Herbicide is an agrochemicals used to kill weeds (unwanted plants) that tend to compete with the grown crops; they are available in solid pellets, powder, and liquids. Herbicides have different modes of action and the type of weeds they control; some will kill only broadleaf weeds, while others will kill both grasses and broadleaf weeds. Because of these differences, herbicides are divided into selective and non-selective herbicides.
What are Selective Herbicides?
Selective herbicides are weed killers which by their chemical composition are capable of eliminating either broad-leaf weeds or grasses but not both. They are used predominately in monocropping situations, where only a single plant is grown. Selective herbicides that kill grasses only are Alachlor, Pendimethalin, etc. and those that kill broad leaves weeds only are Atrazine, Imasaquine, etc.
Selective herbicides can be pre-emergence and post-emergence; a selective pre-emergence herbicide kills weed seeds and surviving vegetative parts as they germinate, they are applied before the planted seeds germinate. Post-emergence herbicides are applied as soon as weeds emerge; they are targeted to kill any emerging weeds. Examples of selective preemergence herbicides are:
- Basamaize for maize.
- Ronster for rice.
- Galex for cowpea, soybeans, and groundnut.
- Bagram for rice and maize.
- Cotoran for cassava.
- Primextra for maize, cassava and yam.
- Diuron for yam and cassava.
What are Non-selective Herbicides?
Non-selective herbicides are herbicides that are capable of eliminating both broadleaf weeds and grasses in many different situations. Non-selective herbicides are often used to eliminate weeds in lawns, gardens, and other outdoor areas. These herbicides don’t discriminate between the cultivated crop and weeds, they can kill any plant matter they come in contact with.
Non-selective herbicides are also known as total weed killers; they are used for weed control in any weed combination in the field, they will kill any kind of vegetation. Examples of non-selective herbicides are Glyphosate (Roundup), 2,4-D, dicamba, Paraquat, Laddox, and triclopyr.
Difference Between Selective And Non-selective Herbicides
Selective herbicides are formulated to kill only certain types of plants. For example, if you wanted to kill all the weeds in your lawn but not your grass, a selective herbicide would be the solution. Non-selective herbicides are designed to kill all plants and weeds.
Non-selective herbicides are often more effective on broadleaf weeds than on grasses because broadleaf weeds have more complex root structures that make it harder for them to absorb the chemicals.
Commercial Pre-emergence and Post-emergence Herbicides
This write-up is not complete without recommendations for herbicides; here are commercial pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides you can buy to control and eliminate weeds from your lawn and farm.
Triad TZ Post-Emergent Broadleaf Herbicide
- Contains 2,4-D, Dicamba, Triclopyr, Sulfentrazone
- Quickly taken up by leaves and stems of plants, causing weed growth to cease within hours
- Effects of weed control may be seen within a few hours to a few days after application
- Weed death occurs 1 to 4 weeks after application
- Excellent post-emergent activity with rapid weed control performance
- Effective on tough broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, spurge, white clover, plantains, ground ivy, virginia buttonweed, and wild violet
Revolver Herbicide Quart & Southern Ag Surfactant Gallon
- Contains 80% non-ionic Surfactant
- Highly recommended to use with Microyl Crop Oil to increase effectiveness
- Post-emergent control of grasses in warm-season
- Labeled for use on listed Bermudagrass greens
- Highly effective on Bentgrass, Centipede Grass (suppression), Dallisgrass (suppression), Goosegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Poa annua (Annual Bluegrass), Poa trivialis (Roughstalk Bluegrass), Ryegrass, Tall Fescue
Celsius WG Post Emergent Herbicide
- Active Ingredients: Dicamba 57.4%, Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium 1.9%, Thiencarbazone-methyl 8.7%
- Kills weeds within hours of application
- Highly effective on more than 120 annual and perennial broadleaf weeds and grasses
Diuron 4L Herbicide – 2.5 Gallons
- Specially formulated to control many leaf weeds, annual and perennial grasses
- Granules easily mixed with water for spray application
- Non-corrosive to equipment
- Active Ingredients: Diuron 40%
- Can be applied as pre-emergence for maize and other crops
- Effective control of weeds in early, weak seedling state
- Application Rate: 0.6 – 4.8 qt. per acre
- Can be used for both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control
- Effectively control Barnyardgrass, Chickweed, Crabgrass, Foxtail, Pigweed, Purslane, Ragweed, Wild buckwheat, Wild mustard, and more.
