propanil 360g/lEC rice herbicide weeds killer control

Originally introduced to China in the 1960s, propanil was gradually overshadowed by other active ingredients due to cost considerations. However, recent shifts in farming practices and the rapid emergence of weed resistance have revitalized interest in this traditional product, enabling its strong resurgence in managing weeds in rice fields.

Highly effective and safe herbicide with unique efficacy against barnyard grass

Propanil is an old selective contact herbicide belonging to the amide class. It is primarily employed in transplanted or direct-seeded rice fields to combat a variety of grass and dicotyledonous weeds, such as heartleaf false pickerelweed, cress, crabgrass, and green bristlegrass.

The renewed popularity of propanil can be attributed to several factors: its high safety profile, exceptional effectiveness against barnyard grass, low potential for resistance development, and cost-effectiveness. The results of propanil application are comparable to those of paraquat. Propanil works mainly at the contact site, exhibiting minimal translocation within the plant. Its mechanism of action disrupts photosynthesis, inhibits respiration, and interferes with nucleic acid and protein synthesis, consequently affecting the physiological functions of sensitive plants, accelerating dehydration, causing leaf desiccation, and ultimately leading to plant death.

Because propanil is rapidly hydrolyzed into non-toxic substances by hydrolases within rice plants, and given that rice’s degradation capacity is twenty times greater than that of barnyard grass, it is considered highly safe for rice.

New strategy for managing resistant weeds in rice fields in China

In recent years, the widespread adoption of direct-seeded rice and accelerated land transfers in China have exacerbated the issue of resistant weeds, such as barnyard grass, crabgrass, and moleplant seed. Despite a variety of herbicide products available on the market, few meet the criteria of high safety, low resistance potential, and specific efficacy against barnyard grass. The performance of conventional rice herbicides has often been subpar, with an increased likelihood of weed resurgence, particularly during the hot summer months when early weed control failures are common.

In response to this challenge, propanil, due to its rapid action and low potential for weed resistance development, has been utilized as a supplementary approach in rice field weed management, serving as a crucial last line of defense. After application, propanil quickly dehydrates weeds, demonstrating significant efficacy. During the rice growth period, it effectively reduces the initial weed population and shows rapid results in later stages, capitalizing on its strengths. In 2023, Chinese companies innovated by employing propanil for ″initial application,″ targeting the early emergence of resistant weeds such as barnyard grass and crabgrass, thus minimizing the risk of subsequent supplementary applications.