Patent ID: 8034744

Claim:
A method for increasing the efficiency and efficacy of phosphonic compounds in controlling cotton plant defoliation and boll opening, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a concentrate composition consisting essentially of a mixture of (i) 1% to 40% phosphoric acid; (ii) 10% to 20% of one or more phosphonic compounds, wherein said phosphonic compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid and salts of (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid; and (iii) one or more surface active agent selected from the group consisting of calcium lignin sulfonate, polyoxyethyleneoctylphenol ether, naphthalene sulfonic acids, naphthalene sulfonic acid salts, fatty alcohol sulfates, substituted benzenesulfonic acids, and substituted benzenesulfonic acid salts; wherein the phosphoric acid is present in sufficient amount to buffer a diluted application solution of said concentrate composition to a pH between 2 and 4; (b) mixing said concentrate composition of step (a) with water to form an application solution, wherein the application solution has a buffered pH between 2 and 4; and (c) applying said application solution formed in step (b) to a cotton plant in an amount effective to increase the efficiency and efficacy of the one or more phosphonic compounds in controlling cotton plant defoliation and boll opening.