Non-Newtonian agricultural formulations

A biologically active thixotropic high internal phase ratio emulsion useful in agricultural applications selected from the group consisting of

• (A) an oil-in-non-oil emulsion comprising an emulsifiable oil, an emulsifying agent, and an emulsifiable non-oil, said oil being present in said emulsion in an amount of at least 60% oil by volume of the emulsion, and
• (B) a non-oil-in-oil emulsion comprising an emulsifiable oil, an emulsifying agent and an emulsifiable non-oil,
• said non-oil being present in said emulsion in an amount of at least 60% non-oil by volume of the emulsion, said high internal phase ratio emulsion containing a biologically effective amount of an agent useful in agricultural applications selected from the group consisting of biocides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, defoliants, seed disinfectants and growth regulators, said emulsion having the characteristics of an elastic solid when at rest, of an extremely viscous liquid under low shear conditions and of a low viscosity medium under moderate shear rates, said emulsion being free of any dispersant other than the emulsifying agent, and further being free of any film-forming thickeners and gelling agents, said emulsion being capable of being atomized and sprayed without any further dilution to a lower viscosity, said emulsion having the additional characteristic of being capable of spreading well but not leaving behind a sticky or adherent solid film upon evaporation or absorption of the liquid ingredients.