Abstract:
Many herbicidal compositions have been developed and are presently used. However, weeds to be controlled are various in types and their emergence extends over a long period. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a herbicidal composition which has a broad herbicidal spectrum, a high activity and a long lasting effect. The present invention provides a herbicidal composition comprising, as active ingredients, (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and (b) amicarbazone or its salt.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition comprising (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and (b) amicarbazone or its salt. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Patent Document 1 discloses a solid herbicidal composition comprising flazasulfuron or its salt, and a certain surfactant. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a composition comprising amicarbazone and a herbicidal compound. However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose or suggest nothing about the specific combination of the herbicidal composition of the present invention, not to mention the synergistic effect obtainable by such a combination. 
       PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
       [0003]    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2007-262052 
         [0004]    Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,873 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0005]    Many herbicidal compositions have been developed and are presently used, but they may not necessarily be sufficient to control noxious plants including weeds to be controlled. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a highly active herbicidal composition. 
         [0006]    Weeds to be controlled are many in types and their emergency extends over a long period, and therefore, it is desired to develop a herbicidal composition having a broader herbicidal spectrum and a long-lasting effect. Further, recently, with a view to reducing an environmental load on a place where a herbicidal agent is applied or a peripheral area thereof, it is desired to develop a technique of reducing the dose of the active ingredient. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0007]    The present inventors have conducted a research to solve the above problem, etc., and as a result, have found a practically highly useful herbicidal composition. That is, the present invention provides a highly active herbicidal composition comprising, as active ingredients, (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and (b) amicarbazone or its salt. Further, the present invention provides a method for controlling noxious plants, which comprises applying a herbicidally effective amount of a herbicidal composition comprising, as active ingredients, (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and (b) amicarbazone or its salt, to the noxious plants or to a place where they grow. Further, the present invention provides a method for controlling noxious plants, which comprises applying a herbicidally effective amount of (a) flazasulfuron or its salt, and a herbicidally effective amount of (b) amicarbazone or its salt, to the noxious plants or to a place where they grow. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0008]    According to the present invention, it is possible to present a highly active herbicidal composition. 
         [0009]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention is capable of controlling a wide range of noxious plants emerging in agricultural fields or non-agricultural fields. It surprisingly presents a synergistic herbicidal effect i.e. a herbicidal effect higher than the mere addition of the respective herbicidal effects of the active ingredients. Such a herbicidal composition of the present invention can be applied at a low dose as compared with a case where the respective active ingredients are applied individually. Thus, it is effective to reduce the environmental load on an area where the composition is applied or a surrounding area thereof. 
         [0010]    When the herbicidal activity in a case where two active ingredients are combined, is larger than the simple sum of the respective herbicidal activities of the two active ingredients (the expected activity), it is called a synergistic effect. The activity expected by the combination of two active ingredients can be calculated as follows (Colby S. R., “Weed”, vol. 15, p. 20-22, 1967). 
         [0000]        E =α+β−(α×β÷100)
 
         [0000]    where α: growth inhibition rate when treated with x (g/ha) of herbicide X, 
         [0011]    β: growth inhibition rate when treated with y (g/ha) of herbicide Y, 
         [0012]    E: growth inhibition rate expected when treated with x (g/ha) of herbicide X and y (g/ha) of herbicide Y. 
         [0013]    That is, when the actual growth inhibition rate (measured value) is larger than the growth inhibition rate by the above calculation (calculated value), the activity by the combination can be regarded as showing a synergistic effect. The herbicidal composition of the present invention shows a synergistic effect when calculated by the above formula. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    In above (a), flazasulfuron (common name) is 1-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-2-pyridylsulfonyl)urea. 
         [0015]    In above (b), amicarbazone (common name) is 4-amino-N-tertiary butyl-4,5-dihydro-3-isopropyl-5-oxo-1,2,4-1H-triazole-1-carboxamide. 
         [0016]    The salt included in above (a) or (b) may be any salt so long as it is agriculturally acceptable. Examples thereof include alkali metal salts such as a sodium salt and a potassium salt; alkaline earth metal salts such as a magnesium salt and a calcium salt; ammonium salts such as a monomethylammonium salt, a dimethylammonium salt and a triethylammonium salt; inorganic acid salts such as a hydrochloride, a perchlorate, a sulfate and a nitrate, and organic acid salts such as an acetate and a methanesulfonate. 
