Important Herbicides Used in India

Herbicides are chemical substances used to control or suppress unwanted plants (weeds) without
causing unacceptable damage to the crop. They play a vital role in modern agriculture by reducing
crop-weed competition, improving crop productivity, lowering labour requirements, and ensuring
timely weed management. In India, herbicides are widely used in cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre
crops, sugarcane, plantation crops, vegetables, and orchards. Their selection depends on crop type,
weed flora, growth stage of weeds, environmental conditions, and the herbicide's mode of action.

Classification of Important Herbicides Used in India

A. Pre-Plant Incorporated (PPI) Herbicides

These herbicides are incorporated into the soil before sowing to prevent volatilization or
photodecomposition.

Herbicide Trade name Major crops Major weeds controlled

Fluchloralin Basalin Chickpea, soybean, groundnut Annual grasses and broadleaf weeds

Trifluralin Treflan Soybean, cotton, vegetables Annual grasses and some broadleaf weeds

B. Pre-Emergence (PE) Herbicides

Applied immediately after sowing but before weed emergence.

Herbicide Major crops Target weeds

Wheat, chickpea, soybean, mustard, Annual grasses and broadleaf

Atrazine Maize, sugarcane Broadleaf weeds and grasses

Pretilachlor Rice Grasses, sedges, broadleaf weeds

Butachlor Rice Annual grasses

Oxyfluorfen Onion, garlic, orchards Broadleaf weeds and grasses

Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl Rice Sedges and broadleaf weeds

Metribuzin Potato, soybean, wheat Broadleaf weeds and grasses

S-metolachlor Soybean, maize Annual grasses and sedges

C. Early Post-Emergence (EPOE) Herbicides

Applied when weeds are young (usually 2–4 leaf stage).

Herbicide Major crops Target weeds

Topramezone Maize Grasses and broadleaf weeds

Tembotrione Maize Broad-spectrum weeds

Bispyribac sodium Direct-seeded rice Mixed weed flora

Penoxsulam Rice Sedges, grasses and broadleaf weeds

D. Post-Emergence (POE) Herbicides

Applied after both crop and weeds have emerged.

Herbicide Major crops Target weeds

Quizalofop-p-ethyl Chickpea, soybean, groundnut Grassy weeds

Imazethapyr Soybean, groundnut, pulses Grasses and broadleaf weeds

Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl Wheat Phalaris minor, wild oat

Clodinafop-propargyl Wheat Phalaris minor

Pinoxaden Wheat Grass weeds

Metsulfuron-methyl Wheat Broadleaf weeds

Carfentrazone-ethyl Wheat Broadleaf weeds

Halosulfuron Maize, sugarcane Sedges (Cyperus spp.)

Ethoxysulfuron Rice Sedges

E. Non-Selective Herbicides

These herbicides kill almost all green vegetation.

Herbicide Uses

Glyphosate Orchards, tea plantations, non-cropped areas, conservation agriculture

Paraquat dichloride Plantation crops, stale seedbed, non-cropped areas

Glufosinate ammonium Orchards, plantation crops, herbicide-tolerant crops (where permitted)

Important Herbicides Used in Major Crops

Rice

Herbicide Dose (g or kg a.i. ha⁻¹) Time of application

Butachlor 1.5 kg PE
Herbicide Dose (g or kg a.i. ha⁻¹) Time of application

Pretilachlor 0.75–1.0 kg PE

Pyrazosulfuron 20–25 g PE

Penoxsulam 22.5–25 g EPOE

Bispyribac sodium 25 g POE

Wheat

Herbicide Target weed

Clodinafop Phalaris minor

Pinoxaden Grass weeds

Fenoxaprop Wild oat

Metsulfuron Broadleaf weeds

Carfentrazone Broadleaf weeds

Sulfosulfuron Mixed weed flora

Maize

Herbicide Application

Atrazine PE

Pendimethalin PE

Topramezone EPOE

Tembotrione EPOE

Chickpea

Herbicide Application Target weed

Pendimethalin PE Broad-spectrum weeds

Quizalofop-p-ethyl POE Grassy weeds

Imazethapyr POE Mixed weeds

Oxyfluorfen PE Broadleaf weeds

Herbicide Application

Pendimethalin PE

Fluchloralin PPI

Imazethapyr POE

Quizalofop POE

Cotton

Herbicide Application

Pendimethalin PE

Pyrithiobac sodium POE

Quizalofop POE

Sugarcane

Herbicide Application

Atrazine PE

Metribuzin PE

2,4-D POE

Halosulfuron POE

Classification Based on Weed Type

Herbicides for Grassy Weeds

 Quizalofop-p-ethyl

 Clodinafop-propargyl

 Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl

 Pinoxaden

 Fluazifop-p-butyl

Herbicides for Broadleaf Weeds

 Carfentrazone-ethyl

 2,4-D

 Dicamba

Herbicides for Sedges

 Halosulfuron

 Ethoxysulfuron

 Penoxsulam

 Pyrazosulfuron

Broad-Spectrum Herbicides

 Pendimethalin

 Atrazine

 Glyphosate

 Paraquat

 Imazethapyr

 Topramezone

 Tembotrione

Classification Based on Mode of Action

Mode of Action Herbicide

EPSPS inhibitor Glyphosate

Photosystem II inhibitor Atrazine, Metribuzin

ACCase inhibitor Quizalofop, Clodinafop, Fenoxaprop, Pinoxaden

ALS inhibitor Imazethapyr, Metsulfuron, Penoxsulam, Halosulfuron

PPO inhibitor Oxyfluorfen, Carfentrazone

HPPD inhibitor Topramezone, Tembotrione

Microtubule inhibitor Pendimethalin, Fluchloralin

 Timely weed control.

 Saves labour and reduces production costs.

 Increases crop yield and quality.

 Effective against difficult-to-control weeds.

 Suitable for large-scale farming.

 Conserves soil moisture by reducing weed competition.

 Facilitates conservation agriculture and zero tillage.

Limitations of Herbicides

 Development of herbicide-resistant weeds.

 Weed flora shift due to repeated use of the same herbicide.

 Environmental contamination of soil and water.

 Crop injury if used at incorrect doses or timing.

 Residue issues affecting succeeding crops.

 Potential health hazards if handled improperly.

Precautions for Herbicide Application

 Select the herbicide based on the crop and dominant weed species.

 Follow the recommended dose and timing of application.

 Calibrate sprayers before use to ensure uniform coverage.

 Use clean water and maintain the recommended spray volume.

 Apply under calm weather conditions to reduce spray drift.

 Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, boots, and protective
clothing).

 Rotate herbicides with different modes of action to delay herbicide resistance.

 Integrate herbicides with cultural, mechanical, and biological methods as part of Integrated
Weed Management (IWM).

 Follow label instructions regarding pre-harvest intervals and re-entry periods.

Conclusion
Herbicides have become indispensable tools for efficient weed management in Indian agriculture.
Commonly used herbicides such as Pendimethalin, Atrazine, Glyphosate, Quizalofop-p-ethyl,
Imazethapyr, Topramezone, Tembotrione, Metribuzin, Oxyfluorfen, and Penoxsulam are widely
adopted across different cropping systems. However, sustainable weed management requires their
judicious use in combination with preventive, cultural, mechanical, and biological methods.
Adopting herbicide rotation, appropriate doses, and integrated weed management practices helps
maintain herbicide efficacy, reduces resistance development, and ensures environmentally
sustainable crop production.