Herbicidal composition

Abstract

There is disclosed a herbicidal composition comprising as active ingredients a herbicidally effective amount of (a) an iminothiazoline compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is halogen, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkyl, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkoxy or halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkylthio; R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -c.sub.2 alkyl, chroline, bromine or iodine; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, all of which are optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy; R.sup.4 is hydrogen or halogen; and (b) at least one of herbicidal triazine compounds, herbicidal uracil compounds, herbicidal urea compounds, herbicidal dinitro aniline compounds, norflurazon, dimethazon, imazaquin and imazethapyr. Also disclosed is a method for controlling undesired weeds by use of the herbicidal composition.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a herbicidal composition. More particularly, it relates to a herbicidal composition comprising an iminothiazoline compound and at least one of particular herbicidal compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A great number of chemical substances having a herbicidal activity have been used for herbicidal agents to exterminate or control the vegetation of undesired weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural fields. However, there are many kinds of weeds and their growth extends over a long period of time, so that most of the conventional herbicidal agents have an effect only on the specific kinds of weeds. Accordingly, there is a great demand on herbicidal agents capable of exerting a strong herbicidal activity against a wide variety of weeds without any material phytotoxicity to crop plants.

By the way, no-till cultivation has recently been developed for saving labor work, extending a cultivation period and preventing loss in weight of soil. For this reason, there also is a great demand on herbicidal agents capable of exerting a distinct herbicidal activity in foliar treatment, maintaining a prolonged herbicidal efficacy in soil treatment and showing a prominent selectivity between crop plants and weeds.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have intensively studied herbicidal agents and found that a highly enhanced herbicidal activity against a wide variety of weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural fields can be attained by the combined use of particular herbicidal compounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a herbicidal composition comprising as active ingredients a herbicidally effective amount of (a) an iminothiazoline compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is halogen, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkyl, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkoxy or halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkylthio; R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C2 alkyl, chroline, bromine or iodine; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, all of which are optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy; R.sup.4 is hydrogen or halogen (hereinafter referred to as compound (I)); and (b) at least one of herbicidal triazine compounds, herbicidal uracil compounds, herbicidal urea compounds, herbicidal dinitro aniline compounds, norfrurazon, dimetazon, imazaquin and imazetapia (hereinafter referred to as compound (II)).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The herbicidal composition of the present invention is characterized by the combined use of compounds (I) and (II). In comparison with the separate use of each of these compounds, this combined use provides remarkable enhancement of the herbicidal potency, so that they may be used at a smaller dosage. Further, the weed-control spectrum is widely enlarged. Thus, a clear and definite herbicidal effect is observed in the combined use, and the herbicidal composition can be used with high safety for no-till cultivation of crop plants such as cotton, soybean, corn, wheat, barley and rice plant.

The herbicidal composition of the present invention can exterminate or control a variety of weeds, of which examples are broad-leaved weeds such as common puslane (Portulaca oleracea), common chickweed (Stellaria media), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), radish (Raphanus sativus), wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), shepherdspurse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata), sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia), veivetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), prickly sida (Sida spinosa), field pansy (Viola arvensis), catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine), ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea), tall morningglory (Ipomoea purpurea), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), henbit (Lamium amplexicaure), jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), persian speedwell (Veronica persica), common cooklebur (Xanthium pensylvanicum), common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), scentless chamomile (Matricaria perforata) and corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum). Examples of Graminaceous weeds include Japanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), green foxtail (Setaria viridis), yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca), southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris), large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis), annual bluegrass (Poa annua), blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides), oats (Avena sativa), wild oats (Avena fatua), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), quackgrass (Agropyron repens), downy brome (Bromus tectorum), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi), fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum), shattercane ( Sorghum bicooor) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). It should be noted that the herbicidal composition of the present invention have the advantage of exhibiting no material chemical injury to various agricultural crops such as corn, wheat, barley, soybean, cotton and rice plant (particularly, to cotton, soybean, corn, wheat and barley when compound (II) is a triazine compound or urea compound; to cotton or soybean when compound (II) is norfrurazon, dimetazon, imazaquin or imazetapia; and to cotton, rice plants or soybean when compound (II) is a dinitro aniline compound).

