Herbicides

Herbicides are chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation. Herbicide application occurs most frequently in row-crop farming, where they are applied before or during planting to maximize crop productivity by minimizing other vegetation. They also may be applied to crops in the fall, to improve harvesting. Herbicides are used in forest management to prepare logged areas for replanting. The total applied volume and area covered are greater but the frequency of application is much less than for farming

Herbicides can act by inhibiting cell division, photosynthesis, or amino acid production or by mimicking natural plant growth hormones, causing deformities. Application methods include spraying onto foliage, applying to soils, and applying directly to aquatic systems.