         [0017]    The mixing ratio of above (a) to (b) cannot generally be defined, as it may vary depending upon various conditions such as the types of compounds to be mixed, the type of the formulation, the weather conditions, and the type and the growth stage of the noxious plants to be controlled, but it is, for example, preferably from 1:2,000 to 5:1, more preferably from 1:500 to 1.5:1, particularly preferably from 1:250 to 1.5:1 by the weight ratio of (a):(b). 
         [0018]    The herbicidally effective amounts of above (a) and (b) in the present invention cannot generally be defined, as they may vary depending upon the various conditions such as the mixing ratio of (a) to (b), the type of the formulation, the weather conditions, and the type and the growth stage of the noxious plants to be controlled. However, for example, (a) is applied in an amount of preferably from 2 to 250 g/ha, more preferably from 5 to 200 g/ha, particularly preferably from 5 to 200 g/ha, and (b) is applied in an amount of preferably from 50 to 4,000 g/ha, more preferably from 150 to 2,500 g/ha, particularly preferably from 150 to 1,250 g/ha. 
         [0019]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention may be applied to noxious plants or may be applied to a place where they grow. Further, it may be applied at any time either before or after the emergence of the noxious plants. Further, the herbicidal composition of the present invention may take various application forms such as soil application, foliar application, irrigation application, and submerged application, and it can be applied to agricultural fields such as upland fields, orchards and paddy fields, and non-cropland such as ridges of fields, fallow fields, play grounds, golf courses, vacant lands, forests, factory sites, railway sides and roadsides. 
         [0020]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention can control a broad range of noxious plants such as annual weeds and perennial weeds. The noxious plants to be controlled by the herbicidal composition of the present invention may, for example, be cyperaceae such as green  kyllinga  ( Kyllinga brevifolia  Rottb.), or sedge ( Cyperus  spp.) [the sedge may, for example, be purple nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus  L.), smallflower umbrella sedge ( Cyperus difformis  L.), yellow nutsedge ( Cyperus esculentus  L.) or amur cyperus ( Cyperus microiria  Steud.)]; gramineae such as barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa crus-galli  L.,  Echinochloa oryzicola  vasing.), crabgrass ( Digitaria  spp.) [the crabgrass may, for example, be summergrass ( Digitaria ciliaris  (Retz.) Koel), large crabgrass ( Digitaria sanquinalis  L.), violet crabgrass ( Digitaria violascens  Link) or  Digitaria horizontalis  Willd.], green foxtail ( Setaria viridis  L.), goosegrass ( Eleusine indica  L.), johnsongrass ( Sorghum halepense  (L.) Pers.), annual bluegrass ( Poa annua  L.), panic grass ( Panicum  spp.) [the panic grass may, for example, be guinea grass ( Panicum maximum  Jacq.), or fall panicum ( Panicum dichotomiflorum  (L.) Michx.)], signal grass ( Brachiaria  spp.) [the signal grass may, for example, be plantain signal grass ( Brachiaria plantaginea  (LINK) Hitchc.), palisade signal grass ( Brachiaria decumbens  Stapf), or mauritius signal grass ( Brachiaria mutica  (Forssk.) Stapf)], paspalum ( Paspalum  spp.), or itchgrass ( Rottboellia cochinchinensis  (LOUR.) W.D.CLAYTON); scrophulariaceae such as persian speedwell ( Veronica persica  Poir.), or corn speedwell ( Veronica arvensis  L.); compositae such as beggar ticks ( Bidens  spp.) [the beggar ticks may, for example, be hairy beggarticks ( Bidens pilosa  L.), devils berggarticks ( Bidens frondosa  L.),  Bidens biternata  (Lour.) Merr. et Sherff), or beggarticks ( Bidens subalternans  DC.)], hairy fleabane ( Conyza bonariensis  (L) Cronq.), horseweed ( Erigeron canadensis  L.), dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale  Weber), or common cocklebur ( Xanthium strumarium  L.); leguminosae such as white clover ( Trifolium repens  L.); caryophyllaceae such as sticky chickweed ( Cerastium glomeratum  Thuill.), or common chickweed ( Stellaria media  L.); euphorbiaceae such as garden spurge ( Euphorbia hirta  L.), threeseeded copperleaf ( Acalypha