl, 1-ethylpropylsulfonyl, hexylsulfonyl, 1 , 1-dimethylpropylsulfonyl , 1 , 2-dimethylpropylsulfonyl , 1-me- thylpentylsulfonyl, 2-methylpentylsulfonyl, 3-methylpentyl- sulfonyl, 4-methylpentylsulfonyl, 1, 1-dimethylbutylsulfonyl, 1, 2-dimethylbutylsulfonyl, 1, 3-dimethylbutylsulfonyl, 2, 2-dimethylbutylsulfonyl , 2 , 3-dimethylbutylsulfonyl , 3 , 3-dimethyl- butylsulfonyl, 1-ethylbutylsulfonyl, 2-ethylbutylsulfonyl, 1,1, 2-trimethylbutylsulfonyl , 1-ethyl-1-methylpropylsulfonyl or l-ethyl-2-methylpropylsulfonyl ; Preferred embodiments of the present invention include those wherein A is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl group comprises optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heterocycles containing one or more nitrogen and/or oxygen and/or sulfur atoms, 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms being preferred. Examples of such groups are pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl and triazinyl groups. Generally, if any of the above mentioned moieties comprises an alkyl, alkenyl or alkinyl group, such groups, unless otherwise specified, may be linear or branched and may contain up to 12, preferably up to 4, carbon atoms. Examples of such groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, vinyl, allyl, propargyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl and tertiary-butyl groups . The alkyl portion of a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkoxy, alkyla- mino, dialkylamino, alkoxyamino, alkylsulfinyl or alkylsulfonyl group suitably has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms. The number of carbon atoms in the alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy or dialkoxyalkyl groups is up to 6, preferably up to 4, e.g. methoxymethyl , methoxymethoxy, methoxyethy1 , ethoxyme- thyl, ethoxyethoxy, dimethoxymethy1. "Halogen" means a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, preferably fluorine, chlorine or bromine. Haloalkyl, haloalkyl- thio and haloalkoxy are preferably mono-, di-, tri- or perfluo- roalkyl, -alkylthio and -alkoxy, especially trifluoromethyl, di- fluoromethoxy, trifluoromethylthio and trifluoromethoxy. When any groups are designated as being optionally substituted, the substituent groups which are optionally present may be any of those customarily employed in the modification and/or development of pesticidal compounds and are especially substituents that maintain or enhance the herbicidal activity associated with the compounds of the present invention, or influence persistence of action, soil or plant penetration, or any other desirable property of such herbicidal compounds . There may be one or more of the same or different substituents present in each part of the molecules . In relation to moieties defined above as comprising an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group, optional substituents include halogen, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms, and nitro, cyano, amino, hydroxyl, Cι- 4 -alkyl, Cχ- 4 -alkoxy, Cι_ 4 -alkylthio, Cι- 4 -haloalkyl, Cι_ 4 -haloalkoxy, C- 4 -haloalkylthio. 1 to 5 substituents may suitably be employed, 1 to 2 substituents being preferred. In relation to moieties defined above as comprising an optionally substituted alkyl group, including alkyl parts of haloalkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, dialkoxyalkyl , alkoxyalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkoxy, alkylamino dialkyla ino, alkoxyamino, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl groups, specific examples of such substituents include phenyl, halogen atoms, nitro, cyano, hydroxyl, Cι- 4 -alkoxy, Cι- 4 -haloalkoxy and Cι_ 4 -alkoxycarbo- nyl groups . In relation to moieties defined above as comprising an optionally substituted alkenyl or alkynyl group specific examples of such substituents include phenyl, halogen atoms, nitro, cyano, Cι- 4 -alkoxy, Cι- 4 -haloalkoxy and Cι_ 4 -alkoxycarbonyl groups . The index m preferably means 0 or 1, n is preferably 1 or 2. Preferred compounds for the use as 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypy- rimidine according to the invention are the compounds of formula I, wherein A represents a phenyl group being substituted by 1 to 5 radi- cals of the group consisting of halogen, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms, nitro, cyano, Cι_ 4 -alkyl, Cχ_ 4 -alkoxy, Cχ_ 4 -haloalkyl, Cι_ 4 -haloalkoxy, Cι- 4 -alkylthio, Cι_ 4 -haloalkylthio; especially a phenyl group being substituted by 1 or 2 radicals of the group consisting of halogen, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms, Cι_ 4 ~alkyl, Cι_ 4 -alkoxy, Cι_ 4 -halo- alkyl and Cχ_ 4 -haloalkoxy; or represents a 5-or 6-membered heteroaryl group containing one or two nitrogen atoms being substituted by 1 to 5 radicals of the group consisting of halogen, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms, nitro, cyano, Cι_ 4 -alkyl, Cι_ 4 -alkoxy, C 1 _ 4 -haloalkyl, Cι_ 4 -haloalkoxy, Cι- 4 -alkylthio, Cι_ 4 -haloal- kylthio; especially a pyrazolyl or a pyridyl group being substituted by 1 or 2 radicals of the group consisting of halogen, especially fluorine, chlorine and bromine atoms, Cι_4-alkyl, Cι_4-alkoxy, Cι_ 4 -haloalkyl and Cι-4-haloalkoxy; R 2 represents a halogen atom, especially fluorine, chlorine or bromine, Cι- 4 -alkyl, Cι_4-alkoxy, Cι_4-haloalkyl and C1-. 4 -h.a- loalkoxy; especially chlorine, flourine, methyl, methoxy, trfluoromethyl , difluoromethoxy or trifluoromethoxy, m is 0; n is 0, 1 or 2; Especially preferred are compounds of formula I, wherein A represents a phenyl group being substituted by one chlorine or fluorine atom, or one methyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoro- methoxy or difluoromethoxy group; m is 0; n is 1 or 2. In particular 4- (3-trifluoromethylphenoxy) -2- (4-trifluoromethyl- phenyl) -pyrimidine coded Compound A. The additional compounds of group (2) having herbicidal activities against broad-leaved weeds and/or annual grasses are selected from a) lipid biosnthesis inhibitors; b) acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS) ; c) photosynthesis inhibitors; d) protoporphyrinogen-IX-oxidase inhibitors; e) bleacher herbicides; f) enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP) ; g) glutamine synthetase inhibitors; h) dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors (DHP) ; i) mitosis inhibitors; j) cell division inhibitors; k) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors, 1) uncoupling herbicides; m) auxin herbicides; n) auxin transport inhibitors; or o) various other herbicides; Examples of herbicides of group (2) which can be used in combination with the compounds of formula I according to the present invention are, inter alia: 5 a) lipid biosnthesis inhibitors like chlorazifop, clodinafop, clofop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fen- thiaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, isoxapyrifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, tri- fop, alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxy- 10 dim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, buty- late, cycloate, di-allate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethiolate, isopolinate, methiobencarb, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, sulfallate, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tri-allate, vernolate, bensulide, benfuserate or ethofume- !5 sate; b) acetolactate synthase inhibitors like sulfonyl urea type herbicides for example amidosulfuron, 20 azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chlori uron, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethoxy- sulfuron, flazasulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, 25 prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron, propoxy- carbazon or flucarbazon; 30 sulfonamide type herbicides for example chloransulam, di- closulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam or penoxsu- lam; _ g - imidazolinone type herbicides for example imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin or imazethapyr; pyrimidyl ethers for example bispyribac, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyrithiobac or pyriminobac; 40 c) photosynthesis inhibitors like photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors such as triazine type herbicides for example ametryn, atraton, 45 atrazine, aziprotryne, chlorazine, cyanatryn, cyanazine, cyprazine, desmetryne, dimethamethryn, dipropetryn, eg- liazine, ipazine, mesoprazine, methometon, methoprotryn, procyazine, proglinazine, prometon, prometryn, propazine, sebuthylazine, secbumeton, simazine, simeton, simetryn, terbumeton, terbutylazine, terbutryn or trietazine; or such as urea type herbicides for example anisuron, benz- thiazuron, buthiuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chloretu- ron, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, difenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, ethidimuron, fenuron, fluometuron, fluothiuron, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, methabenzthiazuron, me- thiuron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, etoxuron, monoisou- ron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluron, phenoben- zuron, siduron, tebuthiuron, tetrafluron, thiadiazuron