Casoron 4G Herbicide 25 lbs Bag
- Selective pre-emergence herbicide
- Controls weeds before they emerge from the ground
- Forms an herbicidal vapor barrier in the soil
- Suitable for use in various areas including fruit orchards, nurseries, and ornamental landscapes
- Active Ingredients: Dichlobenil
Roundup Dual Action 365 Weed & Grass Killer
- Provides one-step weed protection for up to 12 months
- Kills and prevents many types of tough weeds and grasses
- Coverage: Up to 300 sq. ft.
- Active ingredients: Glyphosate, Imazapic
- Comfort Wand with one-touch continuous spray
These herbicides are available in our store.
How To Apply Herbicides
Herbicides are applied directly to plants with a sprinkler, hand sprayer, or backpack sprayer. They’ll need to be mixed with an appropriate amount of water before they can be applied to the ground or plant stems (which will need to be cut). To use these products, simply follow instructions on how much product you should use per area (usually about 10-20 gallons per acre).
In summary, herbicides are chemicals that can be used to kill unwanted plants and weeds. They’re effective because they can kill plants that are growing in areas where they’re not wanted, such as lawns and gardens. There are several different types of herbicides and they work in different ways.
Thank you. Very educating but I have a question which goes thus:'Are non selective herbicides like glyphosate also systemic and/or used as a pre planting herbicide or not'? And also,how do we know how/when to apply the herbicides based on its mode of action?
yes, it can be used as preplanting herbicides. preplanting herbicides are used before weeds emerge. it is commonly applied immediately after planting.
Can atrazine be used as post-emergence herbicide in cassava
yes, it can. for more effective action, you can use it with glyphosphate
use glyphosphate with atrazine
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Base on the article I can use galex on my cowpea farm without affecting the cowpea right?
My farm is mixed crop of maize and cassava and both has started germination, please which herbicide will I use for control of weeds?
Wch Herbicide can be used for control of weeds in a mixed farm of cassava and maize.
yes
you are supposed to apply herbicides immediately after planting. looking at your situation now, i will advise you to adopt manual weeding.
use glyphospate and atrazine powder, but note, they are both pre-emergence herbicides
I have also ran into that trouble of not using herbicide at preemergence stage on my cassava farm. It's about 3weeks already after planting and I have agreed to doing manual weeding anyway. But am also asked to use herbicide after manual weeding. How do I apply it? Can I do it myself? How long will it keep the weed away after application?
yes, you can do it yourself. use preemergence herbicides, it will keep your farm off weed for about 3 months.
Is it possible not to use manual weeding at all for cassava intercropped with maize, I mean using herbicides only. What can I do to prevent the plants from being damaged during postemergence application of herbicides
Is it possible not to use manual weeding at all for cassava intercropped with maize, I mean using herbicides only. What can I do to prevent the plants from being damaged during postemergence application of herbicides
Very good write-up and a nice job you are doing here. Keep it up. I just harvested my maize and I want to kill off the weeds before planting cassava. What is the best herbicide combinations I can use please?
Thank you very much. It is very possible you use only herbicides on your cassava farm but it has to start from land preparation. After clearing, ploughing and harrowing your land, you plant. immediately after planting you apply pre-emergence herbicides. this will keep your land off weeds for about 3months. by then, your cassava plants would have grown taller and able to suppress the weeds. you can't totally eradicate the weeds but what you are required to do is to suppress them greatly.
i hope this helps. thanks.
