The compound is widely used as a quick-acting, non-selective herbicide. It kills green plant tissue on contact and is redistibuted within the plant but does not harm mature bark. Being a herbicide, paraquat protects crops by controlling a wide range of annual and certain perennial weeds (unwanted plants) that reduce both crop yield and quality by competing with the crop for water, nutrients, and light. Paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world and is used to control annual and perennial weeds in a wide var ...

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Paraquat, Paraquat - Characteristics, Paraquat - Health Risks, Paraquat - Paraquat Pot, Paraquat - External link

Read more here: » Paraquat: Encyclopedia II - Paraquat - Characteristics

Agent Orange is the code name for a powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was used from 1961 to 1971, and was by far the most used of the so-called "rainbow herbicides" used during the program. Agent Orange (as well as Agents Purple, White, Pink and Green) contained dioxins which have caused serious harm to the health of exposed Vietnamese, Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans, as well as their children and grandchildren. Dioxin ...

Including:

• Agent Orange - Description
• Agent Orange - Use in Vietnam
• Agent Orange - Miscellaneous
• Agent Orange - Cultural references

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During the Vietnam War, the US instituted a massive herbicidal program that ran from 1961 through 1971. The aim of the program was two-fold, one to destroy the "cover" provided by the jungle-like forest, and another to deny food to the enemy. A variety of chemicals, fifteen in total, were tested or used operationally during this program. The primary broad-leaf herbicides sprayed during the "testing" phase of the program between 1962 and 1964 were Agent Orange, Agent Purple and Agent White. The chemicals themselves had no color, the na ...

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Agent Orange, Agent Orange - Description, Agent Orange - Use in Vietnam, Agent Orange - Miscellaneous, Agent Orange - Cultural references

Read more here: » Agent Orange: Encyclopedia II - Agent Orange - Use in Vietnam

Prior to the widespread use of chemical herbicides, cultural controls, such as altering soil pH, salinity, or fertility levels, were used to control weeds. Mechanical control (including tillage) was also (and still is) used to control weeds. The first widely used herbicide was 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, often abbreviated 2,4-D. It was developed by a British team during World War II and first saw widespread production and use in the late 1940s. It is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and kills many broadleaf plants while leavin ...

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Herbicide, Herbicide - History, Herbicide - Uses, Herbicide - Classification of herbicides, Herbicide - Application, Herbicide - Terminology, Herbicide - Some major herbicides in use today, Herbicide - Other herbicides of historical interest

Read more here: » Herbicide: Encyclopedia II - Herbicide - History

Herbicides can be grouped by activity, use, chemical family, mode of action, or type of vegetation controlled. By activity: Contact herbicides destroy only the plant tissue in contact with the chemical. Generally, these are the fastest acting herbicides. They are less effective on perennial plants, which are able to regrow from roots or tubers. Systemic herbicides are translocated through the plant, either from foliar application down to the roots, or from soil application up to the leaves. They can destroy a grea ...

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Herbicide, Herbicide - History, Herbicide - Uses, Herbicide - Classification of herbicides, Herbicide - Application, Herbicide - Terminology, Herbicide - Some major herbicides in use today, Herbicide - Other herbicides of historical interest

Read more here: » Herbicide: Encyclopedia II - Herbicide - Classification of herbicides

Most herbicides are applied as water-based sprays using ground equipment. Ground equipment varies in design, but large areas can be sprayed using self-propelled sprayers equipped with a long boom, of 60 to 80 feet (20 to 25 m) with flat fan nozzles spaced about every 20 in (500 mm). Towed, handheld, and even horse-drawn sprayers are also used. Herbicides can also be applied aerially using helicopters or airplanes, and can be applied ...

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Herbicide, Herbicide - History, Herbicide - Uses, Herbicide - Classification of herbicides, Herbicide - Application, Herbicide - Terminology, Herbicide - Some major herbicides in use today, Herbicide - Other herbicides of historical interest

Read more here: » Herbicide: Encyclopedia II - Herbicide - Application

Agent Orange is a roughly 1:1 mixture of the two phenoxy herbicides in ester form, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). These herbicides were developed during the 1940s by independent teams in England and the United States for use in controlling broad-leaf plants. Phenoxy agents work by mimicking a plant growth hormone, indoleacetic acid (IAA). When sprayed on broad-leaf plants they induce rapid, uncontrolled growth, eventually killing it. When sprayed on crops such as wheat or corn, it sele ...

See also:

Agent Orange, Agent Orange - Description, Agent Orange - Use in Vietnam, Agent Orange - Miscellaneous, Agent Orange - Cultural references

Read more here: » Agent Orange: Encyclopedia II - Agent Orange - Description

Paraquat is dangerously poisonous, and many people have died of paraquat poisoning. See http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/paraquat.htm Paraquat like many chemicals can be harmful if the guidlines for safe use are not followed. According to the Center for Disease Control, paraquat exposure can lead to several health risks, such as liver, lung, heart, and kidney failure in a matter of weeks after exposure to a medium dose of paraquat. A more extensive list of paraquat health information and risks can be found here: http://www.b ...

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Paraquat, Paraquat - Characteristics, Paraquat - Health Risks, Paraquat - Paraquat Pot, Paraquat - External link

Read more here: » Paraquat: Encyclopedia II - Paraquat - Health Risks