Solid formulations of hydrogen cyanamide for agricultural applications

Abstract

Agricultural crops are protected from the growth of weeds and other undesirable organisms by the application of hydrogen cyanamide in a granular formulation.

1 . A method for treating soil to control organisms in said soil that are deleterious to crop growth, said method comprising applying to said soil a pesticidally effective amount of a composition comprising hydrogen cyanamide retained in pores of porous solid granules that are chemically inert to hydrogen cyanamide. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrogen cyanamide is the sole biologically active ingredient. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises hydrogen cyanamide in the absence of other herbicides and insecticides. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrogen cyanamide constitutes from about 10% to about 80% by weight of said composition. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said hydrogen cyanamide constitutes from about 20% to about 60% by weight of said composition. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said porous solid granules are calcined clay granules with a pore space of from about 30% to about 90%, or which at least about 20% is capillary porosity. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said porous solid granules are calcined clay granules with a pore space of from about 50% to about 90%, of which at least about 40% is capillary porosity. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least about 75% of said porous solid granules have particle diameters of from about 0.3 mm to about 3.0 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least about 75% of said porous solid granules have particle diameters of from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said porous solid granules have a cation exchange capacity of from about 10 meq/100 g to about 75 meq/100 g. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said organisms are undesirable vegetation. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said organisms are nematodes. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said composition is applied at a rate that delivers from about 30 to about 300 kilograms of hydrogen cyanamide per hectare. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  comprising applying said composition to said soil prior to emergence of said undesirable vegetation. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  comprising applying said composition to said soil after emergence of said undesirable vegetation.