Thank you,
in this case, i will advise you to use glyphosphate.
My cassava farm was weeded going to 3 weeks ago now. That was the first weeding after planting. Can i still use atrazine now to keep weeds away for the next 2 to 3 month to reduce cost incurred if manual weeding is applied? Thanks
Hi, please I've got a question. Can you Convince me why i should mix altrazine xtra force and contact herbicide grass cutter on a just planted cassava farm (two days ago) is it good to mix the two or not to mix them after. I need your urgent reply, please.
A cassava farm planted two to three weeks ago is attached by weed. How can the weed be controlled?
Mix the two for effectiveness and higher concentration. I hope this helps
You can use manual weeding or chemical. For chemical, you can still use glyphosate; it is best you cover flit your cassava if they haven't grown too high.
What do you mean by cover flit? Of course they're just coming off the soil
What kind of herbicide can I used to control a farm planted with potatoes,cassava and maize where by weeds has dominated the farm? Pls, I need a fast response.
What do you mean by cover flit pls?
yes, you can. mix it with glyphosate for effective action.
Cover fliting is done when the crops are still very young; you just cover all the plants preferably with plastic bowl, just the portion of the crops and spray your field. what you are preventing is contact of the chemical and your crops. i hope this helps.
Cover fliting is done when the crops are still very young; you just cover all the plants preferably with plastic bowl, just the portion of the crops and spray your field. what you are preventing is contact of the chemical and your crops. i hope this helps.
what you have done is wrong. you can't plant cassava and potatoes together. in this case, do manual weeding; if you use chemicals, you will kill your plants.
Pls what type of chemical can I used for pre emergency wed control on my farm with maize and cassava. And how many months can wed start to germinate after application.
Pls another question goes thus; which types of cassava and maize variety is the best to give a good yield
Pls i planted corn 2 weeks ago after plowing and am currently intercropping it wt cassava but i hv little weeds germinating around. Shld i just spray atrazine herbicide as am planting d cassava or spray afterd cassava has sprouted
hello, spray it after planting your cassava. do not allow it to sprout.
Hi,what kind of herbicide can I use to control weed in a maize farm that I might just have to weed once if at all.Thank you
use pre-emergence herbicide like glyphosate and atrazine.
So you have a group of experts who do the spraying for a fee?
Do you have…..
Plz I will like to know the selective chemical I can us for cassava.the farm has been hand weeded but the weed keep growing too fast.is there any chemical I can use to control the weeds?
your article has been very very helpful , i have really gained alot! i virtually jotted all ur write ups! kudos to you!
Thank so much! Endeavor to share too
use any of the herbicides highlighted above. Thanks
I am so sorry for my late response. I dont know any for now.
Nice work quadri,but if your stem is followed people will end up with specific weed problem which will be labour intensive.
Weldone. I planted maize on my entire farm and cassava on half (bcos of stem shortage). I weeded 3 weeks ago. Now i want to plant d remaining cassava but weeds are up again. What chemicals do i use? 2 when do i apply it, b4 or after planting? Thanks
I planted my cassava about 7 days ago and I applied diuron today to control the weed, hope have not done something wrong
no sir, i do not think so. it is far effective
apply glyphosate and diuron. Apply before planting
if it doesn't come in contact with your crop, no problem but 7 days after is much, you should apply the next day or latest third day. thanks
I just plant my yam and I intend to use herbicides. Which should I use and when and how long is the effect. I want the one with longer effect
It do come in contact but I thought diuron is selective to cassava
Is it required you use fertilizer after applying weed chemicals on your cassava farm?
You should apply fertilizer after herbicides to allow the crops utilize the fertilizer optimally.
that does not mean it should come in contact with the crop parts, especially the leaves.
use a pre-emergence herbicide, like glyphosate
Well sir I must say I enjoy reading your article. Pls what chemical can I use to kill the grass in front of my compound? No plants just only weeds. Pls tell me the name chemical and where to get it in lagos. I want a very strong chemical that will be able to kill all the grass. Thanks. Michael from Lagos.
Thank you very much sir, get ForceUP. You can get it any any agro store in mile 12 or sabo market, ikorodu
I have a rice farm what chemical should I use to eliminate the weeds in the field?
You really need to be careful here, because rice is from the grass family. i recommend a manual weeding in this case
Boss, pls which selective herbicide can I use on beans farm ? And also on ugwu farm . Thanks
Boss, pls which selective herbicide can I use on beans farm ? And also on ugwu farm . Thanks
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Boss, pls which selective herbicide can I use on beans farm ? And also on ugwu farm . Thanks
Do not use herbicides for any leafy vegetables like ugu. as for the beans, you can use Galex but bean is a cover crop, it will suppress weeds if you can try manual weeding. thanks
Thanks Quadri, your article is incisive!
helo master quadri i really enjoy ur class how ever i cultivate entirely different crops compared to what every one has commented one , my plants are plantain, paw paw and pepper but i intend to plant plantain now and inter-cropped with cassava so i want to seek ur advice how do i go about the planting and when do i need to use herbicide or shld i separate the crops like i hv done b4 now and for my plantain hat is stand alone like 5 months now wch herbicides that is best for it to b used thanks
Thank for your work here. Please am planning to cultivate pepper and water melon next season. Although they would be on different plots of land. Which herbicides can i use to adequately control weeds on these farms and should they be sprayed pre emergence?
Yes, Use any of the pre-emergence herbicides stated above. Also, ensure you prepare your land adequately before spraying, it will aid the efficiency of the herbicide.
You tell everyone to use glyphosate. Are you aware of its apparent dangers to human health?
Thanks for your observation. Personally, am an advocate of organic farming, i sternly detest the use of chemicals, however, you would agree with me that some situations in farm require the use of chemicals. Chemical is very effective in controlling weeds and pest. Glyposate in unarguably the most recommended and most effective active ingredient in controlling weeds, that is why i tell people to use it. On the issue if its apparent danger, it has dosage farmers must adhere to. With the recommended dosage their apparent dangers are mitigated.
I have plantain farm and I want to add cassava which chemicals do I use
good day, pls my soybean plants have been attacked by sudden death syndrome, please what is the way forward and what can be done to prevent further occurence as am preparing to plant new seeds
Good day sir. S how many plots can one liter of herbiside successfully cover?
Good day sir. S how many plots can one liter of herbiside successfully cover?
Pls, I need your help to know which herbicide I can use for waterlmon and cucumber.
This combination is not good. Find another
Plant resistant variety
Use only pre-emergence but i Dont advise herbicides for cucumber.
You will see the dosage information on the label attached to the herbicide container
Thanks for your replay,meanwhile can atrazin nd glysophate be used as pre emergence on cucumber planted a day ago,bt ofcourse the seed isn't germinating yet.
Yes. They can
Thanks for your reply,I really appreciate the effort you are making here.
This is very educating.
Please I need help.
Can I get names of fertilizers containing weed killer chemicals ??
Please I need your urgent help. I want to go into agriculture business for the first time and having 2acres which am planting cassava and maize, so I need procedure to follow in pre and post emergence in chemical method. Thanks
Good day pls I just inter cropped yam,maize and cassava in my farm and they have started sprouting, which selective herbicide do I use and method of use thanks.
Can I use altrazine and by glyphosphat e on my cassava farm without killing the crop?
Good day, i planted maize is about one month plus now and want to broadcast rice on the same land. What type of weed control should i use.
Good morning, I have a plantain farm and I want to intercrop with watermelon, I have just weeded the place, whats the best herbicide to use and can I spray befor planing the watermelon or after planting the watermelon?
