Herbicidal composition comprising the hydrates of saflufenacil and glyphosate or glufosinate

1. A synergistic herbicidal composition, comprising:

a) at least one herbicide (A) selected from the group consisting of

glyphosate (A1) and agrochemically compatible salts thereof, and

glufosinate (A2) and agrochemically compatible salts thereof, and

b) a herbicide (B) comprising a crystalline hydrate of 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl-(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide wherein the weight ratio of component (A) to component (B) is from 675:25 to 100:6.25.

2. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein component (B) comprises a hydrate comprising 0.8 to 1.2 mol of water per mole of 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl-(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide.

3. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 2 , wherein component (B) has a melting point in the range from 100 to 140° C.

4. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 3 , wherein component (B) has a 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl-(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide content of at least 94% by weight, based on the total amount of organic constituents present in the hydrate.

5. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 4 , wherein component (B) in an X-ray powder diffractogram at 25° C. with Cu-Kα radiation shows at least one reflection at the 2θ value 11.6±0.2°.

6. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 5 , wherein component (B) in an X-ray powder diffractogram additionally shows at least three of the following reflections reported as 2θ values: 5.1±0.2°, 10.1±0.2°, 10.8±0.2°, 13.9±0.2°, 15.1±0.2°, 16.1±0.2°, 17.9±0.2°, 20.2±0.2°, 24.5±0.2°.

7. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 4 , wherein component (B) in an X-ray powder diffractogram at 25° C. with Cu-Kα radiation shows at least one reflection at the 2θ value 12.1±0.2°.

8. The synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 7 , wherein component (B) shows at least three of the following reflections reported as 2θ values: 5.2±0.2°, 10.2±0.2°, 10.9±0.2°, 14.0±0.2°, 14.6±0.2°, 15.3±0.2°, 19.2±0.2°, 19.9±0.2°, 20.5±0.2°, 24.7±0.2°, 26.7±0.2°, 27.8±0.2°.

9. A synergistic herbicidal composition defined as claimed in claim 1 which when applied, is capable of controlling unwanted vegetation.

10. A synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 9 which, when applied, is capable of selectively controlling harmful plants in plant crops or for nonselectively controlling harmful plants.

11. A synergistic herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 10 which, when applied, is capable of selectively or nonselectively controlling harmful plants pre-emergence or post-emergence in multiple transgenic or mutagenic crops.

12. The synergistic herbicidal composition of claim 11 , wherein said crops comprise maize, soybeans, cotton, oilseed rape, rice, sugar beet and/or cereals.

13. A method for controlling unwanted vegetation, comprising:

applying

a) at least one herbicide (A) selected from the group consisting of

glyphosate (A1) and agrochemically compatible salts thereof, and

glufosinate (A2) and agrochemically compatible salts thereof, and

b) a herbicide (B) comprising a crystalline hydrate of 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)-pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl-(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide,

wherein the herbicides (A) and (B) are applied together or separately, to plants, seed and/or an area on which plants grow.