The compound (I) can be produced according to the process as described in EP-A-0446802. Examples of compound (II) are described by Imamura et al., "Short Review of Herbicides and PGRs 1991", 188-211, 174, 268, 170, 172, 180-183 and 54-91 (1990), such as atrazine, cyanazine, prometryne, metribuzin, simazine, simetryne, ametryne, metamitron (preferably atrazine, cyanazine, prometryne, metribuzin) as triazine compounds; isoprocil, bromacil, lenacil as an uracil compound; fenuron, monuron, monolinuron, buturon, diuron, linuron, metoxuron, chlorotoluron, isoproturon, fluometuron as urea compounds; trifluralin, benefin, pendimethalin, oryzalin, ethalfluralin, prodiamine as dinitro aniline compounds; norflurazon, dimethazone, imazaquin and imazethapyr.

However, the combined use of compounds (I) and (II) has never been attempted.

Among various kinds of compound (I), preferred are those wherein R.sup.1 is halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkyl, more preferably trifluoromethyl; those wherein R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, more preferably methyl; those wherein R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, more preferably C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl substituted with fluorine, more preferably methyl substituted with fluorine, more preferably difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; and those wherein R.sup.4 is hydrogen or fluorine at the para position, more preferably hydrogen. The proportion of compounds (I) and (II) as the active ingredients in the herbicidal composition of the present invention may vary within a considerable broad range. In general, however, herbicidal triazine compounds as compound (II) can be used in an amount of about 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably of about 0.2 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably of about 0.5 to 30 parts by weight; norflurazon, dimetazon, imazaquin or imazethapyr as compound (II) can be used in an amount of about 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably of about 0.2 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably of about 0.3 to 30 parts by weight; herbicidal uracil compounds as compound (II) can be used in an amount of about 0.5 to 100 parts by weight, preferably of about 0.8 to 30 parts by weight, more preferably of about 1 to 20 parts by weight; herbicidal urea compounds as compound (II) can be used in an amount of about 0.1 to 100 parts by weight, preferably of about 0.5 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably of about 0.8 to 30 parts by weight; herbicidal dinitro aniline compounds as compound (II) can be used in an amount of about 0.5 to 100 parts by weight, preferably of about 0.8 to 50 parts by weight, more preferably of about 1 to 30 parts by weight, all to one part by weight of compound (I).

For the practical usage of the herbicidal composition of the present invention, it is usually formulated with conventional solid or liquid carriers or diluents as well as surface active agents, or other auxiliary agents into conventional formulations such as emulsifiable concentrates, wettable powders, suspensions, flowables, granules and water-dispersible granules.

These formulations contain the active ingredients at a total content of from about 0.5% to 90% by weight, preferably from about 1% to 80% by weight.

Examples of the solid carrier or diluent are fine powders or granules of kaolin clay, attapulgite clay, bentonite, terra alba, pyrophyllite, talc, diatomaceos earth, calcite, walnut shell powders, urea, ammonium sulfate and synthetic hydrous silica. As the liquid carrier or diluent, there may be exemplified aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., xylene, methylnaphthalene), alcohols (e.g., isopropanol, ethylene glycol, ethoxyethanol), ketones (e.g., acetone, cyclohexanone, isophorone), vegetable oil, (e.g., soybean oil, cotton seed oil), dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile and water.

The surface active agent used for emulsification, dispersing or spreading may be of any type, for instance, either anionic or non-ionic. Examples of the surface active agent include alkylsulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, dialkylsulfosuccinates, phosphates of polyoxyethylenealkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters. Examples of the auxiliary agent include ligninsulfonates, sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, gum arabic, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) and PAP (isopropyl acid phosphate).

The herbicidal composition thus formulated in any suitable formulation is useful for pre-emergence or post-emergence control of undesired weeds by soil or foliar treatment. These treatments include application to the soil surface prior to or after planting, incorporation into the soil prior to planting or transplanting, and the like. The foliar treatment may be effected by spraying the herbicidal composition over the top of plants. It may also be applied directly to the weeds if care must be taken to keep the chemical off the crop foliage.

The dosage of the active ingredients may vary depending on the active ingredient species, mixing ratio, formulation used, prevailing weather conditions, prevailing season, mode of application, soil involved, crop and weed species, and the like. Usually, however, the total dosage of the active ingredients is (a) from about 100 to 4000 grams, preferably from 150 to 3000 grams, more preferably from 200 to 2000 grams per hectare, when herbicidal triazine compounds, urea compounds and dinitro aniline compounds are used; (b) from 100 to 20,000 grams, preferably from 150-5000 grams, more preferably 200-2000 grams per hectare, when herbicidal uracil compounds are used; and (c) from 50 to 3000 grams, preferably 100 to 2500 grams, more preferably 150 to 2000 grams per hectare, when norfluazon, dimethazone, imazaquin and imazethapyr are used. The herbicidal composition formulated in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, wettable powder, suspensions, flowable or water-dispersible granules may usually be employed by diluting it with water at a volume of about 100 to 1000 liters per hectare, if necessary, with addition of an auxiliary agent such as a spreading agent. The herbicidal composition formulated in the form of granules may usually be applied as such without dilution.

