Herbicides Environmental Guidelines AGR 3102-14th Week

AGR 3102 (1)
Principles of Weed Science
Herbicide
Muhammad Saiful Ahmad Hamdani

Week 14 – Topics Covered
Herbicides:
• Environmental Fate of Herbicides
• Safety Guidelines in Handling

Herbicides
What is Environmental Fate?
• Simple definition: what happens to the herbicide

after it leaves the sprayer/after being
applied/washed from spray tank and enter the
environment.
• Herbicides (or any pesticide), following application

will be subjected to various removal processes from
its original site of application.
• The removal processes are known as the

"environmental fate of herbicides":
Fate of herbicides in the environment
Transfer/Movement Breakdown/Degradation
Processes (not good) Processes (good)
✓Soil adsorption ✓Microbial

✓Volatilization decomposition
✓Surface runoff ✓Chemical
✓Leaching decomposition
✓Plant uptake (absorption) ✓Photodecomposition
5
Impacts of Herbicide Movement
• Just how readily herbicides or any pesticides
move off-site from where they are applied
depends on the chemical and physical
characteristics of the individual pesticide.
• Over 90% of pesticides reach a destination other
than their target species, including non-target
species, air, water, bottom sediments, and food
(Miller, 2004).
• Once move off its target site application,
pesticides can become a source of
contamination to the environment = water, soil
and air pollutions
What Does Pollution Give Us???
oHuman health can be affected by
pesticide-contaminated surroundings via:
oSkin contact: polluted air and water.

oInhalation: breathing of dust or
spray of contaminated air.
oIngestion: pesticides consumed as
a contaminant on/in food or in
water.
Safeguards
•Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
•Only using pesticides that are labelled for the intended
crop and pest
•Considering application site characteristics (soil texture,
slope, organic matter)
•Considering the location of wells, ponds and other water
bodies
•Calibrate before spraye and measure herbicide accurately
•Maintaining application equipment and calibrating
accurately
• Mixing and loading carefully
• Preventing spills
• Considering the impact of weather and

irrigation
• Storing pesticides safely and securely
• Disposing of wastes safely
• Reducing off-target drift

Safety Guidelines in
Handling Herbicides
Herbicide Labels and Safety Guidelines
• Contains all information on the herbicide.

• Important for effective use of herbicides
and safety to environment.
• Info provided:
1 Product information
• Brand name
• Type of formulation
• Ingredient statement and % of concentration
2 Use information
Will tell you: • The crops or plants the
• Registered target products can be used on.
weeds. • In what form the
• How much to mix the product should be
product. applied.
• Compatibility with other • How to apply the
products. product.
• Where and when the • How frequently it should
herbicide should be be applied.
applied. • How soon the crop may
• How the product works. be used/eaten after
product is applied.
3 Safety information
- Child Hazard Warning: All herbicide

labels must come with the statement
”KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN &
FOODSTUFF”.
- Toxicity class & signal Words: DANGER,
POISON, WARNING, CAUTION.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Statements: wearing personal protective
equipment listed on the label: minimize
your exposure. Even when spray fertilizer!
PPE
The Correct Personal Protective Equipments and
Practices
4 Statement of Practical Treatment
• These statements tell you the first aid

treatments recommended in case of
exposure or poisoning.
5 Physical or Chemical Hazards
• These statements will tell you of any

special fire, explosion, or chemical
hazards the product may pose.
6 Environmental Information
• Some products are classified as RESTRICTED

USE HERBICIDE because of a potential
environmental hazard.
• Watch for special warning statements on the
label concerning hazards to the environment.
• For example:
- This product is highly toxic to bees.
- This product is toxic to fish.
- This product is toxic to birds and other
wildlife.
Summary
Reading the label is always the first thing to do!
• Read the label before purchasing the
herbicide, so you will buy the right
ones!!!
• Read the label before you mix the

herbicide(s), so you will mix it properly!!!
• Read the label before applying the
herbicide so you know:
- safety measures necessary!!!
- when and how to apply!!!
- where the herbicide can be used (crop
and/or non-crop areas)!!!
• Read the label before storing or

disposing of the herbicide and container,
so you know:
- where and how to store.
- how to properly clean and dispose of
the container.
Handle and Use Herbicides With
Great Care and Consider on.....
• Yourself (your health)

• Co-workers and people near you
• Crops and beneficial plants
• Other organisms and microorganisms
• Environment
General Conclusion AGR3102
1. Weeds among the most adaptable and

strongest plants alive (can adapt to almost
any condition/weather, still survive after
being stepped on, treated by herbicide etc…)
2. Weeds (esp. resistant ones) are fascinating

models for studying plant biology and
evolution.
SO… IF YOU WANT TO STUDY PLANTS,

STUDY THE BEST (BADDEST) ONES.
STUDY WEEDS!!!!! (Tranel 2010).
WHY STUDY WEEDS?
• Weeds always come as 5 in 1 package –

reduce crop yield; interfere with harvesting
process; host to other pests; increase
production cost; reduce product quality
• Potential plant/crop production –

potential food sources, ornamental, and
herbs/medicines (need more studies on
potential and nutritional value).
• Weed science is related to almost all aspects of
plant biology:
1. Plant physiology, molecular, biochemistry & genetic

studies – herbicide uptake and translocation,
metabolism, herbicide resistance, herbicide
chemistry, allelophaty, bioherbicide, seed dormancy.
2. Plant ecology studies – weeds part of ecosystem.
3. Soil, water & air – herbicide residue, degradation,
pollution, soil conservation (groundcover crops).
4. Plant biotechnology – herbicide GM and non GM
crops, novel herbicides.
5. Organic farming – natural+cultural weed control.
6. Agricultural engineering - studies on new &
sustainable tools/methods to control weeds.
• Allelophaty (alleloherbicide)
Weeds can become a national security issue!!!)
• Teaching assessment: by 14th week
• PBL presentation and submission:

15th May 2019 (After lab class)

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AGR 3102 (1)

Principles of Weed Science

Muhammad Saiful Ahmad Hamdani

• Environmental Fate of Herbicides

• Safety Guidelines in Handling

• Simple definition: what happens to the herbicide

• Herbicides (or any pesticide), following application

• The removal processes are known as the

✓Soil adsorption ✓Microbial

oSkin contact: polluted air and water.

• Considering the impact of weather and

• Storing pesticides safely and securely

• Disposing of wastes safely

• Reducing off-target drift

• Contains all information on the herbicide.

- Child Hazard Warning: All herbicide

• These statements tell you the first aid

5 Physical or Chemical Hazards

• These statements will tell you of any

• Some products are classified as RESTRICTED

• Read the label before you mix the

• Read the label before storing or

• Yourself (your health)

1. Weeds among the most adaptable and

2. Weeds (esp. resistant ones) are fascinating

SO… IF YOU WANT TO STUDY PLANTS,

• Weeds always come as 5 in 1 package –

• Potential plant/crop production –

1. Plant physiology, molecular, biochemistry & genetic

• PBL presentation and submission:

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