australis  L.), or fireplant ( Euphorbia heterophylla  L.); plantaginaceae such as asiatic plantain ( Plantago asiatica  L.); oxalidaceae such as creeping woodsorrel ( Oxalis comiculata  L.); apiaceae such as lawn pennywort ( Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides  Lam.); violaceae such as violet ( Viola mandshurica  W. Becker); iridaceae such as blue-eyedgrass ( Sisyrinchium rosulatum  Bicknell); geraniaceae such as carolina geranium ( Geranium carolinianum  L.); labiatae such as purple deadnettle ( Lamium purpureum  L.), or henbit ( Lamium amplexicaule  L.); malvaceae such as velvetleaf ( Abutilon theophrasti  MEDIC.), or prickly sida ( Sida spinosa  L.); convolvulaceae such as common morningglory ( Ipomoea purpurea  ROTH), cypressvine morningglory ( Ipomoea quamoclit  L.), Ipomoea grandifolia (DAMMERMANN) O&#39;DONNELL, hairy merremia ( Merremia aegyptia  (L.) URBAN), or field Bindweed ( Convolvulus arvensis  L.); chenopodiaceae such as common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album  L.); portulacaceae such as common purslane ( Portulaca oleracea  L.); amaranthaceae such as pigweed ( Amaranthus  spp.) [the pigweed may, for example, be prostrate pigweed ( Amaranthus blitoides  S. Wats.), livid amaranth ( Amaranthus lividus  L.), purple amaranth ( Amaranthus blitum  L.), smooth pigweed ( Amaranthus hybridus  L.),  Amaranthus patulus  Bertol., powell amaranth ( Amaranthus powellii  S.Wats.), slender amaranth ( Amaranthus viridis  L.), palmer amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri S .Wats.), redroot pigweed ( Amaranthus retroflexus  L.), tall waterhemp ( Amaranthus tuberculatus  (Moq.) Sauer.), common waterhemp ( Amaranthus tamariscinus  Nutt.), thorny amaranth ( Amaranthus spinosus  L.), ataco ( Amaranthus guitensis  Kunth.), or  Amaranthus rudis  Sauer]; solanaceae such as black nightshade ( Solanum nigrum  L.); polygonaceeae such as spotted knotweed (P olygonum lapathifolium  L.), or green smartweed ( Polygonum scabrum  MOENCH); cruciferae such as flexuous bittercress ( Cardamine flexuosa  WITH.); cucurbitaceae such as burcucumber ( Sicyos anqulatus  L.); or  commelinaceae  such as common dayflower ( Commelina communis  L.). 
         [0021]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention is effectively used to selectively control noxious weeds in cultivation of various transformed plants. Examples of the transformed plants include pest-resistant transformed plants, phytopathogen-resistant transformed plants, transformed plants regarding plant components, and herbicide-tolerant transformed plants. 
         [0022]    Further, in the present invention, when above (a) and (b) are used in combination, it is expected that good residual activity is obtainable. 
         [0023]    Further, the herbicidal composition of the present invention exhibits an excellent effect to control weeds having sensitivity to various herbicides lowered, for example, weeds having sensitivity to a sulfonylurea compound such as flazasulfuron lowered. The weeds having such sensitivity lowered may, for example, be green kyllinga, purple nutsedge, johnsongrass, fireplant, beggar ticks (such as hairy beggarticks, beggarticks, or the like) or pigweed (such as prostrate pigweed, livid amaranth, smooth pigweed, powell amaranth, slender amaranth, palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, tall waterhemp, common waterhemp, ataco,  Amaranthus rudis  Sauer, or the like). 
         [0024]    Further, the herbicidal composition of the present invention is very useful in a practical application, since it is capable of controlling, for example, strongly noxious weeds in sugarcane fields, such as convolvulaceae (such as common morningglory, cypressvine morningglory,  Ipomoea grandifolia  (DAMMERMANN) O&#39;DONNELL, hairy merremia, field Bindweed, or the like), cyperaceae (such as purple nutsedge, yellow nutsedge, or the like) or gramineae (such as crabgrass, panic grass, signal grass, johnsongrass, or the like). Here, the crabgrass is specifically summergrass, large crabgrass, violet crabgrass,  Digitaria horizontalis  Willd., or the like; the panic grass is specifically guinea grass, fall panicum, or the like; and the signal grass is specifically plantain signal grass, palisade signal grass, mauritius signal grass, or the like. 