Examples of the spreading agent include, in addition to the surface active agents as noted above, polyoxyethylene resin acid (ester), ligninsulfonate, abietylenic acid salts, dinaphthylmethandisulfonate and paraffin.

The herbicidal composition of the present invention is useful as a herbicide to be employed for paddy field, crop field, orchards, pasture land, lawns, forests and non-agricultural fields. Furthermore, it may be applied in combination with insecticides, acaricides, nematocides, fungicides, other herbicides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, soil improvers and the like.

The present invention will be explained in more detail by way of Reference Examples, Formulation Examples and Test Examples, to which however the invention is not limited in any way.

Practical embodiments for production of compound (I) are illustrated in the following examples.

REFERENCE PREPARATION EXAMPLE 1

To 2-imino-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-methylthiazoline hydrochloride (7.2 g) in ethyl acetate (100 ml), added were triethylamine (7.4 g) and trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (5.2 g) with stirring at room temperature, and stirring was continued for 3 hours. The residue was washed with water (50 ml) and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure to give a crystalline residue which was recrystallized from isopropanol to afford 2-[(trifluoroacetyl)imino]-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-methylthiazoline (Compound No. 46) (7.5 g). m.p., 128.1.degree. C.

REFERENCE PREPARATION EXAMPLE 2

A mixture of 2-imino-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-methylthiazoline hydrochloride (0.42 g), triethylamine (2.2 g), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (0.8 g) and difluoroacetic acid (0.75 g) in chloroform (10 ml) was refluxed for 8 hours. After cooling, the residue was washed with aqueous hydrochloric acid and aqueous potassium carbonate, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was subjected to column chromatography to give 2-[(difluoroacetyl)imino]-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-methylthiazoline (Compound No. 55) (0.3 g). m.p., 117.9.degree. C.

REFERENCE PREPARATION EXAMPLE 3

A solution of 2-[(ethoxycarbonyl)imino]-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]thiazoline (0.5 g) and N-iodosuccinimide (0.4 g) in chloroform (30 ml) was refluxed for 20 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was washed with an aqueous sodium sulfite solution and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was subjected to column chromatography to give 0.1 g of 2-[(ethoxycarbonyl)imino]-3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-iodothiazoline (Compound No. 38).

In the same manner as above, various kinds of compounds (I) as shown in Table 1 were obtained.

TABLE 1______________________________________ ##STR3##Compound m.p.No. R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 (.degree.C.)______________________________________ 1 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 115.5 2 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 97.1 3 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3 H 136.8 4 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 126.0 5 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 91.8 6 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 O-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 91.1 7 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 ##STR4## H 134.0 8 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 ##STR5## H 155.7 9 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub. 3 H 103.010 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OCH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2 H 101.611 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OCH(CH.sub.3)C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 107.812 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 OCH.sub.3 H 141.413 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2 H 116.314 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 ##STR6## H 132.615 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 H 123.116 OCF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 102.117 OCF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 120.018 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ##STR7## H 111.719 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 O-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 75.720 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 139.621 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9 H 122.622 OCF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 63.623 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 ##STR8## H 100.324 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 C(CH.sub.3).sub.3 H 94.725 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2 H 92.426 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 H 58.327 CF.sub.3 Br OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 136.828 CF.sub.3 Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 138.229 CF.sub.3 Br O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 106.030 CF.sub.3 Br OCH.sub.3 H 106.831 CF.sub.3 Br n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 141.432 CF.sub.3 Br O-n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9 H 104.933 F Br OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 172.434 Br Br OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 155.435 Cl Br OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 147.736 CF.sub.3 Br OC.sub.6 H.sub.5 H 137.737 CF.sub.3 Br O-n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 107.038 CF.sub.3 I OC.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 121.639 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl H 155.240 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 164.641 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 111.042 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 H 87.843 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 H 117.544 CF.sub.3 C.sub. 2 H.sub.5 n-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 119.045 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 H 96.646 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CF.sub.3 H 128.147 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CF.sub.3 H 92.048 CF.sub.3 Br CF.sub.3 H 113.249 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 C.sub.2 F.sub.5 H 98.550 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 C.sub.2 F.sub.5 H 94.151 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 C.sub.3 F.sub.7 H 61.752 OCF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 H 150.853 OCF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CF.sub.3 H 104.754 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ##STR9## H 98.355 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CHF.sub.2 H 117.956 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2 F H 135.757 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CHF.sub.2 H 96.358 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 4-F 179.059 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CF.sub.3 4-F 119.460 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 4-F 133.261 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 4-F 130.862 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CF.sub. 3 6-F 144.763 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 O-i-C.sub.3 H.sub.7 6-F 158.564 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CH.sub.3 4-Cl 187.965 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CF.sub.3 4-Cl 134.266 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 ##STR10## 4-Cl 166.267 CF.sub.3 CH.sub.3 CHF.sub.2 4-F 139.968 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CH.sub.3 4-F 131.469 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CF.sub.3 4-F 84.670 CF.sub.3 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CHF.sub.2 4-F 117.0______________________________________

