Agricultural fluid deposition aid
A deposition aid is provided, comprising a low molecular weight, low viscosity polysiloxane, combined with a crop oil concentrate or esterified seed oil concentrate. Combinations including the modified silicone can improve spreading and/or adhesion to foliage. Adding about 5% to about 20% of the modified silicone can provide more than a proportional increase in spreading and/or adhesion.
1. An organosilicone-based agricultural composition, comprising a combination of
(a) an oil component,
(b) a surfactant; and
(c) a polysiloxane having an average molecular weight of about 4,000 g/mole or lower and a viscosity of about 50 cSt or lower at 25° C., wherein the polysiloxane is soluble or dispersible in the oil component and has the general formula (I'):
M 1 D x D 1 y M 2 (I')
wherein:
M 1 =R 1 R 2 R 3 SiO 1/2
M 2 =R 4 R 5 R 6 SiO 1/2
D=R 7 R 8 SiO 2/2
D 1 =R 9 R 10 SiO 2/2
R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from a monovalent alkyl hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 18 carbons, and aryl or alkaryl hydrocarbon radicals of 6 to 14 carbon atoms;
R 7 and R 8 are independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon radicals of 1 to 4 carbons;
R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and aryl or alkaryl hydrocarbon radicals of 6 to 14 carbon atoms;
x and y are 0 to 50, and x+y is about 1 to 50; and y=0.
2. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein about 5% to 95% of the composition comprises the oil component, about 1% to 50% of the composition comprises the surfactant; and about 1% to 95% of the composition comprises the polysiloxane component.
3. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the combination will exhibit at least 50% improved spreading or 50% improved deposition to a leaf surface than the same composition will spread or adhere to the leaf in the absence of the polysiloxane.
4. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the oil component is a mineral oil, a paraffinic crop oil, a vegetable oil, or an esterified seed oil and the polysiloxane is a polydimethylsiloxane or an organo-modified polysiloxane.
5. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein all the R groups are methyl.
6. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein x is 5 to 50.
7. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein x is 3 to 50.
8. The agricultural composition of claim 6 , wherein R 1 to R 8 are methyl.
9. The agricultural composition of claim 7 , wherein R 1 to R 8 are methyl.
10. The agricultural composition of claim 9 , wherein x is about 5 to 25.
11. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein the polysiloxane has a viscosity of about 20 cSt or lower at 25° C.
12. The agricultural composition of claim 11 , wherein the polysiloxane has a molecular weight of about 2,000 g/mole or lower.
13. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 4 are monovalent alkyl hydrocarbon radicals of 1 to 18 carbons, or aryl or alkaryl hydrocarbon radicals of 6 to 14 carbon atoms and R 2 , R 3 , and R 5 through R 8 are methyl.
14. The agricultural composition of claim 12 , wherein x is 5 to 50.
15. The agricultural composition of claim 11 , wherein R 1 through R 8 are methyl.
16. The agricultural composition of claim 15 , wherein x is 5 to 50.
17. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , comprising a C4 to C18 alcohol alkoxylate surfactant.
18. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , and comprising a solvent selected from d-limonene, triacetin, isopropylmyristate, and esterified seed oil.
19. The agricultural composition of claim 1 , and comprising an oil carrier selected from the group of petroleum oil, mineral oil, paraffinic mineral oil, vegetable oil, esterified vegetable oil, esterified seed oil.
20. An agrochemical composition, comprising a bioactive component and the agricultural composition of claim 1 .
21. A plant having the agrochemical composition of claim 20 applied thereto.