What are Herbicides?

Herbicides are synthetic chemicals that are used to kill unwanted plants in a geographical area. They are also termed weed killers or weedicides as they are used for mitigating the emergence of so-called weeds (undesired plants which are not intentionally sown in an area). They are used in modern agriculture setups, landscaping purposes, homestead farms, industries, schools, hospitals and even roadsides.

Herbicides; a major concern

Herbicides have made their way into agricultural systems since World War II. Over the years, they have become a major concern and an emerging issue in the world due to their surging consumption and ravaged impact on biodiversity and life forms. Now, they are the largest produced pesticide type in the world despite the fact that they are capable of deteriorating human health.

The chemical era for the development of herbicides started with the synthesis of 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid or 2,4-D during the year 1946. Later, the accelerating demand for these chemicals persuaded the industries to put money and mind into introducing new herbicide formulations. Now herbicides come in different variations or chemical families depending on their target and purpose.

Herbicides can be classified according to,

  1. Mode of application
  2. Mechanism of transport
  3. Soil degradation
  4. Time of application
  5. Chemical groups
  6. Type of formulation
  7. Specificity and
  8. Mechanism of action

HERBICIDES AND CLASSIFICATION

Mode of application

Herbicides are generally applied in the soil or on the foliage of the weeds; accordingly, they are called soil-applied herbicides and foliage-applied herbicides. Soil-applied herbicides are usually applied during pre-planting period or before the emergence of weed seeds (pre-emergence). E.g., Fluchloralin. While the other is applied during post emergence periods of weeds. E.g., Glyphosate, Paraquat

Mechanism of transport

Based on whether the action of herbicides direct or distributive, they can be considered contact herbicides and systemic herbicides respectively. The former destroys only those plant parts in contact. Most foliage applied herbicides are contacted in action. Eg. Paraquat. While the latter, when applied, are translocated to untreated parts through xylem and phloem tissues. They are generally applied to soil. E.g., Glyphosate.

Soil degradation

Herbicides can remain active in treated soils after application for days to years. Their water solubility, vapor pressure and biodegradation susceptibility accounts for their “persistence” in the soil. Higher the persistence, higher will be the exposure risk. According to this, herbicides are classified as,


i) Short-persistent herbicides: Herbicides whose residual effect (effects caused by the herbicides that remain in the soil after they are applied to plants) stays up to a week are called short-persistent herbicides. E.g., Paraquat, Diquat, Amitrole.

ii) Medium persistent herbicides: The residual effect of these herbicides remains in the soil for up to 2 to 6 weeks.

iii) Very long persistent herbicides: If the residual effect of the herbicides remains for a few months to years, they are called very long persistent herbicides. E.g., Prometon, Fenuron.

Time of application

Depending on their action, herbicides can be applied at different stages of weed growth. Some herbicides are applied before the weed emerges. They are called pre-emergence herbicides. E.g., Atrazine, Pendimethalin, Butachlor. While those which are applied after weed emergence are called post emergence herbicides. E.g., Glyphosate, Paraquat, 2,4-D Na Salt.

Chemical groups


The functional groups present in the active ingredients of herbicides determine the activity, selectivity, persistence and mode of action of that particular herbicide. Understanding chemical groups in a herbicide is very important to learn about its mode of action in plants and toxicity in organisms. According to the chemical groups present in them, herbicides can be classified as follow.

Sl. NoChemical classGroupChemical class
1AmideAmideSaflufenacil, Fomesafen
AnilideFlufenacet, Metamifop, Propanil
ChloroacetanilideButachlor, Metolachlor, Pretilachlor
SulfonanilideDiclosulam, Florasulam
SulfonamidePenoxsulam,
2Aromatic acidBenzoic acidBispyribac
Pyrimidinyl thiobenzoatePyrithiobac, Bispyribac-sodium
Picolinic acidAminopyralid, clopyralid, picloram
Quinolinecarboxylic acidQuinclorac, quinmerac
3BenzoylcyclohexanedioneTembotrione
4BipyridyliumParaquat dichloride  
5CarbamateChlorpropham
6Cyclohexene oximeClethodim,
7DicarboximideFlumioxazin
8DinitroanilineFluchloralin, Pendimethalin,
Trifluralin
9Diphenyl etherDiphenyl etherFomesafen
Nitrophenyl etherOxyfluorfen
10DithiocarbamateDazomet
11ImidazolinoneImazamox, Imazethapyr
12OrganophosphorusGlufosinate ammonium,
Glyphosate, Anilofos
13OxadiazoloneOxadiargyl, oxadiazon
14OxazoleTopramezone
15PhenoxyChlorophenoxy acid2,4 D, MCPA
Aryloxyphenoxy propionicClodinafop, Cyhalofo p butyl,
Fenoxaprop ethyl, Fluazifop,
Haloxyfop P, Metamifop,
Propaquizafop, Quizalofop-ethyl,
Quizalofop-P-terfuryl
16PhosphonoglycineGlufosinate ammonium, glyphosate
17PyrazolePyrazoleAzimsulfuron, Pyrazosulfuron
BenzoylpyrazoleTopramezone
18Pyridine carboxylic acidFlroxypyr-meptylPyridine carboxylic acid
19ThiocarbamateThiobencarb, Tri-allate
20Triazine(chloro/methoxy/methylthio)TriazineAmetryn, Atrazine, indaziflam
21TriazinoneMetribuzin, hexazinone, metamitron
22TriazoloneCarfentrazone-ethyl, Sulfentrazone
23TriazolopyrimidineDiclosulam, Florasulam, Flumetsulam,
Penoxsulam
24UreaUreaMethabenzthiazuron, Isoproturon
PhenylureaDiuron 
SulfonylureaEthoxysulfuron, Metsulfuronmethyl,
Sulfosulfuron, Azimsulfuron,
Orthosulfamuron, Pyrazosulfuron,
triasulfuron
BenzoylureaNovaluron
26UnclassifiedCinmethylin, Fluthiacet,
Bentazon, Clomazone,
Dazomet, Pyriftalid