Practical embodiments for preparation of the composition are illustrated in the following Formulation Examples wherein parts are by weight.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 1

Eight parts of compound (I), 40 parts of prometryn, atrazine, dimetazon, imazetapia, diuron, fenuron, linuron, chlorotoluron, trifluralin, benefin or prodiamine, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 47 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 2

Twelve parts of compound (I), 12 parts of metribuzin or bromacil, 3 parts of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, 3 parts of CMC and 70 parts of water are mixed and pulverized until the particle size becomes less than 5 microns to obtain a suspension.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 3

Three tenths parts of compound (I), 9 parts of cyanazine, norflurazon, isoproturon, trifluralin or pendimethalin, 2 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 1 part of synthetic hydrated silica and 30 parts of bentonite and 57.7 parts of kaolin clay are well mixed while being powdered. The mixture is then kneaded with water, granulated and dried to obtain granules.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 4

Thirty four parts of compound (I), 17 parts of metribuzin, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 44 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 5

One and a half parts of compound (I), 45 parts of prometryn or bromacil, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 48.5 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 6

Twenty parts of compound (I), 6 parts of imazaquin, 3 parts of polyoxyethlene sorbitan monooleate, 3 parts of CMC and 68 parts of water are mixed and pulverized until the particle size becomes less than 5 microns to obtain a suspension.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 7

Fourty parts of compound (I), 8 parts of imazatapyr, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 47 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 8

Six parts of compound (I), 30 parts of norflurazon, 2 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 1 part of synthetic hydrated silica and 30 parts of bentonite and 31 parts of kaolin clay are well mixed while being powdered. The mixture is then kneaded with water, granulated and dried to obtain granules.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 9

One part of compound (I), 50 parts of norfrurazon, fluometuron or trifluralin, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 44 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 10

Seven parts of compound (I), 42 parts of bromacil, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 46 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 11

A half part of compound (I), 10 parts of bromacil, 2 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 1 part of synthetic hydrated silica and 30 parts of bentonite and 56.5 parts of kaolin clay are mixed well while being powdered. The mixture is then kneaded with water, granulated and dried to obtain granules.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 12

Twenty five parts of compound (I), 20 parts of lenacil, trifluralin, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurysulfate and 50 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 13

One part of compound (I), 30 parts of isoprocil, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 64 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 14

Fifteen parts of compound (I), 12 parts of fluometuron, 3 parts of polyoxyetylene sorbitan monooleate, 3 parts of CMC and 67 parts of water are mixed and pulverized until the particle size becomes less than 5 microns to obtain a suspension.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 15

Thirty parts of compound (I), 15 parts of diuron, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 50 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 16

Eight parts of compound (I), 20 parts of trifluralin, oryzalin or ethalfluralin, 3 parts of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, 3 parts of CMC and 66 parts of water are mixed and pulverized until the particle size becomes less than 5 microns to obtain a suspension.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 17

Fourteen parts of compound (I), 14 parts of trifluralin, 3 parts of calcium ligninsulfonate, 2 parts of sodium laurylsulfate and 47 parts of synthetic hydrated silica are well mixed while being powdered to obtain a wettable powder.

