What type of herbicides are mixed into the soil before planting crops?

Preplant incorporated herbicides are specifically designed to be mixed into the soil before the planting of crops. This practice allows the herbicide to be activated by moisture and incorporated throughout the root zone, providing effective weed control as the crops emerge. By working this type of herbicide into the soil, it helps to create a barrier against weed germination while minimizing potential phytotoxicity to the crops themselves.

The application of preplant incorporated herbicides is strategic because it targets the weed seeds in the soil, which is crucial for effective weed management. This method can establish longer-lasting control compared to other herbicide types that may be applied post-emergence or as a surface spray.

Other options like post-emergent herbicides are applied after the crop has emerged, which may not be as effective in preventing weed competition right from the start. Contact herbicides act on the parts of plants that they directly touch but do not have long-lasting effects in the soil. Systemic herbicides, meanwhile, are absorbed and translocated within the plant to control growth, but they are not typically mixed into the soil before planting. This further highlights why preplant incorporated herbicides are the ideal choice for soil treatment prior to planting.