or thiazafluron; further photosynthesis inhibitors such as nitrile type herbicides for example bromobonil, bromoxynil, chloroxynil, iodobonil or ioxynil; such as triazinone type herbicides for example ametri- dione, amibuzin, hexazinone, isomethiozin, metamitron or metribuzin; such as uracil type herbicides for example bromacil, iso- cil, lenacil or terbacil; such as pyridazinone type herbicides for example brompy- razon, chloridazon or dimidazon; such as phenyl carbamate type herbicides for example des- medipham, phenisopham or phenmedipham; such as amide type herbicides for example propanil; such as benzothiadiazole type herbicides for example ben- tazone; such as phenyl pyridazine type hericides for example py- ridate or pyridafol; such as bipyridylium type herbicides for example cyper- quat, diethamquat, difenzoquat, diquat, morfamquat or paraquat; as well as amicarbazone, bromofenoxim, flumezin, metha- zole or pentanochlor; protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors like diphenyl ether type herbicides for example acifluorfen, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chlornitrofen, ethoxyfen, fluo- rodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoronitrofen, fomesafen, fu- ryloxyfen, halosafen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen or oxyfluorfen; - N-phenylphthalimide type herbicides for example cinidon- ethyl, flumiclorac, flumioxazin or flumipropyn; thiadiazole type herbicides for example fluthiacet or thidiazimin; oxadiazole type herbicides for example oxadiazon or oxa- diargyl ; as well as azafenidin, carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, pen- toxazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyraclonil, pro- fluazol, flufenpyr, flupropacil, nipyraclofen, etnipro- mid, fluazolate (JV 485) or pyraflufen; e) bleacher herbicides like metflurazon, norflurazon, diflufeni- can, flufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamid, fluridone, flu- rochloridone, flurtamone, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, meso- trione, sulcotrione, benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzobicyclon, amitrol, clomazone, aclonifen, ketospiradox or a 3-heterocyclyl substituted benzoyl derivative of formula II in which the variables have the following meanings: R , R c are hydrogen, halogen, Cι- 6 -alkyl, Cι- 6 -haloalkyl, Cι- 6 -alkoxy, Cι- 6 -haloalkoxy, Cι_ 6 -alkylthio, Cι_ 6 -al- kylsulfinyl or C_ 6 -alkylsulfonyl; R b is a heterocyclic radical selected from the group : thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl, 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-4-yl and 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl, it being possible for the nine radicals mentioned to be un- substituted or mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, Ci- 4 -alkyl, Cι_ 4 -alkoxy, Cι- 4 -haloalkyl , Cι_ 4 -haloalkoxy or Cι- 4 -alkylthio; R d is hydrogen, halogen or Cι- 6 -alkyl; Re i s Cι_ 6 -alkyl ; R f is hydrogen or Cι- 6 -alkyl; f) enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP) like glyphosate; g) glutamine synthetase inhibitors like bilanaphos or glufosi- nate ; h) dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors (DHP) like asulam; i) mitosis inhibitors like dinitroaniline type herbicides for example benfluralin, butralin, dinitramin, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, iso- propalin, methapropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimetha- lin, prodiamine, profluralin or trifluralin; phosphoramidate type herbicides for example amiprofos-me- thyl or butamifos; pyridazine type herbicides for example dithiopyr or thia- zopyr; as well as propyzamid, tebutam, chlorthal, carbetamide, chlorbufam, chlorpropham or propham; j) cell division inhibitors like chloroacetamide type herbicides for example acetochlor, alachlor, allidochlor, butachlor, butenachlor, CDEA, delachlor, diethatyl, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dime- thenamid-P, epronaz, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metola- chlor, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisoch- lor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlor or xylachlor; - acetamide type herbicides for example diphenamid, naprop- amide or naproanilide; oxacetamide type herbicides for example flufenacet or mefenacet; as well as fentrazamide, anilophos, piperophos, cafen- strole, indanofan or tridiphane; k) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors like dichlobenil, chlor- thiamid, isoxaben or flupoxam; 1) uncoupling herbicides like dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, DNOC, etinofen or medinoterb; m) auxin herbicides like clomeprop, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, MCPA, MCPA thioethyl, MCPB, mecoprop, meco- prop-P, 2,4,5-T, chloramben, dicamba, 2,3,6-TBA, tricamba, quinchlorac, quinmerac, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, picloram, trichlopyr or benazolin; n) auxin transport inhibitors like naptalame or diflufenzopyr; o) various other herbicides like flurene carboxylic acids for example chlorflurenol or flurenol ; as well as benzoylprop, flamprop, flamprop-M, bromobu- tide, cinmethylin, cumyluron, daimuron, methyldymron, et- obenzanid, fosamin, metam, pyributicarb, oxaziclomefone, dazomet, triaziflamor, methylbromid; or their environmentally compatible salts, esters, thioesters and amides . Preferred are herbicides of group (2) such as a) lipid biosnthesis inhibitors like clodinafop, cyhalofop, di- clofop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, alloxydim, butroxydi , clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxydim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim or tralkoxydim; b) acetolactate synthase inhibitors like sulfonyl urea type herbicides for example amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethoxy- sulfuron, flazasulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron, propoxy- carbazon or flucarbazon; sulfonamide type herbicides for example chloransulam, di- closulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam or penoxsu- lam; - imidazolinone type herbicides for example imazamethabenz , imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin or imazethapyr; pyrimidyl ethers for example bispyribac, pyrithiobac or pyriminobac ; c) photosynthesis inhibitors like photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors such as triazine type herbicides for example atrazine, cyanazine, simazine, terbutylazine, terbutryn or trieta- zine; such as urea type herbicides for example chlorbromuron, chlorotoluron, diuron, isoproturon, linuron, methabenz- thiazuron or neburon; further photosynthesis inhibitors such as nitrile type herbicides for example bromoxynil or ioxynil; such as triazinone type herbicides for example hexazi- none, metamitron or metribuzin; such as pyridazinone type herbicides for example chlori- dazon; such as amide type herbicides for example propanil; such as benzothiadiazole type herbicides for example ben- tazone; such as phenyl pyridazine type herbicides for example py- ridate; such as bipyridylium type herbicides for example difenzo- quat, diquat or paraquat; as well as amicarbazone; d) protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors like - diphenyl ether type herbicides for example acifluorfen, fluoroglycofen, halosafen, lactofen or oxyfluorfen; N-phenylphthalimide type herbicides for example cinidon- ethyl, flumiclorac or flumioxazin; thiadiazole type herbicides for example fluthiacet ; oxadiazole type herbicides for example oxadiazon or oxa- diargyl ; as well as azafenidin, carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, pen- toxazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyraclonil, pro- fluazol, flufenpyr, nipyraclofen, fluazolate (JV 485) or pyraflufen; e) bleacher herbicides like metflurazon, norflurazon, diflufeni- can, flufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamid, fluridone, flu- rochloridone, flurtamone, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, meso- trione, sulcotrione, benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzobicyclon, clomazone, [2-chloro-3- (4 , 5-dihydro-3-isoxazo- lyl) -4- (methylsulfonyl) phenyl] (5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyra- zol-4-yl)methanon, [3- (4, 5-dιhydro-3-ιsoxazo- lyl) -2-methyl-4- (methylsulfonyl) phenyl] (5-hy- droxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)methanon, [2-chloro-3- (3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl) -4- (methylsulfonyl) phenyl] (5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)methanon or [3- (3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl) -2-methyl-4- (methylsulfonyl) phenyl] (5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl) methanon; f) enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP) like glyphosate; g) glutamine synthetase inhibitors like glufosinate; i) mitosis inhibitors like dinitroaniline type herbicides for example benfluralin, butralin, dinitramin, ethalfluralin, oryzalin, pendime- thalin or trifluralin; as well as propyzamid; j) cell division inhibitors like