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Herbicide Technology


Course Description

Provides students with a detailed overview of herbicide chemistry and application. Topics will include biological and chemical properties of most commonly used herbicides, adjuvants for herbicides, environmental fate of herbicides, and details of the physiochemical factors affecting herbicide application.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to read classic and/or recent papers in herbicide chemistry assigned to them by the instructor and turn in weekly assignments based on the papers. Assignments will be designed to encourage critical thinking. To enhance presentation and teaching skills, graduate students will be required to make a presentation to the class on a recent paper in herbicide chemistry chosen by the instructor. Graduate students will also be required to write a term paper on a current topic in herbicide chemistry. The topic for the term paper will be chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. Students will need to demonstrate the ability to critically read scientific papers and to integrate scientific information from multiple sources.


Athena Title

Herbicide Technology


Undergraduate Prerequisite

CRSS 4340/6340 or CRSS 4340E/6340E


Graduate Prerequisite

CRSS 4340/6340 or CRSS 4340E/6340E


Semester Course Offered

Offered spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Student learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to identify problem weeds in row crop, non-crop, and turf situations.
  • Students will understand how extension specialists and research personnel are applying the principles of weed science to solve weed management problems.
  • Students will understand new technologies for solving weed management problems.

Topical Outline

  • I. Weeds and Herbicide Use
  • II. History of Herbicide Use
  • III. Herbicide Discovery
  • IV. Herbicide Application - Nozzles and Adjuvants
  • V. Herbicide Chemistry A. Physiochemical Properties B. Structure-Activity Relationships C. Biological Activity D. Mechanism of Action E. Selectivity F. Toxicology G. Environmental Fate H. Use
  • VI. Herbicide Resistant Crops
  • VII. Herbicide Resistant Weeds
  • VIII. Dose Response Analysis
  • IX. Antagonism-Synergism Analysis of Herbicides

Syllabus