The practical herbicidal activity of the composition of the invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the following Test Examples wherein the growth controlling percentage (%) was determined by weighing the aerial parts of the test plants (fresh weight) and making calculation according to the following equation: ##EQU1##

TEST EXAMPLE 1

Vats (33 cm.times.23 cm.times.11 cm) were filled with upland field soil, and the seeds of the test plants (except for cotton) were sowed therein in 1 to 2 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with a water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of an automatic sprayer at a spray volume of 1000 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the soil surface (to 4 cm depth) was well mixed and the seeds of cotton were sowed in 2 cm depth. The test plants were grown in a green house for 28 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre-dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Bermuda- Fall Goose- Hemp Commoncompound (g/ha) ratio Cotton grass panicum grass sesbania cocklebur__________________________________________________________________________Promet- 500 -- none 75 25 0 85 5ryn 1000 -- none 97 80 50 90 94 2000 -- none 100 95 80 95 98Compound 100 + 500 1:5 none 100 100 100 100 71No. 4 + 100 + 1000 1:10 none 100 100 100 100 100Promet- 200 + 500 1:2.5 none 100 100 100 100 98ryn 200 + 1000 1:5 none 100 100 100 100 100Compound 100 + 1000 1:10 none 100 100 100 100 100No. 55 + 200 + 1000 1:5 none 100 100 100 100 100Promet-ryn__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 2

Concrete containers (40 cm.times.35 cm) were filled with upland field soil, and the seeds of the test plants were sowed therein in 1 to 3 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 430 liters per hectare. The test plants treated with the test compositions as described above were grown outdoors for 52 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre-dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Southern Giant Slender Jimson-compound (g/ha) ratio Soybean crabgrass foxtail amaranth weed__________________________________________________________________________Metri- 200 -- none 10 10 65 30buzin 400 -- none 50 25 95 30Compound 200 + 200 1:1 none 100 100 95 85No. 4 + 200 + 400 1:2 none 100 100 100 100Metri-buzin__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 3

The test plants in Table 4, which had been treated with the test compositions in Table 4 in the same manner as in Test Example 2, were grown outdoors for 29 days, and herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre- Herbicidal activityTest dient Phyto- Blackcom- dosage Mixing toxicity Johnson- Giant Morning- Velvet- Slender night-pound (g/ha) ratio Corn grass foxtail glories leaf amaranth shade__________________________________________________________________________Cyana- 600 -- none 0 0 0 0 0 85zine 1200 -- none 65 80 98 75 0 100Com- 40 + 600 1:15 none 70 100 100 100 100 100pound 80 + 600 1:7.5 none 93 100 100 100 100 100No. 46 +Cyana-zine__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 4

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 m.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 5 were sowed therein in 4 to 5 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the test plants were grown outdoors for 51 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Johnson- Giant Slendercompound (g/ha) ratio Corn grass foxtail amaranth__________________________________________________________________________Cyana- 500 -- none 20 13 13zine 1000 -- none 60 27 15 2000 -- none 67 73 40Compound 200 + 500 1:2.5 none 100 100 100No. 4 + 200 + 1000 1:5 none 100 100 100Cyana-zine__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 5

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 m.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 6 were sowed therein in 1 to 7 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil sur.+-.ace by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the test plants were grown outdoors for 44 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Velvet- Slender Palecompound (g/ha) ratio Soybean leaf amaranth smartweed__________________________________________________________________________Metri- 250 -- none 87 7 77buzin 500 -- none 100 30 92Compound 100 + 250 1:2.5 none 100 95 100No. 4 + 200 + 250 1:1.25 none 100 95 100Metri-buzin__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 6

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 m.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 6 (except for cotton) were sowed therein in 1 to 7 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in a wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the soil surface (to 7-8 cm depth) was well mixed and the seeds of cotton were sowed therein in 5 to 7 cm depth, the test plants were grown outdoors for 27 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Goose- Southern Prickly Commoncompound (g/ha) ratio Cotton grass crabgrass side purslane__________________________________________________________________________Promet- 500 -- none 0 0 20 0ryn 1000 -- none 0 13 20 30Compound 100 + 500 1:5 none 83 100 100 100No. 46 +Promet-ryn__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 7

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 m.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 8 (except for cotton) were sowed therein in 1 to 7 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water containing a spreading agent, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the soil surface (to 7-8 cm depth) was well mixed and the seeds of cotton were sowed therein in 5 to 7 cm depth, the test plants were grown outdoors for 27 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 8.

