Herbicides, also known as weedkillers, are chemicals used to control unwanted plants, also known as weeds. Non-selective herbicides (also known as total weedkillers in commercial products) can be used to clear waste ground, industrial and construction sites, railways and railway embankments because they kill all plant material with which they come into contact. Other important distinctions besides selective/non-selective include persistence (also known as residual action: how long the product stays in place and remains active), means of uptake (whether it is absorbed by above-ground foliage only, through the roots, or by other means), and mechanism of action (how it works)
Historically, common salt and other metal salts were used as herbicides; however, these have gradually fallen out of favor, and a number of these are now banned in some countries due to their persistence in soil, toxicity, and groundwater contamination concerns. Herbicides have also been used in combat and warfare.
Modern Herbicides:
Modern herbicides are frequently synthetic mimics of natural plant hormones that inhibit plant growth. Organic herbicides are herbicides that are intended for organic farming. Some plants, such as the genus Juglans (walnuts) or the tree of heaven, produce their own natural herbicides; this action of natural herbicides, as well as other related chemical interactions, is known as allelopathy. Herbicide resistance, a major concern in agriculture, has led to the development of a number of products that combine herbicides with different modes of action. Herbicides may be used in conjunction with other pest control methods in integrated pest management.
Herbicide Application :
Herbicides kill weeds that would otherwise compete with crops for light, moisture, and nutrients, lowering crop quality and quantity. They can also wreak havoc on harvesting equipment, harbour pests and diseases, contaminate aquatic resources, and even have toxic properties that cause health problems.
Herbicides are primarily used in agriculture, but they are also used in other industries where unwanted plants must be removed. Herbicides are useful in agriculture because they can control weeds at almost any stage of growth, giving crop growers flexibility. Different weeds affect different crops, and the herbicides that must be used will differ. Some herbicides can be applied prior to seed planting to ensure that no herbicide residue remains. In some cases, where weeds are already present alongside growing crops, a selective herbicide that controls the weeds without harming the crops may be used. Herbicides will continue to be used because they have a significant impact on yield and prevent harmful weeds from growing and being processed alongside crops.
How it works :
Herbicides contain chemicals that can prevent or inhibit weed growth. Herbicides can be extremely effective even in low concentrations. There are many different types of herbicides, and they all work differently, but their modes of action can be divided into two categories: systemic or translocated herbicides and non-systemic or contact herbicides.
Herbicides that are systemic or translocated are those that are absorbed by the plant from the absorption site and move through the plant's vascular system to sites of action, where the chemicals work to control the plant's growth. Non-systemic herbicides, also known as contact herbicides, kill the plant parts with which they come into contact. While these are faster acting than contact herbicides, they must be applied repeatedly, Herbicides contain chemicals that can prevent or inhibit weed growth. They work best to control undergrowth growth and are less effective against perennial weeds.
