Herbicides

A farmer is spraying herbicide Weed Killer (Glyphosate) in a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 20, 2025. Herbicides are chemicals used to control unwanted vegetation, primarily in row-crop farming. They are applied before or during planting to enhance crop productivity by reducing competition from other plants. Herbicides cause a "burn" effect on weeds, mainly contact herbicides that disrupt cell membranes and damage tissues quickly. This results in water-soaked spots, wilting, browning, and tissue death, giving a visual appearance of "burning."