Am in need of ur assistant and is there no any herbicides that will work for both maize and cassava for post planting herbicides. My farm was large and have used glyphosate with attrazine as pre planting herbicides but to my surprise after two weeks its look as if I didn't spray any herbicides. Then I apply labourers weeding which is hoeing in order to remove d broad leaves and d grasses but to my surprise the farm has also grow this same weeds and I used d farm last year which am using this yr again. Now am tired of weeding and initially I forgot to apply d maize herbicides b4 planting cassava. My question now is that haven't d agriculturist develop another herbicides for mixed cropping of cassava and maize or other herbicides which will kill any kind of herbicides on mixed cropping.
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for now, there is not herbicide for such. that is why it is recommended to apply herbicide immediately after harvest. you can con tact the admin for further assistance.
I went to agrochemical dealers 4 pre emergence herbicideherbicide for late maize. I was given squash which contains 276 g of paraquat. When I asked the amount toto mix, I was asked to use 1 and half of the cup for 16L back sprayer. Pls hw right is that?
Excellent Post! Thanks for sharing such a great post. Really helpful. Keep up the great work. Fertilizer and Weed Control
Great article ever. Please i will love to contact you in person. mrignatiusokoro@gmail.com
Good article here.But how can l contact you,pls? Afmod04@yahoo.com
07038757742
Pls weeds have taken over my melon farm. Pls which herbicide will I use to control weeds now?
Buy Any of these herbicides http://justagric.com/pre-emergence-herbicides-weeds-control/
Well done sir , could pre emergent chemical be used in un cultivated / plan land and be effective like that of cultivated land.
Of course yes, it is specifically for uncultivated land
Well done sir, please I was told that powdered chemical mixed with liquid one are effective in killing the weeds and their seeds. Can my crop seeds like maize and groundnuts be affected if I apply these chemicals two days after planting because I was told to apply first and wait for 10days before planting! Thanks.
Well done sir, please can my crop seeds(maize and groundnuts) be affected if I apply powdered plus liquid chemicals like two days after planting. I was told to apply first and wait for 10days before planting. Thanks.
Morning sir, pls, can my seedlings( maize and groundnuts) be affected if powdered chemical mixed with glyphosate are applied 1 or 2 days after planting? I was told to apply first and wait for 10days before planting. Thanks.
it should not be up to 10 days after planting. 3 days is enough.
Good evening sir. I applied force up herbicide on my farm of 21 days maise today. After getting home, someone told me that those maize will be destroyed. I didn’t spray on it but around it. Is it true? Thank you sir
Yes. You applied very late.
To avoid waste of time and money, as early as possible tomorrow, go and plant another maize on the field to replace the 21st day old one because the will definitely die within a week, if you plan another one immediately, you were good to go.
I read your article and quite educative, where can I get the basegram for rice and maize you mentioned in the article?
But sir, I didn’t let the herbicide touch the maize. I just sprayed on the surrounding weeds
Good Morning.
I am about to plant plantain suckers and I want to know which herbicide to use and how it should be used.
Should I apply before planting the suckers or after planting the suckers.
How should I apply it? Will there be an effect on the plantain if the herbicide touches it when applying?
Thanks.
I would like to receive those information needed for weed control in crops.
Thanks for your article. It really enlighten me more about Agriculture. I’m new in farming. I just prepare about 10 acres of land for watermelon farming. Please which herbicide is the best to use before planting watermelon to keep weed away from the farm till harvest period. Pls I need your help urgent. Regard Paul.
I want to plant watermelon with okra. Which pre emergency herbicide is the best before planting them.
You can use glyphosate like force up and other brands
Can it be used for cucumber too I need something non selective but that will not affect my cucumber seeds when planted.
And how many days after application can I plant?
cucumber has broad leaves, if you want to use selective then you should consider herbicides that kills only grass plants. You can plant the second day of application.
Very good,l need more explanation
Nice one. Good to know.
The best seletive herbicide for rice farm, rice of one Month old and too much of grasses, please help.
Use any atrazine herbicide
Highly Educative