Tri-mixed alkylsulfonium salts of N-phosphonomethylglycine and their use as plant growth regulators and herbicides

An herbicidal composition comprising an herbicidally effective amount of a compound having the formula ##STR4## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, and n is zero or one, wherein no more than two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 are identical, and an inert diluent carrier.

A method of controlling undesirable vegetation comprising applying to the vegetative in post-emergent state an herbicidal composition comprising an herbicidally effective amount of a compound having the formula ##STR5## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 represent C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, and n is zero or one, wherein no more than two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 are identical, and an inert diluent carrier.

A method of controlling undesirable vegetation in the post-emergent state by applying to the vegetation a post-emergent herbicidally effective amount of a tri-mixed alkylsulfonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine wherein said alkyl groups each contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein no more than two of said alkyl groups are identical.

A method of controlling undesirable vegetation in the post-emergent state by applying to the vegetation a post-emergence herbicidally effective amount of a tri-mixed alkylsulfoxonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine wherein said alkyl groups each contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein no more than two of said alkyl groups are identical.

An herbicidal composition comprising a post-emergent herbicidally effective amount of a tri-mixed alkylsulfonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine wherein said alkyl groups each contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein no more than two of said alkyl groups are identical, and an inert diluent carrier.

An herbicidal composition comprising a post-emergence herbicidally effective amount of a tri-mixed alkylsulfoxonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine wherein said alkyl groups each contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein no more than two of said alkyl groups are identical, and an inert diluent carrier.