Use of polyether modified short-chain siloxanes in agriculture in order to increase harvest yield

1. A method of increasing agronomic yield comprising the steps of adding polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I) to an irrigation system comprising water and fertilizer,

wherein the polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of formula (I)

M a D b D′ c   Formula (I)

with M=R 1 3 SiO 1/2 , D=R 1 2 SiO 2/2 , D′=R 1 R 2 SiO 2/2 ,

where

a is 2,

b is from 0 to 0.5,

c is from 1 to 3,

R 1 is independently hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms,

R 2 is independently a polyether radical of the formula (II)

—R 3 O[CH 2 CH 2 O] m [CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O] n R 5   Formula (II)

where

m=from 2 to 30,

n=from 0 to 10,

wherein

R 3 are independently divalent hydrocarbyl radicals having 2 to 8 carbon atoms,

R 5 is independently a hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to 16 carbon atoms or hydrogen,

and, if n is greater than 0,

m/n=is from 1 to 30 and

for all values of n claimed, if c is greater than or equal to 1.2,

c*(m+n)=from 12 to 50, and

in the root region for increasing agronomic yield, wherein the method is free of herbicides, fungicides, nematicides and insecticides.

2. The method according to claim 1 used in agriculture, wherein

the polyether radical of the formula (II) has a molar mass from 530 g/mol to 630 g/mol.

3. The method according to claim 1 for reducing the variability of harvest outcomes and stabilization at a higher level compared to identical irrigation without use of polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I), and the polyether radical of the formula (II) has a molar mass from 535 g/mol to 600 g/mol.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of from 0.25 to 100 l/ha is used with the irrigation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the agricultural crops are implemented on any soils.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein annual, biannual, multiannual or perennial plants are cultivated.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the kit-further comprises adjuvants.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

b is 0 to 0.1,

c is 1 to 2,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl radicals.

9. The method of increasing agronomic yield by adding polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I) according to claim 1 to the irrigation system in a periodic manner wherein the application of polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I) is effected repeatedly at an interval of from 7 to 14 days.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method of polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I) is non-continuous.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method of polyether-modified short-chain siloxanes of the formula (I) is effected repeatedly at an interval of from 9 to 12 days.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the irrigation systems are selected from micro-irrigation systems.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of from 0.75 to 201/ha is used with the irrigation.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of from 1 to 121/ha is used with the irrigation.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the agricultural crops are implemented on humus-containing, sandy, clay-containing or loam-containing soils or substrates.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

b is 0 to 0.1,

c is 1 to 2,

R 1 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl radicals,

R 2 is independently a polyether radical of the formula (II)

—R 3 O[CH 2 CH 2 O] m [CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O] n R 5   Formula (II)

where

m=2 to 20,

n=2.5 to 8,

wherein:

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, 1-methylpropylene, and 1,1-dimethylpropylene radical,

R 5 is hydrogen or methyl,

and, if n is greater than 0,

m/n=is 1.5 to 15 and

for all values of n claimed, if c is greater than or equal to 1.2,

c*(m+n)=13 to 40,

in the root region for increasing agronomic yield.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

b is 0,

c is from 1.0 to 1.10,

R 1 is a methyl radical,

R 2 is independently a polyether radical of the formula (II)

—R 3 O[CH 2 CH 2 O] m [CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O] n R 5   Formula (II)

where

m=4.5 to 8.5,

n=3.0 to 6.08,

wherein:

R 3 is —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —,

R 5 is hydrogen or methyl,

and, if n is greater than 0,

m/n=is 1.9 to 2.8 and

for all values of n claimed, if c is greater than or equal to 1.2,

c*(m+n)=14 to 25,

in the root region for increasing agronomic yield.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

b is 0,

c is from 1.0 to 1.05,

R 1 is a methyl radical,

R 2 is independently a polyether radical of the formula (II)

—R 3 O[CH 2 CH 2 O] m [CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O] n R 5   Formula (II)

where

m=3.6 to 9.9,

n=3.0 to 6.08,

wherein:

R 3 is —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —,

R 5 is hydrogen or methyl,

and, if n is greater than 0,

m/n=is 1.8 to 5 and

for all values of n claimed, if c is greater than or equal to 1.2,

c*(m+n)=14 to 25,

in the root region for increasing agronomic yield.