chloroacetamide type herbicides for example acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, eta- zachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, pethoxamid, preti- lachlor, propachlor, propisochlor or thenylchlor; oxacetamide type herbicides for example flufenacet or me- fenacet; as well as fentrazamide, cafenstrole or indanofan; k) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors like dichlobenil, chlor- thiamid, isoxaben or flupoxam; m) auxin herbicides like clomeprop, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, 5 dichlorprop-P, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, chloramben, dicamba, quinchlorac, quinmerac, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, pi- cloram, trichlopyr or benazolin; n) auxin transport inhibitors like diflufenzopyr; 0 o) various other herbicides like flurene carboxylic acids for example flurenol; 5 as well as bromobutide, cinmethylm. , cumyluron, dai•muron, methyldymron, oxaziclomefone or triaziflam. or their environmentally compatible salts, like the sodium-, potassium-, calcium-, trimethylsulfonium-, (2-hydroxy-eth-l-yl) - 0 ammonium-, di (2-hydroxy-eth-l-yl) ammonium-, methylammonium-, tri- methylammonium-, isopropylammonium-salts or nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, methylsulfates, chlorides, bromides or iodides; esters, like methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, isobu- tyl-, pentyl-, mexyl-, isooctyl-, methoxyethyl-, ethoxyethyl-, 5 butoxyethyl-, allyl- or propargyl-esters, thioesters like ethyl- thioesters; and amides, like methyl-, dimethyl-, phenyl- or 2-chlorphenylamides . Q In another embodiment of the present invention compounds of group (2) are preferably selected from a) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors like clodinafop or fenoxaprop; or 5 b) an acetolactate synthase inhibitors like sulfonyl urea type herbicides for example amidosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron or sulfosulfuron; or 0 sulfonamide type herbicides like florasulam or metosulam; or c) photosynthesis inhibitors like 5 a photosynthetic electron transport inhibitor such as triazine-type herbicides , such as atrazine, cya- nazine or simazine; or such as urea-type herbicides for example chlorotoluron, isoproturon, linuron or neburon; or further photosynthesis inhibitors such as nitrile type herbicides for example bromoxynil or ioxynil; or such as phenyl pyridazine type herbicides for example py- ridate; or d) protoporphyrinogen Ix oxidase inhibitors like N-phenylphthalimide type herbicides for example cinidon- ethyl ; or carfentrazone or JV 485; or i) mitosis inhibitors like dinitroaniline type herbicides for example pendimethalin; or j) cell division inhibitors like oxacetamide type herbicides for example flufenacet; or m) auxme herbicides like dichlorprop, MCPA, mecoprop or flurox- ypyr; or o) various other herbicides like fluorene carboxylic acid herbicides for example flurenol . Examples of safeners of group (3) which can be used in combination with the compounds of formula I and optionally at least one herbicide of group (2) are, inter alia: benoxacor, cloquintocet , cyometrinil, dichlormid, dicyclon, di- etholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofeni , furi- lazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride oxabetrinil and R 29148. Preferred are safeners of group (3) such as benoxacor, cloquintocet, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, fluxofenim, furila- zole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr and oxabetrinil. Especially preferred are the following combinations of the compounds of group 1 and/or group 2 and/or group 3: Compound A / clodinafop Compound A / clodinafop / cloquintocet Compound A / clodinafop / fenchlorazole Compound A / clodinafop / isoxadifen Compound A / clodinafop / mefenpyr Compound A / cyhalofop Compound A / cyhalofop / cloquintocet Compound A / cyhalofop / fenchlorazole Compound A / cyhalofop / isoxadifen Compound A / cyhalofop / mefenpyr Compound A / diclofop Compound A / diclofop / cloquintocet Compound A / diclofop / fenchlorazole Compound A / diclofop /isoxadifen Compound A / diclofop / mefenpyr Compound A / fenoxaprop Compound A / fenoxaprop / cloquintocet Compound A / fenoxaprop / fenchlorazole Compound A / fenoxaprop /isoxadifen Compound A / fenoxaprop / mefenpyr Compound A / fenoxaprop-P Compound A / fenoxaprop-P / cloquintocet Compound A / fenoxaprop-P / fenchlorazole Compound A / fenoxaprop-P / isoxadifen Compound A / fenoxaprop-P / mefenpyr Compound A / fluazifop Compound A / fluazifop / cloquintocet Compound A / fluazifop / fenchlorazole Compound A / fluazifop / isoxadifen Compound A / fluazifop / mefenpyr Compound A /fluazifop-P Compound A /fluazifop-P / cloquintocet Compound A /fluazifop-P/ fenchlorazole Compound A /fluazifop-P / isoxadifen Compound A /fluazifop-P/ mefenpyr Compound A / haloxyfop Compound A / haloxyfop / cloquintocet Compound A / haloxyfop / fenchlorazole Compound A / haloxyfop / isoxadifen Compound A / haloxyfop / mefenpyr Compound A / haloxyfop-P Compound A / haloxyfop-P / cloquintocet Compound A / haloxyfop-P / fenchlorazole Compound A / haloxyfop-P / isoxadifen Compound A / haloxyfop-P / mefenpyr Compound A / quizalofop Compound A / quizalofop / cloquintocet Compound A / quizalofop / fenchlorazole Compound A / quizalofop / isoxadifen Compound A / quizalofop / mefenpyr Compound A / quizalofop-P Compound A / quizalofop-P / cloquintocet Compound A / quizalofop-P / fenchlorazole Compound A / quizalofop-P / isoxadifen Compound A / quizalofop-P / mefenpyr Compound A / alloxydim Compound A /butroxydim Compound A / clethodim Compound A / cloproxydim Compound A / cycloxydim Compound A / profoxydim Compound A / sethoxydim Compound A / tetralkoxydim Compound A / amidosulfuron Compound A / amidosulfuron / cloquintocet Compound A / amidosulfuron / fenchlorazole Compound A / amidosulfuron / isoxadifen Compound A / amidosulfuron / mefenpyr Compound A / amidosulfuron / furilzole Compound A / azimsulfuron Compound A / bensulfuron Compound A / chlorimuron Compound A / chlorsulfuron Compound A / cinosulfuron Compound A / cyclosulfamuron Compound A / ethametsulfuron Compound A / ethoxysulfuron Compound A / flazasulfuron Compound A / flupyrsulfuron Compound A / foramsulfuron Compound A / foramsulfuron / cloquintocet Compound A / foramsulfuron / fenchlorazole Compound A / foramsulfuron / isoxadifen Compound A / foramsulfuron / mefenpyr Compound A / foramsulfuron / furilazole Compound A / halosulfuron Compound A / halosulfuron /cloquintocet Compound A / halosulfuron / fenchlorazole Compound A / halosulfuron / isoxadifen Compound A / halosulfuron / mefenpyr Compound A / halosulfuron / furilazole Compound A / imazosulfuron Compound A / iodosulfuron Compound A / iodosulfuron / cloquintocet Compound A / iodosulfuron / fenchlorazole Compound A / iodosulfuron / isoxadifen Compound A / iodosulfuron / mefenpyr Compound A / iodosulfuron / furilazole Compound A / mesosulfuron Compound A / mesosulfuron / cloquintocet Compound A / mesosulfuron / fenchlorazole Compound A / mesosulfuron / isoxadifen Compound A / mesosulfuron / mefenpyr Compound A / mesosulfuron / furilazole Compound A / metsulfuron Compound A / nicosulfuron Compound A / oxasulfuron Compound A / primisulfuron Compound A / prosulfuron Compound A / pyrazosulfuron Compound A / rimsulfuron Compound A / sulfometuron Compound A / sulfosulfuron Compound A / thifensulfuron Compound A / triasulfuron Compound A / tribenuron Compound A / trifloxysulfuron Compound A / triflusulfuron Compound A / tritosulfuron Compound A / propoxycarbazon Compound A / flucarbazon Compound A / chloransulam Compound A / diclosulam Compound A / florasulam Compound A / flumetsulam Compound A / metosulam Compound A / penoxsulam Compound A / imazamethabenz Compound A / imazamox Compound A / imazapic Compound A / imazapyr Compound A / imazaquin Compound A / imazethapyr Compound A / bispyribac Compound A / pyrithiobac Compound A / pyriminobac Compound A / pyribenzoxim Compound A / pyriftalid Compound A / atrazine Compound A / cyanazine Compound A / simazine Compound A / terbutylazine Compound A / terbutryn Compound A / trietazine ι Compound A / chlorbromuron Compound A / chlorotoluron Compound A / diuron Compound A / isoproturon Compound A / linuron Compound A / methabenzthiazuron Compound A / bromoxynil Compound A / ioxynil Compound A / hexazinone Compound A / metamitron Compound A / metribuzin Compound A / chloridazon Compound A / propanil Compound A / bentazone Compound A / pyridate Compound A / difenzoquat Compound A / diquat Compound A / paraquat Compound A / amicarbazone Compound A / acifluorfen Compound A / fluoroglycofen Compound A / halosafen Compound A / lactofen Compound A / oxyfluorfen Compound A / cinidon-ethyl Compound A / flumiclorac Compound A / flumioxazin Compound A / fluthiacet Compound A / oxadiazon Compound A / oxadiargyl Compound A / azafenidin Compound A / carfentrazone Compound A / sulfentrazone Compound A / pentoxazone Compound A / benzfendizone Compound A / butafenacil Compound A / pyraclonil Compound A / profluazol Compound A / flufenpyr Compound A / nipyraclofen Compound A / fluazolate (JV 485) Compound A / pyraflufen Compound A / norflurazon Compound A / diflufenican Compound A / flufenican Compound A / picolinafen Compound A / beflubutamid Compound A / fluridone Compound A / flurochloridone Compound A / flurtamone Compound A / isoxachlortole Compound A / isoxaflutole Compound A / mesotrione Compound A / sulcotrione Compound A / benzofenap Compound A / pyrazolynate Compound A / pyrazoxyfen Compound A / benzobicyclon Compound A / clomazone Compound A / [2-chloro-3- (4 , 5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl) -4- (methylsul- fonyl) phenyl ] ( 5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl ) me- thanon Compound A / [3- (4, 5-dihydro-3-isoxazolyl) -2-methyl-4- (methylsul- fonyl) phenyl] ( 5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl ) me- thanon Compound A / [2-chloro-3- (3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl) -4- (methylsulfo- nyl) phenyl ] ( 5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl) me- thanon Compound A / [3- (3-methyl-5-isoxazolyl) -2-methyl-4- (methylsulfo- nyl ) phenyl ] (5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl ) me- thanon Compound A / glyphosate Compound A / glufosinate Compound A / benfluralin Compound A / butralin Compound A / dinitramin Compound A / ethalfluralin Compound A / oryzalin Compound A / pendimethalin Compound A / trifluralin Compound A / propyzamid Compound A / acetochlor Compound A / acetochlor / dichlormid Compound A / acetochlor / furilazole Compound A / acetochlor / oxabetrinil Compound A / acetochlor / fluxofenim Compound A / acetochlor / benoxacor Compound A / acetochlor / fenclorim Compound A / alachlor Compound A / butachlor Compound A / butachlor / dichlormid Compound A / butachlor / furilazole Compound A / butachlor / oxabetrinil Compound A / butachlor / fluxofenim Compound A / butachlor / benoxacor Compound A / butachlor / fenclorim Compound A / dimethenamid Compound A / dimethenamid / dichlormid Compound A / dimethenamid / furilazole Compound A / dimethenamid / oxabetrinil Compound A / dimethenamid / fluxofenim Compound A / dimethenamid / benoxacor Compound A / dimethenamid / fenclorim Compound A / dimethenamid-P Compound A / dimethenamid-P / dichlormid Compound A / dimethenamid-P / furilazole Compound A / dimethenamid-P / oxabetrinil Compound A / dimethenamid-P / fluxofenim Compound A / dimethenamid-P / benoxacor Compound A / dimethenamid-P / fenclorim Compound A / metazachlor Compound A / metolachlor / dichlormid Compound A / metolachlor / furilazole Compound A / metolachlor / oxabetrinil Compound A / metolachlor / fluxofenim Compound A / metolachlor / benoxacor Compound A / metolachlor / fenclorim Compound A / S-metolachlor Compound A / S-metolachlor / dichlormid Compound A / S-metolachlor / furilazole Compound A / S-metolachlor / oxabetrinil Compound A / S-metolachlor / fluxofenim Compound A / S-metolachlor / benoxacor Compound A / S-metolachlor / fenclorim Compound A / pethoxamid Compound A / pretilachlor Compound A / pretilachlor / dichlormid Compound A / pretilachlor / furilazole Compound A / pretilachlor / oxabetrinil Compound A / pretilachlor / fluxofenim Compound A / pretilachlor / benoxacor Compound A / pretilachlor / fenclorim Compound A / propachlor Compound A / propisochlor Compound A / thenylchlor Compound A / flufenacet Compound A / mefenacet Compound A / fentrazamide Compound A / cafenstrole Compound A / indanofan Compound A / dichlobenil Compound A / chlorthiamid Compound A / isoxaben Compound A / flupoxam Compound A / clomeprop Compound A / 2 , 4-D Compound A / 2,4-DB Compound A / dichlorprop Compound A / dichlorprop-P Compound A / MCPA Compound A / MCPB Compound A / mecoprop Compound A / mecoprop-P Compound A / chloramben Compound A / dicamba Compound A / quinchlorac Compound A / quinmerac Compound A / clopyralid Compound A / fluroxypyr Compound A / picloram Compound A / trichlopyr Compound A / benazolin; Compound A / diflufenzopyr Compound A / bromobutide Compound A / cinmethylin Compound A / cumyluron Compound A / daimuron Compound A / methyldymron Compound A / oxaziclomefone Compound A / triaziflam Compound A / benoxacor Compound A / cloquintocet Compound A / cyometrinil Compound A / dichlormid Compound A / dieyeIon Compound A / dietholate Compound A / fenchlorazole Compound A / fenclorim Compound A / flurazole Compound A / fluxofenim Compound A / furilazole Compound A / isoxadifen Compound A / mefenpyr Compound A / ephenate Compound A / naphthalic anhydride Compound A / oxabetrinil . The pattern of persistence of the compounds of formula I is such that the combined treatment according to the present invention can be attained either by the application of a prepared mixture as defined above, or by time separated application of separate formulations . Hence, in another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling the growth of weeds at a crop locus and/or reducing crop injury which comprises applying to the locus a compound of formula I as defined above and a component which is selected from those listed above as group (2) and/or a component which is selected from those listed above as group (3) . Especially the application in cereals is preferred. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling the growth of weeds at a crop locus which comprises applying to the locus a compound of formula I as de- fined above and a component which is selected from those listed above as group (2) . Especially the application in cereals is preferred. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling the growth of weeds at a crop locus which comprises applying to the locus a compound of formula I as defined above and a component which is selected from those listed above as group (2) and a component which is selected from those listed above as group (3) . Especially the application in cereals is preferred. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for reducing injuries in crops which comprises applying to the locus a compound of formula I as defined above and a compo- nent which is selected from those listed above as group (3) . Especially the application in cereals is preferred. The treatment according to the invention may be used to control a broad spectrum of weed species in crops, especially in cereals e.g., in wheat, barley, rice and maize, by pre- or post-emergence treatment, including both early and late post-emergence. The combined use described above offers both foliar and residual activity. The treatment according to the invention may be used to control a broad spectrum of weed species in crops, especially in cereals e.g., in wheat, barley, rice and maize. The crops may be resistant to the action of herbicides as well as to insecticide attack due to breeding, including genetic engineering methods . In a embodiment of the present invention the crop may be resistant against herbicidal EPSP-inhibitors for example glyphosate, herbicidal glutamine-synthase inhibitors for example glufosinate, herbicidal protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors for example butafenacil, or herbicidal ALS-inhibitors for example imazamethabenz , imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imaza- quin or imazethapyr. In another embodiment of the present inven- tion the crop may be resistant against insecticide attack due to the introduction of the gene for the Bt-toxine by genetic engineering methods . The compositions of the present invention may be applied by pre- or post-emergence treatment, including both early and late post- emergence. The combined use described above offers both foliar and residual activity. By the term "pre-emergence application" is meant application to the soil in which the weed seeds or seedlings are present before emergence of the weeds above the surface of the soil. By the term "post-emergence application" is meant application to the aerial or exposed portions of the weeds which have emerged above the surface of the soil . It will be appreciated that application ac- cording to the method may be from pre- to post-weed emergence, and from pre-crop emergence to post-crop emergence. By the term "foliar activity" is meant herbicidal activity obtained by application to the aerial or exposed portions of the weeds which have emerged above the surface of the soil. By the term "residual activity" is meant herbicidal activity obtained some time after application to the soil whereby seedlings present at the time of application or which germinate subsequent to application are controlled. Weeds that may be controlled by the practice of the present invention include: Veronica persica Veronica hederaefolia Stellaria media Lamium purpureum Lamium amplexicaule Aphanes arvensis Galium aparine Alopecurus myosu- Matricaria inodora roides Matricaria matri- Anthemis arvensis Papaver rhoeas coides Poa annua Apera spica-venti Phalaris paradoxa Phalaris minor Avena fatua Loliu perenne Bromus sterilis Poa trivialis Spergula arvensis Cerastes holosteoides Arenaria seryllifolia Silene vulgaris Legousia hybrida Geranium dissectum Montia perfoliata Myosotis arvensis Chenopodium album Polygonum aviculare Polygonum lapathifo- Polygonum convolvulus Galeopsis tetrahit lium Chrysantemum segetum Centaurea cyanus Viola arvensis Senecia vulgaris