Mode of action


This is based on how herbicides produce its effect on target sites of weed plants. I.e. specific biochemical interactions between molecular sites in plants and active ingredient. Once come in contact with the weed plant parts, the active ingredients in the formulations are absorbed by the parts. Then they move to their specific sites of action and interfere with the metabolic machinery of weeds and disrupts the biochemical pathways causing irreversible damages. This leads to the death of the plant. Herbicides that are plant-specific and kill only certain plant species leaving others unharmed are called selective herbicides. E.g., Atrazine. Herbicides, which are non-specific and destroy plants, in general, are called non-selective herbicides. E.g., Paraquat. The major mode of action and associated target sites are tabulated below.

Mode of actionSite of actionChemical familyHerbicides
Auxin growth regulatorsAuxin mimicsBenzoates, Phenoxy-carboxylates
Pyridyloxy-carboxylates, Quinoline-carboxylates, Pyridine-carboxylates
2,4-D, MCPA, Florpyrauxifen, Fluroxypyr, Picloram Halauxifen
Aryl-carboxylatesDiflufenzopyr-sodium
Amino Acid InhibitorsEPSP synthase inhibitor (5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate)Glycine  Glyphosate
Imidazolinones
Pyrimidinyl benzoates
Sulfonanilides, Triazolinones
Sulfonylureas, Triazolopyrimidine – Type 1, Triazolopyrimidine – Type 2  
Imazamox, Imazethapyr, Bispyribac-sodium,
Pyrithiobac-sodium, Azimsulfuron
Bensulfuron-methyl
Chlorimuron-ethyl, Ethoxysulfuron Flucetosulfuron,
Halosulfuron-methyl Mesosulfuron-methyl,
Metsulfuron-methyl, Orthosulfamuron, Sulfosulfuron Florasulam, Penoxsulam
Pigment inhibitorsPhytoene desaturase (PDS) InhibitorN-Phenyl heterocycles,
Phenyl ethers
Diphenyl heterocycles
Flurochloridone  
Isoxazolidinone  Clomazone  
Triketones,
Pyrazoles,
Isoxazoles
Tembotrione, Topramezone
Lipid biosynthesis inhibitorsACCase inhibitors (Acetyl Co A carboxylase)Aryloxyphenoxy-propionates (FOPs) Cyclohexanediones (DIMs)
Phenylpyrazoline  
Clodinafop-propargyl, Cyhalofop-butyl Diclofop-methyl, Fenoxaprop-ethyl
Fluazifop-butyl, Haloxyfop-methyl Metamifop,
Quizalofop-ethyl, Clethodim, Pinoxaden
Cell membrane disruptorsPhotosystem 1 electron diverterPyridiniums  Paraquat  
Diphenyl ethers,
N-Phenyl-imides
N-Phenyl-oxadiazolones,
Phenylpyrazoles,
N-Phenyl-triazolinones
Fomesafen, Oxyfluorfen, Flumioxazin Oxadiargyl, Oxadiazon,
Saflufenacil Carfentrazone-ethyl
Nitrogen metabolism inhibitionGlutamine synthetase             inhibitorPhosphinic acids  Glufosinate-ammonium  
Photosynthesis inhibitionInhibition of Photosynthesis at PSll – Serine 264 BindersPhenlcarbamates,
Pyridazinone
Triazines,
Triazinones,
Uracils
Triazolinone,
Amides,
Ureas
Ametryne, Atrazine, Metamitron Metribuzin, Propanil, Diuron Methabenzthiazuron
 Inhibition of Photosynthesis at PSll – Histidine 215 BindersBenzothiadiazinone,
Nitriles Phenyl-pyridazines
Bentazon  
Cell division InhibitionMicrotubule inhibitorsDinitroanilines,
Pyridines
Phosphoroamidates
Fluchloralin, Pendimethalin, Trifluralin  
Benzofurans,
Thiocarbamates
α-Chloroacetamides,
Isoxazolines
Azolyl-carboxamides,
α Thioacetamides,
Oxiranes
Thiobencarb ,Tri-allate, Alachlor Butachlor,
Pretilachlor, Metolachlor Anilofos