         [0025]    Further, as one of cultivation manners for crop plants, different crop plants may be cultivated in the same field by differentiating timing for their cultivation. For example, in the same field where corn was cultivated last year, sugarcane may be cultivated this year, and in such a case, the previous crop plant such as the corn may be an object to be controlled as a noxious plant. Further, along with spread of genetically modified crop plants or increase of cultivation fields, there may be a case where at the time of repeated cultivation, rotational cropping or change in cropping, the previous crop plant grown as weeds (volunteer crop plant) becomes an object to be controlled as a noxious plant. Even in such a situation, the herbicidal composition of the present invention is capable of controlling the noxious plant to be controlled and thus is very useful in such a practical application. 
         [0026]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention may further contain other herbicidal compounds in addition to the above-described active ingredients so long as such will meet the object of the present invention, and there may be a case where it is thereby possible to improve e.g. the range of weeds to be controlled, the timing for application of the herbicidal composition, the herbicidal activities, etc. to more desirable directions. Such other herbicidal compounds include, for example, the following compounds (common names including ones under application for approval by ISO, or test codes, here, “under application for approval by ISO” means common names before approval by ISO (International Organization for Standardization)), and one or more of them may suitably be selected for use. Even when not specifically mentioned here, in a case where such compounds have salts, alkyl esters, hydrates, different crystal forms, various structural isomers, etc., they are, of course, all included. 
         [0027]    Further, in consideration of the application site of the herbicidal composition or the type or growth state of the noxious plants, the herbicidal composition of the present invention may be mixed with or may be used in combination with fungicides, antibiotics, plant hormones, insecticides, fertilizers, phytotoxicity-reducing agents, etc., whereby more excellent effects and activities may sometimes be obtained. 
         [0028]    (1) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by disturbing hormone activities of plants, such as a phenoxy type such as 2,4-D, 2,4-D-butotyl, 2,4-D-butyl, 2,4-D-dimethylammonium, 2,4-D-diolamine, 2,4-D-ethyl, 2,4-D-2-ethylhexyl, 2,4-D-isobutyl, 2,4-D-isoctyl, 2,4-D-isopropyl, 2,4-D-isopropylammonium, 2,4-D-sodium, 2,4-D-isopropanolammonium, 2,4-D-trolamine, 2,4-DB, 2,4-DB-butyl, 2,4-DB-dimethylammonium, 2,4-DB-isoctyl, 2,4-DB-potassium, 2,4-DB-sodium, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-butotyl, dichlorprop-dimethylammonium, dichlorprop-isoctyl, dichlorprop-potassium, dichlorprop-P, dichlorprop-P-dimethylammonium, dichlorprop-P-potassium, dichlorprop-P-sodium, MCPA, MCPA-butotyl, MCPA-dimethylammonium, MCPA-2-ethylhexyl, MCPA-potassium, MCPA-sodium, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB, MCPB-ethyl, MCPB-sodium, mecoprop, mecoprop-butotyl, mecoprop-sodium, mecoprop-P, mecoprop-P-butotyl, mecoprop-P-dimethylammonium, mecoprop-P-2-ethylhexyl, mecoprop-P-potassium, naproanilide or clomeprop; an aromatic carboxylic acid type such as 2,3,6-TBA, dicamba, dicamba-butotyl, dicamba-diglycolamine, dicamba-dimethylammonium, dicamba-diolamine, dicamba-isopropylammonium, dicamba-potassium, dicamba-sodium, dichlobenil, picloram, picloram-dimethylammonium, picloram-isoctyl, picloram-potassium, picloram-triisopropanolammonium, picloram-triisopropylammonium, picloram-trolamine, triclopyr, triclopyr-butotyl, triclopyr-triethylammonium, clopyralid, clopyralid-olamine, clopyralid-potassium, clopyralid-triisopropanolammonium or aminopyralid; and others such as naptalam, naptalam-sodium, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, quinclorac, quinmerac, diflufenzopyr, diflufenzopyr-sodium, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-2-butoxy-1-methylethyl, fluroxypyr-meptyl, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminocyclopyrachlor-methyl or aminocyclopyrachlor-potassium. 