TABLE 8__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre-dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Slender Prickly Common Sickle-compound (g/ha) ratio Cotton amaranth side purslane pod__________________________________________________________________________Norflu- 750 -- none 17 58 33 13razon 1500 -- none 23 92 90 67Compound 200 + 750 1:3.75 none 100 100 100 100No. 4 +Norfru-razonCompound 100 + 750 1:7.5 none 100 100 100 100No. 46 +Norfru-razonCompound 100 + 750 1:7.5 none 100 100 100 100No. 55 +Norfru-razon__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 8

The test plants in Table 9 were treated with the test compositions in Table 9 and grown in the same manner as in Test Example 2. The herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 9.

TABLE 9__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Quack- Johnson- Southern Slendercompound (g/ha) ratio Soybean grass grass crabgrass amaranth__________________________________________________________________________Dimethazone 400 -- none 10 60 50 40 800 -- none 80 90 50 75Compound 200 + 400 1:2 none 100 100 100 100No. 4 +Dimetazone__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 9

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 cm.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 10 were sowed therein in 4 to 8 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. Thereafter, the test plants were grown outdoors for 44 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 10.

TABLE 10__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre-dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Giant Southern Morning- Jimson-compound (g/ha) ratio Soybean foxtail crabgrass glories weed__________________________________________________________________________Imazaquin 70 -- none 50 7 50 40 140 -- none 68 43 67 67 280 -- none 85 52 82 82Compound 100 + 70 1:0.7 none 100 100 100 100No. 4 + 100 + 140 1:1.4 none 100 100 100 100Imazaquin__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 10

Sandy plowed fields were turned up and, after border builiding, plotted into blocks of 3 m.sup.2 (1.times.3 m.sup.2) each. Seeds of the test plants in Table 11 were sowed therein and cultivated outdoors for 41 days. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in a wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water containing a spreading agent, and the dilution was sprayed over the foliage of the test plants by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 236 liters per hectare. At the time of the treatment, the test plants had 9-24 cm in height and 3.5-8 leaves. Thereafter, the test plants were grown outdoors for 43 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 11.

TABLE 11__________________________________________________________________________Activeingre- Herbicidal activity dient Persian Lambs- CommonTest dosage Mixing speed- Common quar- Curly chick- Slender Asiaticcompound (g/ha) ratio well purslane ters dock weed amaranth dayflower__________________________________________________________________________Bromacil 1200 -- 53 88 70 75 10 43 80 2400 -- 88 100 90 98 10 53 100Compound 100 + 1200 1:12 100 100 100 100 70 97 100No. 46 + 200 + 1200 1:6 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Bromacil__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 11

Concrete containers (40 cm.times.35 cm) were filled with upland field soil, and the seeds of the test plants in Table 12 were sowed therein in 1 to 3 cm depth. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 658 liters per hectare. The test plants treated with the test compositions as described above were grown outdoors for 30 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 12.

TABLE 12__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Prickly Velvet- Goose- Southern Bermuda-compound (g/ha) ratio Cotton side leaf grass crabgrass grass__________________________________________________________________________Fluome- 500 -- none 0 0 0 60 35turon 1000 -- none 30 0 55 70 50Compound 50 + 500 1:10 none 70 100 100 100 100No. 46 + 100 + 500 1:5 none 100 100 100 100 100Fluome-turonCompound 100 + 500 1:5 none 100 100 100 100 100No. 55 +Fluome-turon__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 12

Concrete containers (40 cm.times.35 cm) were filled with upland field soil, and the seeds of the test plants in Table 13 were sowed therein, and cultivated outdoors for 29 days. A designated amount of the test composition formulated in an wettable powder as in Formulation Example 1 was diluted with water containing a spreading agent, and the dilution was sprayed over the foliage of the test plants by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 658 liters per hectare. At the time of the treatment, the test plants had 1-3 cm in height and 1-2 leaves. Thereafter, the test plants were grown outdoors for 39 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 13.

TABLE 13__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- Herbicidal activity dient Common Purple Catch- PersianTest dosage Mixing Ladys- chick- Field dead- weed speed-compound (g/ha) ratio thumb weed pansy nettle bedstraw well__________________________________________________________________________Isopro- 500 -- 60 50 10 0 0 0turon 1000 -- 100 100 25 15 0 0Compound 63 + 500 1:8 100 100 90 80 80 100No. 4 +Isopro-turonCompound 63 + 500 1:8 100 100 100 100 90 100No. 46 +Isopro-turon__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 13

The test plants in Table 14 were treated with the test compositions in Table 14 and grown in the same manner as in Test Example 10. The herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 14.

