When unwanted grass or weeds grow on your farm, they compete with your valuable plants for water and nutritional sources while also threatening your entire yield. The chemicals used to control these annoying weeds are called herbicides and weedicides.
While the terms are used interchangeably, there is indeed a little difference in their actual meanings. Herbicide is a broad and scientific term that refers to a chemical used to kill or stop the growth of unwanted plants. On the other hand, Weedicide is specifically used to control and target unwanted grassy and broad-leaf weeds in active fields.
This threat needs to be managed strategically, otherwise, it can ruin your harvest and desired income. However, before applying the chemicals, it's crucial to understand the fundamental difference between herbicides and weedicides and how they work. Let’s start by understanding the difference between herbicides and weedicides.
What Are Herbicides?
Herbicides are chemicals that slow down the growth of smaller and unwanted plants. That is how herbicides work on weeds. There are various types of herbicides, and their use depends on your soil type, climate, and crop choice. But broadly, herbicide classification is done as:
Selective Herbicides:
Selective herbicides target specific species of weeds, leaving the valuable crops unharmed. They protect your valuable crops, such as groundnuts, wheat, or rice, while specifically targeting weeds. Additionally, they work best when matched according to the crop type and weed biology. That is how selective herbicides protect crops.
Non-Selective Herbicides:
Non-selective herbicides kill all plants (weeds or crop plants) when they come in contact with the plant surface. They are used for land preparation (emptying & clearing a piece of land) or before sowing. They should be applied extremely carefully, as even a little carelessness can be disastrous.
Pre-emergent Herbicides:
As its name suggests, these are applied before the weeds emerge. Pre-emergent herbicides are used as defensive measures against weed outbreaks, especially in moist soil conditions. They are a long-term solution, applied after sowing, and also provide early effects, ensuring a smooth early stage of the valuable crop.
Post-emergent Herbicides:
They are applied after the weeds emerge to stop them from spreading. They are the best solution for spot treatment or for dealing with a second wave of weeds during an ongoing or mid-season. Their timely application gives efficient results while reducing the need for repeated manual weed management.
With that, you have the pre-emergent vs post-emergent herbicides explained. In order to extract maximum benefit from the herbicides, you should apply them with the correct dose and timing, under right weather conditions. These steps ensure an overall improved crop yield with reduced weed resistance.
What Are Weedicides?
Weedicides are a group of herbicides that are specifically designed to eradicate weeds from fields. To put it simply, all weedicides are herbicides but not all herbicides are used as weedicides. This terminology is more commonly used in farming contexts in India.
Basically, you use weedicides in order to target the weeds that would compete with your valuable product crop. They are critically utilized during the early stages of crop development. Because it is in those stages when weeds can quickly grow and occupy your field. There’s a role of weedicides in sustainable farming as well. If used responsibly, weedicides can help you achieve your sustainability goals.
Based on their use, there are two main types of weedicides:
Contact Weedicides:
Contact-based weedicides kill the parts of the weed that they touch. They are the most effective solution for annual weeds and plants that need quick action. They show results within hours of application and are ideal before sowing or harvesting. However, they can't reach the underground, and so the parts like roots are spared, resulting in regrowth.
Systemic Weedicides:
These enter the plant and act from within, from leaves to the roots. They are effective against long-lasting, perennial weeds. Avoid using them in the rain or before irrigation to maintain their effectiveness. They are slower than contact weedicides, but their action is thorough, especially for stubborn weeds. They are often used for sugarcane and cotton crops.
Key Differences Between Herbicides and Weedicides
It is essential to choose the right chemical solution while planning weed control for your crop.
One can use herbicides and weedicides interchangeably, but they significantly differ in terms of target and timing. We can understand them better through their definition, scope, timing, variety, action, and common examples.
Here is a detailed yet simple breakdown of the difference between herbicides and weedicides:
1. What the name means (Definition)
- Herbicides are chemicals made to eradicate or kill any unwanted plants, entirely.
- Weedicides are considered as a type of herbicide. They only kill and act on weeds that grow around your crops.
2. Where they are used (Scope)
- Herbicides have many applications outside of the farms as well, like roadsides, urban gardens, and farms.
- Weedicides are primarily used in farmlands and commercial crop fields. They are especially applied during the growing season.
3. When to use them (Timing)
- Herbicides can be sprayed before the sowing stage, during crop growth, and even after harvesting. It all depends on the type of herbicide and the requirement.
- Weedicides, on the other hand, are mainly used after the sowing stage. That is precisely when the weeds are visible and start growing.
4. The available types (Variety)
Common herbicide types:
- Selective
- Non-selective
- Pre-emergent
- Post-emergent
Common weedicide types:
- Contact weedicides
- Systemic weedicides
- Pre-emergent
- Post-emergent
The Pre-emergent and post-emergent types exist for both herbicides and weedicides. There also exists an additional range of non-selective weedicides, but those require more caution and an expert hand.
5. What they do (Action)
- Herbicides might kill off all the plants or only some. The action completely depends on how they are made.
- Weedicides are specifically designed to target common weeds found in Indian fields while keeping commercial crops safe.
6. Common examples for Indian crops (Specification)
- Herbicides: Glyphosate 71% SG, Atrazine 50% WP, Pendimethalin 38.7% CS
- Weedicides: Butachlor 50%, 2,4-D Amine Salt 58% SL, Paraquat Dichloride 24% SL
By clearly distinguishing the difference between herbicides and weedicides, you can reduce costs and improve crop safety while avoiding misuse.
Are Herbicides and Weedicides Safe for Farming?
If utilised and applied correctly, herbicides and weedicides are safe and have long-term benefits. However, misuse can lead to serious impact of herbicides on soil health, crop injury and weeds building resistance. Meanwhile they are also beneficial. This study demonstrates how herbicide & tillage combinations, such as a mixture of Clodinafop propargyl 15% w/w and Metsulfuron methyl 1% w/w, improved wheat yield by 20% and reduced weeds by 45%.
Here are simple steps that ensure safe application:
- Always follow the dosage instructions.
- Never exceed the recommended dosage limits.
- Choose the right product by matching the chemical, crops, and weed types.
- Spray in proper amounts and only when there are low or no winds.
- Avoid drifting sprays that lead to chemical spread.
- Wear gloves, goggles, and masks while applying herbicides and weedicides.
Final Thoughts for Farmers
If you wish to manage labour shortages while controlling weeds effectively, the first step is to understand the difference between herbicides and weedicides.
Always remember that the pre-emergent types stop weeds even before they start growing. Post-emergent weedicides work fast and eliminate the existing weeds.
Additionally, the selective options will keep your commercial crops safe, and non-selective solutions will help you clear out fields. The non-selective herbicides are the best when you prepare for an upcoming season.
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