         [0029]    (2) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by inhibiting photosynthesis of plants, such as a urea type such as chlorotoluron, diuron, fluometuron, linuron, isoproturon, metobenzuron, tebuthiuron, dimefuron, isouron, karbutilate, methabenzthiazuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, neburon, siduron, terbumeton, trietazine or metobromuron; a triazine type such as simazine, atrazine, atratone, simetryn, prometryn, dimethametryn, hexazinone, metribuzin, terbuthylazine, cyanazine, ametryn, cybutryne, triaziflam, indaziflam, terbutryn, propazine, metamitron or prometon; a uracil type such as bromacil, bromacyl-lithium, lenacil or terbacil; an anilide type such as propanil or cypromid; a carbamate type such as swep, desmedipham or phenmedipham; a hydroxybenzonitrile type such as bromoxynil, bromoxynil-octanoate, bromoxynil-heptanoate, ioxynil, ioxynil-octanoate, ioxynil-potassium or ioxynil-sodium; and others such as pyridate, bentazone, bentazone-sodium, methazole or pentanochlor. 
         [0030]    (3) Quaternary ammonium salt type such as paraquat or diquat, which is believed to be converted to free radicals by itself to form active oxygen in the plant body and shows rapid herbicidal efficacy. 
         [0031]    (4) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by inhibiting chlorophyll biosynthesis of plants and abnormally accumulating a photosensitizing peroxide substance in the plant body, such as a diphenylether type such as nitrofen, chlomethoxyfen, bifenox, acifluorfen, acifluorfen-sodium, fomesafen, fomesafen-sodium, oxyfluorfen, lactofen, aclonifen, ethoxyfen-ethyl (HC-252), fluoroglycofen-ethyl or fluoroglycofen; a cyclic imide type such as chlorphthalim, flumioxazin, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, cinidon-ethyl, fluthiacet or fluthiacet-methyl; and others such as oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, sulfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, thidiazimin, pentoxazone, azafenidin, isopropazole, pyraflufen-ethyl, benzfendizone, butafenacil, saflufenacil, flupoxam, fluazolate, profluazol, pyraclonil, flufenpyr-ethyl, bencarbazone, ethyl [3-(2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-trifluoromethyl-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyrimidin-1-yl)phenoxy)pyridin-2-yloxy]acetate (SYN-523). 
         [0032]    (5) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects characterized by bleaching activities by inhibiting chromogenesis of plants such as carotenoids, such as a pyridazinone type such as norflurazon, chloridazon or metfiurazon; a pyrazole type such as pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzofenap, topramezone or pyrasulfotole; and others such as amitrole, fluridone, flurtamone, diflufenican, methoxyphenone, clomazone, sulcotrione, mesotrione, tembotrione, tefuryltrione (AVH-301), bicyclopyrone, isoxaflutole, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-metilsulfate, isoxachlortole, benzobicyclon, picolinafen or beflubutamid. 
         [0033]    (6) Those which exhibit strong herbicidal effects specifically to gramineous plants, such as an aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid type such as diclofop-methyl, diclofop, pyriphenop-sodium, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-etotyl, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-P-methyl, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, cyhalofop-butyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, metamifop-propyl, metamifop, clodinafop-propargyl, clodinafop or propaquizafop; a cyclohexanedione type such as alloxydim-sodium, alloxydim, clethodim, sethoxydim, tralkoxydim, butroxydim, tepraloxydim, profoxydim or cycloxydim; and others such as flamprop-M-methyl, flamprop-M or flamprop-M-isopropyl. 