Cirsium arvense Fumaria officinalis Raphanus raphanistrum Agrostis stolonifera Atriplex patula Capsella bursa-pasto- Thlaspi arvense Portulaca oleracea ris Setaria viridis Eleusine indica Euphorbia heliosco- pia The application rate of the compound of formula I (in admixture with the a compound of group (2) and/or a compound of group (3)) is usually in the range of 0.1 to 500 grams of active ingredient (g a.i.) per hectare, with rates between 2 to 100 g a.i./ha often achieving satisfactory control and selectivity. The optimal rate for a specific application will depend on the crop(s) under cultivation and the predominant species of infesting weed, and readily may be determined by established biological tests known to those skilled in the art. The selection of the herbicidally active compound of group (2) as well as of the safening compound of group (3) will likewise be dependent on the crop/weed situation to be treated, and will be readily identifiable by those skilled in this area. The application rate of the herbicidally active compound of group (2) is usually in the range of 0.5 to 4000 grams, preferably 1.0 to 1000 grams of the active ingredient (g a.i.) per hectare. In another preferred embodiment preferred application rate of this active ingredient is in the range of 100 to 2500 g a.i./ha, preferably 100-1500 g a.i. /ha. The application rate of the safening compound of group (3) is usually in the range of 1 to 1500 grams, preferably 5 to 1250 grams of the active ingredient (g a.i.) per hectare. The application rates the active components are determined primarily by the chemical type of the component, since the intrinsic activity of different types of herbicide/safeners vary widely. For example the preferred application rate of a lipid biosynthesis inhibitors is in the range of 25 to 2500 g/ha, especially in the range of 25 to 400, preferably in the range of 25 to 250 g/ha; of a acetolactate synthase inhibitor in the range of 1 to 800 g/ha (for a sulfonyl urea type herbicide in the range of 7.5 to 100 g/ha) ; of a photosynthesis inhibitor in the range of 30 to 4000 g/ha (for an urea type herbicide in the range of 100 to 1500 g/ha; for a nitrile type herbicide in the range of 75 to 400 g/ha) ; of a protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitor in the range of 0.5 to 600 g/ha; of a bleacher herbicide in the range of 25 to 600 g/ha; of a EPSP-inhibitor in the range of 200 to 1200 g/ha; of a glutamine synthase inhibitor in the range of 10 to 600 g/ha; of a mitosis inhibitor in the range of 300 to 3000 g/ha (for a dinitroaniline type herbicide in the range of 250 to 2500 g/ha) ; of a cell division inhibitor in the range of 60 to 4000 g/ha; of a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor in the range of 25 to 500 g/ha; of a auxin herbicide in the range of 25 to 2500 g/ha, especially in the range of 25 to 750 g/ha; of a auxin transport inhibitor in the range of 10 to 200 g/ha; of various other herbi- cides in the range of 10 to 2000 g/ha. For example, the activity of a triazine herbicide, such as cyana- zine or simazine, can be almost tenfold greater than that of an urea herbicide such as chlortoluron or isoproturon. The optimal rate for the chosen component of group (2) will, however, depend on the crop(s) under cultivation and the level of weed infestation, and can readily be determined by established biological tests. Naturally, with such a wide variation in ap- plication rate for the component of group (b) , the ratio of the compound of formula I to the component of group (2) in the present invention will be determinded predominantly by the choice of the component of group (b) . The ratio (by weight) of the compound of formula I to the additional herbicidal compound of group (2) is as a rule, from 1:0.002 to 1:800, especially from 1:0.05 to 1:500, preferably from 1:0.1 to 1:200, in particular from 1:1 to 1:100. The preferred ratio formula I : group (2) may vary, as shown in the following table: Herbicide of Preferred ratio Most preferred ratio group (2 ) formula I : group (2) formula I : group (2) Carfentrazone- 1:0.05 to 1:20 1:0.1 to 1:10 Cinidon-ethyl 1:0.1 to 1:10 1:0.2 to 1:8 Clodinafop 1:0.05 to 1:20 1:0.2 to 1:10 Fenoxaprop 1:0.05 to 1:20 1:0.2 to 1:10 Florasulam 1:0.1 to 1:10 1:0.13 to 1:1 Flufenacet 1:0.5 to 1:50 1:1 to 1:25 Flupyrsulfuron 1:0.01 to 1:5 1:0.02 to 1:1 Isoproturon 1:0.5 to 1:150 1:1 to 1:100 JV 485 1:0.5 to 1:50 1:1 to 1:20 MCPA 1:1 to 1:200 1:2 to 1:150 Pendimethaiin 1:1 to 1:200 1:2 to 1:150 Sulfosulfuron 1:0.05 to 1:10 1:0.1 to 1:1 The application rates for the compounds of group (3) are determined primarily by the chemical type of the component. For example the preferred application rate for benoxacor is in he range of 50 to 250 g/ha; for cloquintocet in the range of 5 to 25 5 g/ha; for cyometrinil in the range of 25 to 500 g/ha; for dichlormid in the range of 150 to 500 g/ha; for dicyclon in the range of 150 to 250 g/ha; for dietholate in the range of 750 to 1250 g/ha; for fenchlorazole in the range of 5 to 50 g/ha; for fenclo- rin in the range of 150 to 500 g/ha; for flurazole in the range ° of 100 to 500 g/ha; for fluoxefenim in the range of 100 to 500 g/ha; for furilazole in the range of 50 to 250 g/ha; for isoxadifen in the range of 25 to 250 g/ha; for mefenpyr in the range of 10 to 150 g/ha; for mephenate in the range of 10 to 1000 g/ha; for naphthalic anhydride in the range of 250 to 1000 g/ha; for 5 oxabetrinil in the range of 250 to 1000 g/ha and for R 29148 in the range of 50 to 250 g/ha. The ratio (by weight) of the compound of formula I to the additional safening compound of group (3) is as a rule, from 1:0.002 0 to 1:800, especially from 1:0.05 to 1:100, preferably from 1:0.1 to 1:40. The active compounds can be used in the form of a mixture of separate formulations, typically mixed with water prior to ap5 plication (tank-mixtures) , or as separate formulations applied individually within a certain time interval . All active compounds can also be formulated together in a suitable ratio according to the present invention, together with usual carriers and/or additives known in the art. 0 Accordingly, the invention further provides a herbicidal composition which comprises as active ingredient, a synergistically effective amount of at least one compound of formula I as defined above, and at least one compound selected from group (2) and/or 5 at least one compound selected from group (3) and one or more carriers. A method of making such a composition is also provided which comprises bringing the mixture of the compound of formula I and the compound selected from group (2) and/or the compound of group (3) as defined above into association with the carrier (s) . 0 It is also envisaged that different isomers or mixtures of iso- mers may have different levels or spectra of activity and thus compositions may comprise individual isomers or mixtures of isomers . 5 A composition according to the invention preferably contains from 0.5% to 95% by weight (w/w) of active ingredients. A carrier in a composition according to the invention is any material with which the active ingredient is formulated to facilitate application to the locus to be treated, which may for example be a plant, seed or soil, or to facilitate storage, transport or handling. A carrier may be a solid or a liquid, including material which is normally a gas but which has been compressed to form a liquid. The compositions may be manufactured into e.g. emulsion concen- trates, solutions, oil in water emulsions, wettable powders, soluble powders, suspension concentrates, dusts, granules, water dispersible granules, micro-capsules, gels and other formulation types by well-established procedures. These procedures include intensive mixing and/or milling of the active ingredients with other substances, such as fillers, solvents, solid carriers, surface active compounds (surfactants) , and optionally solid and/or liquid auxiliaries and/or adjuvants. The form of the application such as spraying, atomizing, dispersing or pouring may be chosen like the compositions according to the desired objectives and the given circumstances. Solvents (liquid carriers), may be aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. Solvesso 200, substituted naphthalenes, phthalic acid esters, such as dibutyl or dioctyl phthalate, aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g. cyclohexane or paraffins, alcohols and glycols as well as their ethers and esters, e.g. ethanol, ethyleneglycol mono- and dimethyl ether, ketones such as cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or γ-butyrolactone, higher alkyl pyrrolidones, e.g. n-octylpyrrolidone or cyclohexyl- pyrrolidone, epoxidized plant oil esters, e.g. methylated coconut or soybean oil ester and water. Mixtures of different solvents are often suitable. Solid carriers, which may be used for dusts, wettable powders, water dispersible granules, or granules, may be mineral fillers, such as calcite, talc, kaolin, montmorillonite or attapulgite. The physical properties may be improved by addition of highly dispersed silica gel or polymers . Carriers for granules may be porous material, e.g. pumice, kaolin, sepiolite, bentonite; non- sorptive