TABLE 14__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- Herbicidal activity dient Persian Lambs- CommonTest dosage Mixing speed- quar- Slender Ladys- chick-compound (g/ha) ratio well ters amaranth thumb weed__________________________________________________________________________Diuron 1200 -- 23 85 83 40 10 2400 -- 48 87 97 78 93Compound 100 + 1200 1:12 100 100 100 100 100No.46 + 200 + 1200 1:6 100 100 100 100 100Diuron__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 14

The test plants in Table 14, which had been treated with the test compositions in Table 15 in the same manner as in Test Example 5, were grown outdoors for 27 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 15.

TABLE 15__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- Herbicidal activity dient Phyto- Barn-Test dosage Mixing toxicity yard- Johnson- Morning- Slender Sickle-compound (g/ha) ratio Cotton grass grass glories amaranth pod__________________________________________________________________________Fluome- 750 -- none 70 67 65 85 53turon 1500 -- none 80 80 97 92 68Compound 200 + 750 1:3.75 none 100 100 100 100 85No. 4 +Fluome-turonCompound 50 + 750 1:15 none 100 100 100 100 90No. 46 + 100 + 750 1:7.5 none 100 100 100 100 95Fluome-turon__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 15

The test plants in Table 16, which had been treated with the test composition in Table 16 in the same manner as in Test Example 5, were grown outdoors for 35 days, and the herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 16.

TABLE 16__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- Herbicidal activity dient Catch- Persian CommonTest dosage Mixing Downy weed speed- Field chick-compound (g/ha) ratio brome bedstraw well pansy weed__________________________________________________________________________Isopro- 1000 -- 55 0 27 0 47turon 2000 -- 62 0 50 0 87Compound 125 + 1000 1:8 90 100 100 100 97No. 4 +Isopro-turon__________________________________________________________________________

TEST EXAMPLE 16

The test plants in Table 17 were treated with the test compositions in Table 17 and grown in the same manner as in Test Example 6. The herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity were examined. The results are shown in Table 17.

TABLE 17__________________________________________________________________________ Active ingre- dient Phyto- Herbicidal activityTest dosage Mixing toxicity Goose- Southern Slender Prickly Commoncompound (g/ha) ratio Cotton grass crabgrass amaranth side purslane__________________________________________________________________________Triflu- 375 -- none 17 73 0 17 48ralin 750 -- none 50 95 27 25 75Compound 100 + 375 1:3.75 none 100 100 100 100 100No. 46 +Triflu-ralinCompound 100 + 375 1:3.75 none 100 100 100 100 100No. 55 +triflu-ralin__________________________________________________________________________

The biological data of Compound (I) as a herbicide will be illustrated in the following Reference Test Example wherein the phytotoxicity to crop plants and the herbicidal activity on weeds were determined by visual observation as to the degree of germination as well as the growth inhibition and rated with an index 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, the numeral "0" indicating no material difference as seen in comparison with the untreated plants and the numeral "10" indicating the complete inhibition or death of the test plants. The compound number in the biological data corresponds to that shown in Table 18.

REFERENCE TEST EXAMPLE 1

Cylindrical plastic pots (diameter, 10 cm; height, 10 cm) were filled with upland field soil, and the seeds of japanese millet, tall morningglory and velvetleaf were sowed therein and covered with soil. A designated amount of the test compound formulated in an emulsifiable concentrate, which was obtained by well mixing of 5 parts of compound (I), 15 parts of "Toxanone P8L" (a commercial surface active agent; Sanyo Kasei K.K.) and 80 parts of cyclomexanon, was diluted with water, and the dilution was sprayed onto the soil surface by means of a small hand sprayer at a spray volume of 1000 liters per hectare. The test plants were grown in a greenhouse for 20 days, and the herbicidal activity was examined. The results are shown in Table 18.

