Polymeric Systems for the Delivery of Herbicides to Improve Weed Control Efficiency

Abstract

Weeds are unwanted plants, which interfere with the crop production. Weeds compete with crops for resources, causing severe yield loss. Chemical weed con- trol through herbicides is a quite effective and reliable strategy to manage weeds. Herbicides constitute a major share of the global pesticide market. However, the applied herbicides undergo losses in the agroecosystem in different ways (chemi cal degradation, microbial decomposition, photo-degradation, leaching, run-off, and volatilization), thus lowering the herbicidal action coupled with contaminating eco- system and groundwater. Encapsulation of herbicides is an innovative approach that addresses issues associated with the application of herbicides for controlling weeds. Encapsulation represents the embedding of an active ingredient in shell of polymeric material to achieve the controlled release of the active ingredient at the desired rate. The encapsulation of herbicides enhances stability, solubility, and bioac tivity and alters the release pattern of herbicide resulting in improved weed control efficiency. Further, encapsulation lowers the application rate of herbicides, which in turn reduces the residue carryover of herbicide in soil and minimizes the environmental hazards. Therefore, encapsulated herbicide formulation has greater significance in the future weed management and will become ground-breaking technology in the chemical era of weed control.