         [0034]    (7) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by inhibiting an amino acid biosynthesis of plants, such as a sulfonylurea type such as chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorimuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfometuron, primisulfuron-methyl, primisulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, bensulfuron, chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, metsulfuron, cinosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazosulfuron, azimsulfuron, rimsulfuron, nicosulfuron, imazosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, prosulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, flupyrsulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, triflusulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, oxasulfuron, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, sulfosulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, tribenuron, tritosulfuron, foramsulfuron, trifloxysulfuron, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, mesosulfuron-methyl, mesosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, flucetosulfuron, amidosulfuron, propyrisulfuron (TH-547), metazosulfuron, or a compound disclosed in the claim of WO2005092104; a triazolopyrimidinesulfonamide type such as flumetsulam, metosulam, diclosulam, cloransulam-methyl, florasulam, penoxsulam or pyroxsulam; an imidazolinone type such as imazapyr, imazapyr-isopropylammonium, imazethapyr, imazethapyr-ammonium, imazaquin, imazaquin-ammonium, imazamox, imazamox-ammonium, imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl or imazapic; a pyrimidinylsalicylic acid type such as pyrithiobac-sodium, bispyribac-sodium, pyriminobac-methyl, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid or pyrimisulfan; a sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone type such as flucarbazone, flucarbazone-sodium, propoxycarbazone-sodium, propoxycarbazone or thiencarbazone; and others such as glyphosate, glyphosate-sodium, glyphosate-potassium, glyphosate-ammonium, glyphosate-diammonium, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, glyphosate-trimesium, glyphosate-sesquisodium, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, bilanafos, bilanafos-sodium or cinmethylin. 
         [0035]    (8) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by inhibiting cell mitoses of plants, such as a dinitroaniline type such as trifluralin, oryzalin, nitralin, pendimethalin, ethalfluralin, benfluralin, prodiamine, butralin or dinitramine; an amide type such as bensulide, napropamide, propyzamide or pronamide; an organic phosphorus type such as amiprofos-methyl, butamifos, anilofos or piperophos; a phenyl carbamate type such as propham, chiorpropham, barban or carbetamide; a cumylamine type such as daimuron, cumyluron, bromobutide or methyldymron; and others such as asulam, asulam-sodium, dithiopyr, thiazopyr, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlorthal or diphenamid. 
         [0036]    (9) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by inhibiting protein biosynthesis or lipid biosynthesis of plants, such as a chloroacetamide type such as alachlor, metazachlor, butachlor, pretilachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, thenylchlor, pethoxamid, acetochlor, propachior, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, propisochlor or dimethachlor; a thiocarbamate type such as molinate, dimepiperate, pyributicarb, EPTC, butylate, vernolate, pebulate, cycloate, prosulfocarb, esprocarb, thiobencarb, diallate, tri-allate or orbencarb; and others such as etobenzanid, mefenacet, flufenacet, tridiphane, cafenstrole, fentrazamide, oxaziclomefone, indanofan, benfuresate, pyroxasulfone, fenoxasulfone, dalapon, dalapon-sodium, TCA-sodium or trichloroacetic acid. 
         [0037]    (10) MSMA, DSMA, CMA, endothall, endothall-dipotassium, endothall-sodium, endothall-mono(N,N-dimethylalkylammonium), ethofumesate, sodium chlorate, pelargonic acid (nonanoic acid), fosamine, fosamine-ammonium, pinoxaden, ipfencarbazone (HOK-201), aclolein, ammonium sulfamate, borax, chloroacetic acid, sodium chloroacete, cyanamide, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, sodium dimethylarsinate, dinoterb, dinoterb-ammonium, dinoterb-diolamine, dinoterb-acetate, DNOC, ferrous sulfate, flupropanate, flupropanate-sodium, isoxaben, mefluidide, mefluidide-diolamine, metam, metam-ammonium, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, methyl isothiocyanate, pentachlorophenol, sodium pentachlorophenoxide, pentachlorophenol laurate, quinoclamine, sulfuric acid, urea sulfate,methiozolin (MRC-01), etc. 
         [0038]    (11) Those which are believed to exhibit herbicidal effects by being parasitic on plants, such as  Xanthomonas campestris, Epicoccosirus nematosorus, Epicoccosirus nematosperus, Exserohilum monoseras  or  Drechsrela monoceras.    
         [0039]    The herbicidal composition of the present invention may be prepared by mixing (a) and (b), as active ingredients, with various agricultural additives in accordance with conventional formulation methods for agricultural chemicals, and applied in various formulations such as dusts, granules, water dispersible granules, wettable powders, tablets, pills, capsules (including a formulation packaged by a water soluble film), water-based suspensions, oil-based suspensions, microemulsions, suspoemulsions, water soluble powders, emulsifiable concentrates, soluble concentrates or pastes. It may be formed into any formulation which is commonly used in this field, so long as the object of the present invention is thereby met. 