TABLE 18______________________________________ Herbicidal activity TallCompound Dosage Japanese morning- Velvet-No. (g/ha) millet glory leaf______________________________________1 2000 9 9 10 500 9 7 92 2000 9 10 10 500 7 7 73 2000 10 9 10 500 9 7 84 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 10 125 10 10 85 2000 10 10 10 500 9 10 8 125 8 9 --6 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 --7 2000 9 10 10 500 9 8 --8 2000 8 9 -- 500 7 8 --9 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 --10 2000 10 10 9 500 10 9 --11 2000 10 10 1012 2000 10 9 1013 2000 10 10 9 500 10 10 914 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 --15 2000 10 10 10 500 9 9 --16 2000 10 9 7 500 10 8 --17 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 1018 2000 10 10 -- 500 10 10 --19 2000 10 10 -- 500 10 7 --20 2000 10 10 10 500 10 9 1021 2000 10 9 -- 500 10 9 --22 2000 10 10 10 500 10 9 9 125 9 9 823 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 10 125 9 9 824 2000 10 10 -- 500 9 9 --25 2000 10 10 8 500 10 10 726 2000 10 10 8 500 10 9 727 2000 9 10 10 500 9 -- 1028 2000 9 7 8 500 9 -- 729 2000 9 10 9 500 9 10 730 2000 10 10 10 500 9 8 1031 2000 10 10 --32 2000 9 10 7 500 7 8 --36 2000 -- 10 1037 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 10 125 7 8 738 2000 9 10 10 500 8 9 1039 2000 10 10 9 500 10 7 740 2000 10 10 10 500 10 8 741 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 --42 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 943 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 944 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 945 500 10 10 946 500 10 10 10 125 10 10 1047 500 10 10 10 125 10 10 1048 500 9 9 9 125 8 8 849 500 9 10 950 500 10 10 8 125 9 7 751 2000 7 9 952 500 10 10 1053 500 10 10 10 125 9 10 754 2000 10 10 955 500 10 10 10 125 10 10 1056 500 10 10 10 125 9 9 757 500 10 10 10 125 9 10 1058 2000 10 10 7 500 10 10 759 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 1060 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 1061 2000 10 10 10 500 10 10 1062 2000 7 7 764 2000 9 10 765 500 9 10 1066 500 7 8 767 500 10 10 10 125 9 10 968 500 9 9 869 500 9 9 870 500 9 9 10 125 8 8 8______________________________________

Claims

1. A herbicidal composition comprising as active ingredients a herbicidally effective amount of:

(a) an iminothiazoline compound of the formula: ##STR11## wherein R.sup.1 is halogen, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkyl, halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkoxy or halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkylthio; R.sub.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, all of which are optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkoxy; R.sup.4 is hydrogen or halogen; and

(b) at least one of herbicidal triazine compounds, herbicidal uracil compounds, herbicidal urea compounds, herbicidal dinitro aniline compounds, norflurazon, dimethazone, imazaquin and imazethapyr.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is selected from the herbicidal triazine compounds.

3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein said ingredient (b) is at least one of atrazine, cyanazine, prometryn and metribuzin.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is selected from the herbicidal uracil compounds.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein said ingredient (b) is at least one of isoprocil, bromacil and lenacil.

6. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is selected from the urea compounds.

7. A composition according to claim 6, wherein said ingredient (b) is at least one of fenuron, monuron, monolinuron, buturon, diuron, linuron, metoxuron, chlorotoluron, isoproturon and fluometuron.

8. A composition according to claim, 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is selected form the herbicidal dinitro aniline compounds.

9. A composition according to claim 8, wherein said ingredient (b) is at least one of trifluralin, benefin, pendimethalin, oryzalin, ethalfluralin and prodiamine.

10. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is norflurazon.

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is dimethazone.

12. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said ingredient (b) is at least one of imazaquin and imazethapyr.

13. A composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)alkyl, R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or halo(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, R.sup.4 is hydrogen or fluorine at the para position.

14. A method for controlling undesired weeds, which comprises applying the composition according to claim 1 to the area where undesired weeds grow or will grow.

15. A method for controlling undesired weeds, applying the composition according to claim 1 to the area where undesired weeds grow or will grow, which comprises wherein the area is a field of cotton, soybean or rice plant.

16. A composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, fluoro, bromo, and chloro; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of bromo, iodo, methyl and ethyl; R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of ethoxy, phenoxy, n-propoxy, 2-chloromethyl, i-propyl, n-propyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, heptafluoroethyl, 2-methylcyclopropyl, difluoromethyl, i-propoxy, and cyclopropyl; and R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-fluoro, 6-fluoro and 4-chloro.

17. A composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is trifluoromethyl; R.sup.2 is methyl; R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl substituted with fluorine; and R.sup.4 is hydrogen.

18. A composition according to claim 17, wherein R.sup.3 is methyl substituted with fluorine.

19. A composition according to claim 17, wherein R.sup.3 is difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl.

20. A composition according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.1 is trifluoromethyl, R.sup.2 is methyl, R.sup.3 is difluoromethyl and R.sup.4 is hydrogen.