Chlorimuron-ethyl is a selective herbicide from the sulfonylurea family, commonly used to control broadleaf weeds in crops like soybeans, peanuts, and cotton. It works by inhibiting the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme in plants, which blocks the synthesis of essential amino acids, leading to the suppression of weed growth. Chlorimuron-ethyl is highly effective against broadleaf weeds but has limited efficacy against grasses.

Characteristics and Applications:

1. High Crop Selectivity: Chlorimuron-ethyl is highly selective, meaning it effectively targets broadleaf weeds without damaging crops like soybeans and peanuts.
2. Low Application Rates, High Potency: Like most sulfonylurea herbicides, It requires low application rates to deliver excellent results, providing long-lasting weed control at small dosages.
3. Weed Spectrum: It is primarily used to control a wide variety of broadleaf weeds, such as Galium aparine (cleavers), Chenopodium spp. (goosefoot), and Cirsium spp. (thistle). Its efficacy on grass weeds is minimal, so it is often combined with other herbicides to broaden its weed control spectrum.

Common Product Combinations:

To expand its control spectrum and improve effectiveness against grasses and resistant weeds, Chlorimuron-ethyl is frequently mixed with other herbicides. Some common mixtures include:

Chlorimuron-ethyl + Acetochlor

Acetochlor is a pre-emergence herbicide effective against grass weeds. When combined with Chlorimuron-ethyl, it provides comprehensive control over both broadleaf and grass weeds, making it ideal for soybean fields.

Chlorimuron-ethyl + Glyphosate

Glyphosate is a non-selective, broad-spectrum herbicide. In combination, it enhances control over tough and resistant weeds while Chlorimuron-ethyl provides selective control of broadleaf weeds.

Chlorimuron-ethyl + Quizalofop-p-ethyl

Quizalofop-p-ethyl is a selective herbicide targeting grass weeds. When mixed with Chlorimuron-ethyl, this combination effectively controls both grass and broadleaf weeds.

Chlorimuron-ethyl + Atrazine

This combination is often used in cornfields, where Atrazine provides additional control over resistant broadleaf and grass weeds, complementing Chlorimuron-ethyl’s action on broadleaf weeds.

Considerations:

Resistance Management: Prolonged use of sulfonylurea herbicides can lead to resistance in certain weed species. To mitigate this, Chlorimuron-ethyl should be rotated with herbicides that have different modes of action or used in mixtures.

Environmental Impact: Sulfonylurea herbicides have a long residual activity, so care should be taken when applying them to avoid adverse effects on succeeding crops, especially those sensitive to ALS inhibitors.

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