carriers may be calcite or sand. Additionally, a multitude of pre-granulated inorganic or organic materials may be used, such as dolomite or crushed plant residues . Pesticidal compositions are often formulated and transported in a concentrated form which is subsequently diluted by the user before application. The presence of small amounts of a carrier which is a surfactant facilitates this process of dilution. Thus, preferably at least one carrier in a composition according to the invention is a surfactant. For example, the composition may contain at two or more carriers, at least one of which is a surfactant. Surfactants may be nonionic, anionic, cationic or zwitterionic substances with good dispersing, emulsifying and wetting properties depending on the nature of the compound according to formula I and component of group (2) and/or component of group (3) to be formulated. Surfactants may also mean mixtures of individual sur- factants . The compositions of the invention may for example be formulated as wettable powders, water dispersible granules, dusts, granules, solutions, emulsifiable concentrates, emulsions, suspension con- centrates and aerosols. Wettable powders usually contain 5 to 90% w/w of active ingredient and usually contain in addition to solid inert carrier, 3 to 10% w/w of dispersing and wetting agents and, where necessary, 0 to 10% w/w of stabilizer (s) and/or other additives such as penetrants or stickers . Dusts are usually formu- lated as a dust concentrate having a similar composition to that of a wettable powder but without a dispersant, and may be diluted in the field with further solid carrier to give a composition usually containing 0.5 to 10% w/w of active ingredient. Water dispersible granules and granules are usually prepared to have a size between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm and may be manufactured by a variety of techniques . Generally, these types of granules will contain 0.5 to 90% w/w active ingredient and 0 to 20% w/w of additives such as stabilizer, surfactants, slow release modifiers and binding agents. The so-called "dry flowables" consist of rela- tively small granules having a relatively high concentration of active ingredient. Emulsifiable concentrates usually contain, in addition to a solvent or a mixture of solvents, 1 to 80% w/v active ingredient, 2 to 20% w/v emulsifiers and 0 to 20% w/v of other additives such as stabilizers, penetrants and corrosion inhibitors. Suspension concentrates are usually milled so as to obtain a stable, non- sedimenting flowable product and usually contain 5 to 75% w/v active ingredient, 0.5 to 15% w/v of dispersing agents, 0.1 to 10% w/v of suspending agents such as protective colloids and thixo- tropic agents, 0 to 10% w/v of other additives such as defoamers, corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, penetrants and retention enhancers (stickers) , and water or an organic liquid in which the active ingredient is substantially insoluble; certain organic solids or inorganic salts may be present dissolved in the formulation to assist in preventing sedimentation and crystalization or as antifreeze agents for water. Aqueous dispersions and emulsions, for example compositions obtained by diluting the formulated product according to the invention with water, also lie within the scope of the invention. Of particular interest in enhancing the duration of the protective activity of the compounds of this invention is the use of a carrier which will provide slow release of the pesticidal compounds into the environment of a plant which is to be protected. The biological activity of the active ingredient can also be increased by including an adjuvant in the composition. An adjuvant is defined here as a substance which can increase the biological activity of an active ingredient but is not itself significantly biologically active. The adjuvant can either be included in the formulation as a coformulant or carrier, or can be added to the spray tank together with the formulation containing the active ingredient. As a commodity the compositions may preferably be in a concen- trated form whereas the end user generally employs diluted compositions . The compositions may be diluted to a concentration down to 0.001% of active ingredient. The doses usually are in the range from 0.01 to 10 kg a.i./ha. Examples of formulations according to the invention are: Emulsion Concentrate (EC) Active Ingredi- Compound A + Isoproturon (1 : 16) 30 % (w/v) ent Emulsifier(s) Atlox® 4856 B / Atlox ® 4858 B D 5 % (w/v) (mixture containing calcium alkyl aryl sulfonate, fatty alcohol ethox- ylates and light aromatics / mixture containing calcium alkyl aryl sulfonate, fatty alcohol ethoxylates and light aromatics) Solvent Shellsol ® A 2 > to 1000 ml (mixture of Cg - Cio aromatic hydro- carbons) Suspension Concentrate (SC) Active Ingredi- Compound A + Flufenacet (1 50 % (w/v) ent Dispersing Soprophor® FL 3 > 3 % (w/v) agent (polyoxyethylene polyaryl phenyl ether phosphate amine salt) Antifoaming Rhodorsil® 422 3 > 0.2 % (w/v) agent (nonionic aqueous emulsion of poly- dimethylsiloxanes) Structure agent Kelzan® S > 0.2 % (w/v) (Xanthan gum) Antifreezing Propylene glycol 5 % (w/v) agent Biocidal agent Proxel ® 5 > 0.1 % (w/v) (aqueous dipropylene glycol solution containing 20% 1, 2-benisothia- zolin-3-one) Water to 1000 ml Wettable Powder (WP) Active IngrediCompound A + MCPA (1 : 32) 60 % (w/w) ent Wetting agent Atlox® 4995 D 2 % (w/w) (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether) Dispersing Witcosperse ® D-60 6 > 3 % (w/w) agent (mixture of sodium salts of condensed naphthalene sulfonic acid and alkylarylpolyoxy acetates Carrier / Kaolin 35 % (w/w) Filler Water Dispersible Granules (WG) Active IngrediCompound A + Ioxynil (1 : 16) 50 % (w/w) ent Dispersing / Witcosperse® D-450 6 > 8 % (w/w) Binding agent (mixture of sodium salts of condensed naphthalene sulfonic acid and alkyl sulfonates) Wetting agent Morwet ® EFW 6 > 2 % (w/w) (formaldehyde condensation product) Antifoaming Rhodorsil ® EP 6703 3 > 1 % (w/w) agent (encapsulated silicone) Active Ingredi- Compound A + Ioxynil (1 : 16) 50 % (w/w) ent Disintegrant Agrimer® ATF 7 > 2 % (w/w) _ (cross-linked homopolymer of N-vi- 5 nyl-2-pyrrolidone) Carrier / Kaolin 35 % (w/w) Filler 1 Q 1) commercially available from ICI Surfactants 2) commercially available from Deutsche Shell AG 3) commercially available from Rhδne-Poulenc 4) commercially available from Kelco Co. 5) commercially available from Zeneca U_5 6) commercially available from Witco 7) commercially available from International Speciality Products The compositions of this invention can also comprise other compounds having biological activity, e.g. compounds having similar 20 or complementary pesticidal activity or compounds having plant growth regulating, fungicidal, insecticidal, bactericidal, nema- ticidal, algicidal, molluscicidal, rodenticidal or virusidal activity. It is also possible to include fertilizers, compounds which induce resistance into plants, biological control agents 25 such as viruses, bacteria, nematodes, fungi and other microorganisms and/or repellents of birds and animals. These mixtures of pesticides can have a broader spectrum of activity than the synergistic composition according to this invention alone. 3 Q The following examples illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention; however, the invention is not limited to the embodiments so illustrated, but includes the entire scope of the appended claims . 35 EXAMPLES General Method: The trials are carried out under greenhouse conditions in pre- 4 Q and post-emergence applications. The plant seeds are sown in pots containing a loamy sand soil (0.5 1) . The herbicides are applied as single treatments, or in a combination comprising a compound of formula I and compound selected from group (2) as defined above and/or a compound selected from group (3) as defined above 45 before or after emergence of weeds and crop. The herbicidal performance is assessed as percent damage in comparison to the untreated control plants. The assessment is done 21 days after the treatment. Wheat and barley are treated at the 3-4 leaf stage, the broad-leaf weeds at the 2-4 leaf stage and annual grasses at the 2-3 leaf stage. The following weeds have been included: Grass weeds: ALOMY Alopecurus myosuroides APESV Apera spica-venti LOLPE Lolium perenne SETVI Setaria viridis Broadleaf weeds : GALAP Galium aparine LAMPU Lamium purpureum MATIN Matricaria inodora PAPRH Papaver rhoeas STEME Stellaria media VERPE Veronica persica For the compound of formula I Compound A is employed. The other component selected from group (2) is identified in each example by its common name with application rates (and hence component ratios) chosen to be appropriate to the established activity level of that component. Flufenacet is the common name of N- (fluorophenyl) -N- (1-methyle- thyl) -2- [ [5- (trifluoromethyl) -1,3, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl] oxy]aceta- ide, which is disclosed for example in the German patent application DE 38 21 600. Florasulam is the common name of N- (2 , 6-dichlorophenyl) -8-fluoro- 5-methoxy-l, 2 , 