Herbicide

From WikiMD's medical encyclopedia

Herbicides are chemical substances used to control, suppress, or kill unwanted plants, commonly known as weeds. They are a crucial part of modern agriculture and landscape pest management.

History

The use of herbicides has a long history, dating back to the ancient Romans and Greeks who used certain plants to suppress the growth of weeds in their crops. The modern era of herbicides began in the early 20th century with the discovery of synthetic organic herbicides.

Types of Herbicides

Herbicides can be classified into two main types: selective and non-selective. Selective herbicides are designed to kill specific types of plants, while non-selective herbicides kill all plants they come into contact with.

Mode of Action

Herbicides work by disrupting a specific process essential to the plant's growth. The mode of action can be grouped into several categories, including growth regulators, amino acid synthesis inhibitors, photosynthesis inhibitors, and others.

Environmental Impact

While herbicides have greatly increased agricultural productivity, their use has also raised concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Some herbicides can persist in the environment for long periods, potentially contaminating soil and water.

Safety and Regulation

The use of herbicides is regulated by various national and international agencies to ensure their safe use. These regulations cover aspects such as the approval of new herbicides, their application, and the maximum residue levels allowed in food.

See Also

References

WHO Rod.svg
This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
PubMed
Wikipedia


Stub icon
   This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!

Herbicide

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Transform your life with W8MD's budget GLP-1 injections from $125.

W8mdlogo.png
W8MD weight loss doctors team

W8MD offers a medical weight loss program to lose weight in Philadelphia. Our physician-supervised medical weight loss provides:

NYC weight loss doctor appointments

Start your NYC weight loss journey today at our NYC medical weight loss and Philadelphia medical weight loss clinics.

Linkedin_Shiny_Icon Facebook_Shiny_Icon YouTube_icon_(2011-2013) Google plus


Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD