Herbicide classification

Characteristics of each chemical group differs from each other so it is important to know to what group a herbicide belongs before applying it to a plant. Active ingredient will also provide an indication of lead time before a crop can he safely harvested.  There are so many ways of classifying herbicides that we decided only to use groups and active ingredients.  Herbicides can also be classified according to:

  • Application to crops
  • Danger groups or hazard classification: Ia, Ib, II, III & IV
  • Formulation type
  • Time of application
  • Waiting period

For a complete guide to the use of herbicides in South Africa please contact:

The Directorate: Food Safety & Quality Assurance
Department of Agriculture
Directorate Agricultural Information Services
Private Bag X144
012 319 7141

Characteristics of each chemical group differs from each other so it is important to know to what g roup an herbicide belongs before applying it to a plant.
GroupActive ingredient
Acetanilidesdimethanamid
Amidespropyzamide
Aryloxyalkanoic acids2,4-D
Aryloxyalkanoic acids2,4-DB
Aryloxyalkanoic acidsfluroxypyr
Aryloxyalkanoic acidsMCPA
Aryloxyalkanoic acidsMCPB
Aryloxyalkanoic acidsTriclopyr
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidsclodinafop
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidsdiclofop
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidsfenoxaprop-P
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidsfluazifop-P
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidshaloxyfop
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidspropaquizafop
Aryloxyphenoxy propionic acidsquizalofop-P
Benzoic acidschlorthal
Benzoic acidsdicamba
Bipyridyliumsdiquat
Bipyridyliumsparaquat
Chloroacetanilidesacetochlor
Chloroacetanilidesalachlor
metolachlormetolachlor
metolachlorpropachlor
Cyclohexanedionecycloxydim
Cyclohexanedionetralkoxydim
Dinitroanalinesbenfluralin
Dinitroanalinesoryzalin
Dinitroanalinespendimethalin
Dinitroanalinestrifluralin
Diphenyl ethersbifenox
Diphenyl ethersfluroglycofen
Diphenyl ethersfomesafen
Diphenyl ethersoxyfluorfen
FungusCylindrobasidium laeve
Hydroxybenzonitrilesbromoxynil
Hydroxybenzonitrilesioxynil
Imidazolinonesimazamehtabenz
Imidazolinonesimazamox
Imidazolinonesimazapyr
Imidazolinonesimazethapyr
Methyl isothiocyanate precursorsdazomet
Methyl isothiocyanate precursorsmetam
Organoarsenic compoundsMSMA
Phthalimideflumioxazin
Pyridazinoneschloridazon
Pyridazinonesnorflurazon
Pyridinecarbolic acidsclopyralid
Pyridinecarbolic acidspicloram
Pyridinecarbolic acidsthiazopyr
4-Pyridonefluridone
Sulfonylureaschlorimuron
Sulfonylureaschlorsulfuron
Sulfonylureasethoxsulfuron
Sulfonylureasflazasulfuron
Sulfonylureashalosulfuron
Sulfonylureasmetsulfuron
Sulfonylureasnicosulfuron
Sulfonylureasprosulfuron
Sulfonylureasrimsulfuron
Sulfonylureassulfosulfuron
Sulfonylureasthifensulfuron
Sulfonylureastriasulfuron
Sulfonylureastribenuron
ThiocarbamatesEPTC
Thiocarbamatespebulate
Triazinesametryn
Triazinesatrazine
Triazinescyanazine
Triazineshexazinone
Triazinesprometryn
Triazinespropazine
Triazinessimazine
Triazinesterbuthylazine
Triazinesterbutryn
Triazinonemetribuzin
Triazoleamitrole
Triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilideflumetsulam
Triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilidemetosulam
Uracilsbromocil
Uracilsterbacil
Urea compoundsdiuron
Urea compoundsethidimuron
Urea compoundsfluometuron
Urea compoundslinuron
Urea compoundstebuthiuron
Unclassified compoundsbendioxide
Unclassified compoundscarfentrazone-ethyl
Unclassified compoundsclomazone
Unclassified compoundsdiflufenican
Unclassified compoundsflurochloridone
Unclassified compoundsglufosinate-ammonium
Unclassified compoundsglyphosate
Unclassified compoundsglyphosate trimesium
Unclassified compoundsoxadiazon
Unclassified compoundsproprop
Unclassified compoundssulcotrione

Featured image credit: Photo by Mathias Reding

By Categories: HerbicidesTags: , 0 Comments on Herbicide classificationLast Updated: December 28, 2024

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About the Author: Antonius

I studied agriculture at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa in 1984 and completing my M.Sc Agric. in 1998. . My love for "Controlled Environmental Agriculture" (CEA), started in my third year when I was exposed to the Welgevallen Research Station. There Prof. P.C.Maree showed us what hydroponics and vegetable farming consisted of. It was awesome. There were no large tractors involved, no dusty fields, no uncontrollable storms to destroy your crop (well that is what I thought). Since then I put hydroponics and other aspects of horticulture to much better use, not just farming. We solved pollution problems by cleaning mines effluent with hydroponics and permaculture. They were used to remove toxic metals to produce clean water (which we sold and make more money of than the produce). What I learned from 1987 I tried to compile in this website and I hope it is from some value to the serious commercial farmer that wants to take the journey into Commercial Farming.

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