4-triazolo [1, 5-c]pyrimidine-2-sulfonamide, which is disclosed for example in the US patent 5,163,995. Cinidon-ethyl is the common name of ethyl 2-chloro-3- [2-chloro- 5- (1, 3-dioxo-4, 5,6, 7-tetrahydroisoindol-2-yl) -phenyl-acrylate, which is disclosed for example by K. Grossmann, H. Schiffer, Pes- tic. Sci. (1999), 55(7), 687-695. CODEN: PSSCBG ISSN: 0031-613X. JV 485 is the acronym for isopropyl 2-chloro-4-fluoro-5- (4-bromo- l-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-3-yl) -benzoate of formula: The following abbreviations have been used in the tables : WE: expected response of a mixture by means of the Colby formula; W: observed response of a mixture. The results of these experiments are tabulated as Examples 1 to 14 wherein all the results from a chosen component of group (2) are collected under the same Example number, different dosage rates/test species being recorded in the examples. From these results, it is clear that synergism exists between the compounds of formula I and the compounds selected from group (2) . Crop tolerance (wheat and barley) is excellent in all treatments. Example 1A: Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A + isoproturon (IPU) against grass and broadleaf weeds in pre-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example IB : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A + isoproturon (IPU) against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 2 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ flufenacet against grass and broadleaf weeds in pre- emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 3 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A + JV 485 against grass and broadleaf weeds in pre-emer- gence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 4 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ MCPA against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 5 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ flupyrsulfuron against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application in all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 6 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ sulfosulfuron against grass weeds in post-emergence application In the above treatment, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 7 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ mecoprop against grass and broadleaf weeds in post- emergence application 0 5 Q In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 8 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ io5 xynil against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 9 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ carfentrazone against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 10: Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ ci- nidon-ethyl against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 11 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ florasulam against grass weeds in post-emergence application in the above treatment, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 12 : Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ clodinafop against grass and broadleaf weeds in post- emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 13 Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ fenoxaprop against grass and broadleaf weeds in post- emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic. Example 14: Herbicidal performance of the mixture Compound A+ pendimethalin against grass and broadleaf weeds in post-emergence application In all of the above treatments, the observed activity was clearly superior to the expected activity, thus demonstrating that the combination was synergistic.

Claims: What is claimed is : 1. A herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally acceptable carrier and/or surface active agent and, as active ingredient, a synergistically effective amount of (1) at least one 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidine of formula I wherein A represents an optionally substituted phenyl group or an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered nitrogen- containing heteroaromatic group or a difluorobenzo- dioxolyl group; m represents an integer from 0 to 2; n represents an integer from 0 to 5; R 1 (or each R 1 ) independently represents a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, dialkoxyalkyl , alkoxyalkoxy, alkylthio, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkoxyamino or formamidino group; R 2 (or each R 2 ) independently represents a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio group or a nitro, cyano, SF 5 or a alkylsulphonyl or alkylsulfinyl group; or its environmentally compatible salts; and (2) at least one additional herbicidal compound, which is active against broad-leaved weeds and/or annual grasses; and/ or (3) at least one additional safening compound. 2. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 comprising a 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidine of formula I, wherein A represents a phenyl group being substituted by one chlorine or fluorine atom, or one methyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy or difluoromethoxy group ; is 0; and n is 1 or 2. 3. A herbicidal composition according to claim 2 wherein the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidine of formula I is 4- (3-trifluoromethylphenoxy) -2- (4-trifluoromethylphenyl) -py- ri idine . 4. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 3 , wherein said additional herbicidal compound (2) is selected from a) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors; b) acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS) ; c) photosynthesis inhibitors; d) protoporphyrinogen-IX-oxidase inhibitors; e) bleacher herbicides; f) enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitors (EPSP) ; g) glutamine synthetase inhibitors; h) dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors (DHP) ; i) mitosis inhibitors; j) cell division inhibitors; k) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors, 1) uncoupling herbicides; m) auxin herbicides; n) auxin transport inhibitors; or o) various other herbicides; 5. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 4 , wherein said additional herbicidal compound (2) is selected from a) a lipid biosnthesis inhibitor: chlorazifop, clodinafop, clofop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenthiaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, isoxapyrifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, trifop, alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxydi , profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, butylate, cycloate, di-allate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethiolate, isopolinate, methiobencarb, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, sulfallate, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tri-allate, vernolate, bensulide, benfuserate or ethofumesate; b) an acetolactate synthase inhibitor: a sulfonyl urea type herbicide: amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron, propoxycarbazon or flucarbazon; a sulfonamide type herbicide: chloransulam, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam or penoxsulam; an imidazolinone type herbicide: imazamethabenz , imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin or imazethapyr; a pyrimidyl ether: bispyribac, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyrithiobac or pyriminobac; c) a photosynthesis inhibitor: a photosynthetic electron transport inhibitor: a triazine type herbicide: ametryn, atraton, atrazine, aziprotryne, chlorazine, cyanatryn, cyanazine, cyprazine, desmetryne, dimetnamethryn, dipropetryn, egliazine, ipazine, mesoprazine, ethometon, methoprotryn, procyazine, proglinazine, prometon, prometryn, propazine, sebuthylazine, secbumeton, simazine, simeton, simetryn, terbumeton, terbutylazine, terbutryn or trietazine; or a urea type herbicide: anisuron, benzthiazuron, buthiuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chloreturon, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, difenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, ethidimuron, fenuron, fluometuron, fluothiuron, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, methabenzthiazuron, methiuron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monoisouron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluron, phenobenzuron, siduron, tebuthiuron, tetrafluron, thiadiazuron or thiazafluron; another photosynthesis inhibitor; a nitrile type herbicide: bromobonil, bromoxynil, chloroxynil, iodobonil or ioxynil; a triazinone type herbicide: ametridione, amibuzin, hexazinone, isomethiozin, metamitron or metribuzin; a uracil type herbicide: bromacil, isocil, lenacil or terbacil; a pyridazinone type herbicide: brompyrazon, chloridazon or dimidazon; a phenyl carbamate type herbicide: desmedipham, phenisopham or phenmedipham; an amide type herbicide: propanil; a benzothiadiazole type herbicide: bentazone; a phenyl pyridazine type hericide: pyridate or pyridafol ; such as a bipyridylium type herbicide: cyperquat, diethamquat, difenzoquat, diquat, morfamquat or paraquat; amicarbazone, bromofenoxim, flumezin, methazole or pentanochlor; otoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitor: a diphenyl ether type herbicide: acifluorfen, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chlornitrofen, ethoxyfen, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoronitrofen, fomesafen, furyloxyfen, halosafen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen or oxyfluorfen; a N-phenylphthalimide type herbicide: cinidon-ethyl , flumiclorac, flumioxazin or flumipropyn; a thiadiazole type herbicide: fluthiacet or thidiazimin; an oxadiazole type herbicide: oxadiazon or oxadiargyl; azafenidin, carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, pentoxazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyraclonil, profluazol, flufenpyr, flupropacil, nipyraclofen, etnipromid, fluazolate (JV 485) or pyraflufen; e) a bleacher herbicide: metflurazon, norflurazon, diflufenican, flufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamid, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, mesotrione, sulcotrione, benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzobicyclon, amitrol, clomazone, aclonifen, ketospiradox or a 3-heterocyclyl substituted benzoyl derivative of formula II in which the variables have the following meanings : R a , R c are hydrogen, halogen, Cι- 6 -alkyl, Cι- 6 -haloalkyl, Cι- 6 -alkoxy, Cι- 6 -haloalkoxy, Cι_ 6 -alkylthio, Cι- 6 -alkylsulfinyl or C- 6 -alkylsulfonyl ; R b is a heterocyclic radical selected from the group: thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl , isoxazol-5-yl, 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl, 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-4-yl and 4, 5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl, it being possible for the nine radicals mentioned to be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by halogen, Cι- 4 -alkyl, Cι- 4 -alkoxy, Cι_ 4 -haloalkyl , Cι- 4 -haloalkoxy or Cι- 4 -alkylthio; R d is hydrogen, halogen or Cι_ 6 -alkyl; R e is Cι_ 6 -alkyl; R f is hydrogen or Cι- 6 -alkyl; f) an enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase inhibitor (EPSP) : glyphosate; g) a glutamine synthetase inhibitor: bilanaphos or glufosi- nate ; h) a dihydropteroate synthase inhibitor (DHP) : asulam; i) a mitosis inhibitor: a dinitroaniline type herbicide: benfluralin, butra- lin, dinitramin, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, isopro- palin, methapropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimetha- lin, prodiamine, profluralin or trifluralin; a phosphoramidate type herbicide: amiprofos-methyl or butamifos; a pyridazine type herbicide: dithiopyr or thiazopyr; propyzamid, tebutam, chlorthal, carbetamide, chlorbu- fam, chlorpropham or propham; a cell division inhibitor: a chloroacetamide type herbicide: acetochlor, alachlor, allidochlor, butachlor, butenachlor, CDEA, delachlor, diethatyl, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, epronaz, etazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, pethoxamid, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlor or xylachlor; an acetamide type herbicide: diphenamid, napropamide or naproanilide; an oxacetamide type herbicide: flufenacet or mefenacet; fentrazamide, anilophos, piperophos, cafenstrole, indanofan or tridiphane; k) a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor: dichlobenil, chlorthiamid, isoxaben or flupoxam; 1) an uncoupling herbicide: dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, DNOC, etinofen or medinoterb; m) an auxin herbicide: clomeprop, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, MCPA, MCPA thioethyl, MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, 2,4,5-T, chloramben, dicamba, 2,3,6-TBA, tricamba, quinchlorac, quinmerac, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, picloram, trichlopyr or benazolin; n) an auxin transport inhibitor: naptalame or diflufenzopyr; o) various other herbicide: a flurene carboxylic acid: chlorflurenol or flurenol; benzoylprop, flamprop, flamprop-M, bromobutide, cinmethylin, cumyluron, daimuron, methyldymron, etobenzanid, fosamin, metam, pyributicarb, oxaziclomefone, dazomet, triaziflam or methylbromid; or their environmentally compatible salts, esters, thioesters and amides . 6. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 5 , wherein said additional herbicidal compound (2) is selected from a) a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor; b) an acetolactate synthase inhibitor; c) a photosynthesis inhibitors; d) a protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitor; i) a mitosis inhibitor; j) a cell division inhibitor; m) an auxine herbicide; o) a flurene carboxylic acid herbicide. 7. A herbicidal composition according to claim 6, wherein said additional herbicidal compound (2) is selected from b) a sulfonyl urea type herbicide or a sulfonamide type herbicide; c) an urea-type herbicide, a triazine type herbicide, a nitrile type herbicide or a phenyl pyrazine type herbicide; i) a dinitroaniline type herbicide, j) an oxyacetamide herbicide herbicide. 8. A herbicidal composition according to claim 6, wherein said additional herbicidal compound (2) is selected from a) fenoxaprop, and clodinafop b) amidosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, florasulam and metosulam; c) atrazine, cyanazine, simazine, chlorotoluron, isoproturon, linuron, neburon, bromoxynil, ioxynil and pyridate; d) cinidon-ethyl , carfentrazone and JV 485; i) pendimethalin; j) flufenacet; m) dichlorprop, MCPA, mecoprop and fluroxypyr; o) flurenol; 9. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 8, wherein said safening compound (3) is selected from benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyometrinil, dichlormid, dicyclon, dietholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxdifen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride, oxabe- nil and R 29148. 10. A herbicidal composition according to claim 9, wherein said safening compound (3) is selected from benoxacor, cloquinto- cet, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxdifen, mefenpyr and oxabenil. 11. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 8 wherein the active ingredients are selected from said 2-phe- nyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines of formula I (1) and said herbicidal compounds (2) . 12. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 or 9 to 10 wherein the active ingredients are selected from said 2-phe- nyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines of formula I (1) and said safening compounds (3) . 13. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 10, wherein the active ingredients are selected from said 2-phe- nyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidines of formula I (1), said herbicidal compounds (2) and said safening compounds (3) . 14. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1 to 11 or 13, wherein the ratio (by weight) of the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) - aryloxypyrimidine of formula I to the additional herbicidal compound (2) is from 1:0.002 to 1:800. 15. A herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ratio (by weight) of the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimi- dine of formula I to the additional herbicidal compound (2) is from 1:0.05 to 1:500. 16. A herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ratio (by weight) of the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidine of formula I to the additional herbicidal compound (2) is from 1:1 to 1:100. 5 17. A herbicidal composition as claimed in claims 1 to 10 or 12 to 13, wherein the ratio (by weight) of the 2-phenyl-4- (hetero-) aryloxypyrimidine of formula I to the additional safening compound (3) is from 1:0.002 to 1:800. 10 18. A herbicidal mixture comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicidal composition as claimed in claims 1 to 17 and one or more carriers . 15 19. A method of controlling the growth of weeds at a locus which comprises applying to the locus a herbicidal composition as claimed in claims 1 to 17 or a herbicidal mixture as claimed in claim 18 before, during and/or after the emergence of un- desired plants, it being possible for the active components 20 to be applied simultaneously or in succession. 20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said compounds are applied together in a single formulation. 25 21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said compounds are applied in separate formulations. 22. A method for controlling the growth of weeds in cereal crops which comprises applying thereto an effective amount of a 30 composition according to claims 1 to 17. 23. A method of combating Alopecurus myosuroides , Apera spica- venti, Lolium perenne, Sebaria viridis, Galium aparine, Lamium purpureum, Matricaria inodora, Papaver rhoeas, Stellaria 35 media and/or Veronica persica at a locus which comprises applying to the locus a herbicidally effective amount of a composition described in claims 1 to 17. 40 45

Inventors: BALTRUSCHAT HELMUT SIEGFRIED, BRANDT ASTRID, BALTRUSCHAT, HELMUT, SIEGFRIED, BRANDT, ASTRID
Applicants: BASF AG, BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01N43
IPC codes: A01N43