Nicosulfuron is a herbicide for maize, and forage maize in particular, which has been in use since the early 1990s. Nicosulfuron is a broad spectrum herbicide that controls a wide range of maize weeds, both annual weeds and perennial weeds. Nicosulfuron is a systemic selective herbicide, displaying genera-selectivity, therefore ensuring it is effective at killing other plants growing near the maize – even those grasses closely related to maize. This selectivity is achieved by the maize plants ability to metabolise nicosulfuron into harmless compounds. This compound works by being absorbed through the leaves (it is a foliar application) and travelling through the xylem to the meristematic regions. Here it inhibits the activity of acetolactase synthase, a key enzyme required for cell division and plant growth. Application will result in the post emergence growth of weeds within a few hours and death will result within 20 – 25 days. It will thereby be effective at controlling post-emergent weeds such as annual and perennial grass weeds, sedges and broad-leaved weeds such as Sorghum halepense and Agropyron repens . This compound is easy to use, requires no adjuvant and does no wash into the soil. It is harmless to birds, fish, bees and insects.
