Herbicides, also commonly known as weed killers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds. Selective herbicides control specific weed species while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed, while non-selective herbicides kill plants indiscriminately. The combined effects of herbicides, nitrogen fertilizer, and improved cultivars has increased yields of major crops by three to six times from 1900 to 2000.
Hexazinone is an organic compound that is used as a broad spectrum herbicide. It is a colorless solid. It exhibits some solubility in water but is highly soluble in most organic solvents except alkanes. A member of the triazine class herbicides, it is manufactured by DuPont and sold under the trade name Velpar.
Phenoxy herbicides are two families of chemicals that have been developed as commercially important herbicides, widely used in agriculture. They share the part structure of phenoxyacetic acid.
DCMU is an algicide and herbicide of the aryl urea class that inhibits photosynthesis. It was introduced by Bayer in 1954 under the trade name of Diuron.
Pendimethalin is an herbicide of the dinitroaniline class used premergently and postemergently to control annual grasses and certain broadleaf weeds. It inhibits cell division and cell elongation. Pendimethalin is a K1-group according to the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) classification and is approved in Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania for different crops including cereals, corn, soybeans, rice, potato, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, plus lawns and ornamental plants.
Fenoprop, also called 2,4,5-TP, is the organic compound 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propionic acid. It is a phenoxy herbicide and a plant growth regulator, an analog of 2,4,5-T in which the latter's acetic acid sidechain is replaced with a propionate group (with an extra CH3). The addition of this extra methyl group creates a chiral centre in the molecule and useful biological activity is found only in the (2R)-isomer. The compound's mechanism of action is to mimic the auxin growth hormone indoleacetic acid (IAA). When sprayed on plants it induces rapid, uncontrolled growth. As with 2,4,5-T, fenoprop is toxic to shrubs and trees.
Sulfentrazone is the ISO common name for an organic compound used as a broad-spectrum herbicide. It acts by inhibiting the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase. It was first marketed in the US in 1997 by FMC Corporation with the brand name Authority.
Trifluralin is a common pre-emergent selective herbicide, a dinitroaniline. With about 14 million pounds (6,400 t) used in the United States in 2001, and 3–7 million pounds (1,400–3,200 t) in 2012, it is one of the most widely used herbicides. Trifluralin is also used in Australia, and New Zealand, previously in the EU. Introduced in 1964, Trifluralin was the first organofluorine compound used as an agrochemical.
Propanil is a widely used contact herbicide. With an estimated use of about 8 million pounds in 2001, it is one of the more widely used herbicides in the United States. Propanil is said to be in use in approximately 400,000 acres of rice production each year.
Benfluralin is a herbicide of the dinitroaniline class. The mechanism of action of benfluralin involves pre-emergent inhibition of mitosis, root and shoot development, same as trifluralin, from which benfluralin was developed in 1963.
Aminocyclopyrachlor (AMCP) is a selective, low-toxicity, auxin-mimicking herbicide that provides pre- and post-emergent control of broadleaf weeds on several non-food use sites including rights of way, wildlife management areas, recreational areas, turf/lawns, golf courses and sod farms. It was conditionally registered as Imprelis by DuPont in August 2010, and first used in Fall 2010. The chemical is a systemic herbicide and acts by disrupting gene expression. Aminocyclopyrachlor belongs to the pyrimidine carboxylic acid chemical family and mimics auxin which is a growth-regulating hormone in dicots including broadleaf terrestrial plants. This causes undifferentiated cell division and elongation, with resulting appearance characteristic of auxin herbicide damage such as leaf twisting and curling.
Cyanazine is a herbicide that belongs to the group of triazines. Cyanazine inhibits photosynthesis and is therefore used as a herbicide.
Fluazifop is the common name used by the ISO for an organic compound that is used as a selective herbicide. The active ingredient is the 2R enantiomer at its chiral centre and this material is known as fluazifop-P when used in that form. More commonly, it is sold as its butyl ester, fluazifop-P butyl with the brand name Fusilade.
Indaziflam is a preemergent herbicide especially for grass control in tree and bush crops.
Butafenacil is the ISO common name for an organic compound of the pyrimidinedione chemical class used as an herbicide. It acts by inhibiting the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase to control broadleaf and some grass weeds in crops including cereals and canola.
Tribenuron in the form of tribenuron-methyl is a sulfonylurea herbicide. Its mode of action is the inhibition of acetolactate synthase, group 2 of the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee's classification scheme.
Chlorsulfuron is an ALS inhibitor herbicide, and is a sulfonylurea compound. It was discovered by George Levitt in February 1976 while working at DuPont, which was the patent assignee.
Diflufenican is a herbicide used to control weeds including wild radish and wild turnip weeds or suppress capeweed, crassula, marshmallow or shepherd's purse, in clover pasture, lupins, lentils or field peas. It has seen use in Australia, Europe, and in Feb 2024 registered in North America by the PMRA, EPA registration pending, for use on soybean and corn.
Isoproturon (IPU) is a urea class selective herbicide, which has been used to control annual grasses and many broad leafed weeds in wheat, barley, rye and triticale.
Difenoxuron is a phenylurea herbicide used to control annual broad-leaved weeds and grasses in allium crops, carrots, jojoba, and celery.