         [0040]    At the time of the formulation, (a) and (b) may be mixed together for the formulation, or they may be separately formulated. 
         [0041]    The additives to be used for the formulation include, for example, a solid carrier such as kaolinite, sericite, diatomaceous earth, slaked lime, calcium carbonate, talc, white carbon, kaoline, bentonite, clay, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, mirabilite, zeolite or starch; a solvent such as water, toluene, xylene, solvent naphtha, dioxane, dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or an alcohol; an anionic surfactant such as a salt of fatty acid, a benzoate, a polycarboxylate, a salt of alkylsulfuric acid ester, an alkyl sulfate, an alkylaryl sulfate, an alkyl diglycol ether sulfate, a salt of alcohol sulfuric acid ester, an alkyl sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, an aryl sulfonate, a lignin sulfonate, an alkyldiphenylether disulfonate, a polystyrene sulfonate, a salt of alkylphosphoric acid ester, an alkylaryl phosphate, a styrylaryl phosphate, a salt of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid ester, a polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether sulfate, a salt of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether sulfuric acid ester, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate, a salt of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl phosphoric acid ester, a salt of polyoxyethylene aryl ether phosphoric acid ester, a naphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde or a salt of alkylnaphthalene sulfonic acid condensed with formaldehyde; a nonionic surfactant such as a sorbitan fatty acid ester, a glycerin fatty acid ester, a fatty acid polyglyceride, a fatty acid alcohol polyglycol ether, acetylene glycol, acetylene alcohol, an oxyalkylene block polymer, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, a polyoxyethylene styrylaryl ether, a polyoxyethylene glycol alkyl ether, polyethylene glycol, a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, a polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil or a polyoxypropylene fatty acid ester; and a vegetable oil or mineral oil such as olive oil, kapok oil, castor oil, palm oil, camellia oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, corn oil, rice bran oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, linseed oil, tung oil or liquid paraffins. These additives may suitably be selected for use alone or in combination as a mixture of two or more of them, so long as the object of the present invention is met. Further, additives other than the above-mentioned may be suitably selected for use among those known in this field. For example, various additives commonly used, such as a filler, a thickener, an anti-settling agent, an anti-freezing agent, a dispersion stabilizer, a safener, an anti-mold agent, a bubble agent, a disintegrator and a binder, may be used. The mix ratio by weight of the active ingredient to such various additives may be from 0.001:99.999 to 95:5, preferably from 0.005:99.995 to 90:10. 
         [0042]    As a method of applying the herbicidal composition of the present invention, a proper method can be employed among various methods depending upon various conditions such as the application site, the type of the formulation, and the type and the growth stage of the noxious plants to be controlled, and for example, the following methods may be mentioned. 
         [0043]    1. (a) and (b) are formulated together, and the formulation is applied as it is. 
         [0044]    2. (a) and (b) are formulated together, the formulation is diluted to a predetermined concentration with e.g. water, and as the case requires, a spreader (such as a surfactant, a vegetable oil or a mineral oil) is added for application. 
         [0045]    3. (a) and (b) are separately formulated and applied as they are. 
         [0046]    4. (a) and (b) are separately formulated, and they are diluted to a predetermined concentration with e.g. water, and as the case requires, a spreader (such as a surfactant, a vegetable oil or a mineral oil) is added for application. 
         [0047]    5. (a) and (b) are separately formulated, and the formulations are mixed when diluted to a predetermined concentration with e.g. water, and as the case requires, a spreader (such as a surfactant, a vegetable oil or a mineral oil) is added for application. 
       EXAMPLES 
       [0048]    Now, the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to Examples. However, it should be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted to such specific Examples. 
       Test Example 1 
       [0049]    Upland field soil was put into a 1/1,000,000 hectare pot, and seeds of goosegrass ( Eleusine indica  (L.) Gaertn.) were sown. One day later, water dispersible granules containing flazasulfuron as an active ingredient (tradename: SHIBAGEN DF, manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.) and water dispersible granules containing amicarbazone as an active ingredient (tradename: Dinamic, manufactured by Arysta LifeScience) in predetermined amounts were diluted with water in an amount corresponding to 200 L/ha and applied for soil treatment by a small sprayer. 
         [0050]    On the 14 days after the treatment, the state of growth of goosegrass was visually observed to determine the growth inhibition rate (%) (measured value) in accordance with the following evaluation standard. Further, in accordance with the Colby&#39;s formula, the growth inhibition rate (%) (calculated value) was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1. 
         [0051]    Growth inhibition rate (%)=0 (equivalent to the non-treated area) to 100 (complete kill) 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Growth inhibition rate (%) of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 goosegrass 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Dose 
                 Measured 
                 Calculated 
               
               
                 Active ingredient 
                 (g/ha) 
                 value 
                 value 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Flazasulfuron 
                 37.5 
                 53 
                 — 
               
               
                 Amicarbazone 
                 1050 
                 68 
                 — 
               
               
                 Flazasulfuron + 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Amicarbazone 
                 37.5 + 1050 
                 94 
                 85 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Test Example 2 
       [0052]    Upland field soil was put into a 1/1,000,000 ha pot, and seeds of bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon  (L.) Pers.) were sown. When bermuda grass reached from 4.0 to 4.5 leaf stage, water dispersible granules containing flazasulfuron as an active ingredient (tradename: SHIBAGEN DF) and water dispersible granules containing amicarbazone as an active ingredient (tradename: Dinamic) in predetermined amounts were diluted with water (corresponding to 300 L/ha) containing 0.25 vol % of an agricultural adjuvant (tradename: Agral, manufactured by Syngenta crop protection) and applied for foliar treatment by a small sprayer. 
         [0053]    On the 21 days after the treatment, the state of growth of bermuda grass was visually observed, and the growth inhibition rate (%) obtained in the same manner as in Test Example 1 is shown in Table 2. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Growth inhibition rate (%) of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 bermuda grass 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Dose 
                 Measured 
                 Calculated 
               
               
                   
                 Active ingredient 
                 (g/ha) 
                 value 
                 value 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron 
                 200 
                 15 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 150 
                 0 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron + 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 200 + 150 
                 73 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Test Example 3 
       [0054]    Upland field soil was put into a 1/1,000,000 ha pot, and tubers of green kyllinga ( Cyperus brevifolius  var. leiolepis) were planted. When green kyllinga reached from 6.0 to 7.0 cm, water dispersible granules containing flazasulfuron as an active ingredient (tradename: SHIBAGEN DF) and water dispersible granules containing amicarbazone as an active ingredient (tradename: Dinamic) in predetermined amounts were diluted with water (corresponding to 200 Uha) containing 0.025 vol % of an agricultural adjuvant (tradename: Agral) and applied for foliar treatment by a small sprayer. 
         [0055]    On the 28 days after the treatment, the state of growth of green kyllinga was visually observed, and the growth inhibition rate (%) obtained in the same manner as in Test Example 1 is shown in Table 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Growth inhibition rate (%) of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 green kyllinga 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Dose 
                 Measured 
                 Calculated 
               
               
                   
                 Active ingredient 
                 (g/ha) 
                 value 
                 value 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron 
                 5 
                 0 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 1250 
                 69 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron + 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 5 + 1250 
                 83 
                 69 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Test Example 4 (Test Assumed to Control Crop Plant Which Became Weeds) 
       [0056]    Upland field soil was put into a 1/1,000,000 ha pot, and seeds of corn ( Zea mays  L.) were sown. One day later, water dispersible granules containing flazasulfuron as an active ingredient (tradename: SHIBAGEN DF) and water dispersible granules containing amicarbazone as an active ingredient (tradename: Dinamic) in predetermined amounts were diluted with water (corresponding to 200 Uha) and applied for soil treatment by a small sprayer. 
         [0057]    On the 28 days after the treatment, the state of growth of corn was visually observed, and the growth inhibition rate (%) obtained in the same manner as in Test Example 1 is shown in Table 4. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Growth inhibition rate (%) of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 corn 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Dose 
                 Measured 
                 Calculated 
               
               
                   
                 Active ingredient 
                 (g/ha) 
                 value 
                 value 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron 
                 5 
                 40 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 2500 
                 87 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Flazasulfuron + 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Amicarbazone 
                 5 + 2500 
                 98 
                 92 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a herbicidal composition which has a broad herbicidal spectrum and also has a high activity. 
       [0058]    The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-009403 filed on Jan. 20, 2011 including specification, claims and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.