Clodinafop Propargyl 15% WP Herbicide Uses

Clodinafop Propargyl 15% WP is a selective, post-emergence herbicide from the aryloxyphenoxypropionate ("FOP") chemical group, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a wettable powder (WP). It is registered specifically for the control of narrow-leaved grassy weeds in wheat — most importantly Phalaris minor, the single most yield-limiting weed of wheat across the wheat belt of north India, including Punjab — applied as an early post-emergence spray directly over the standing crop. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage for wheat as documented on manufacturer labels and cross-checked against the official product page.

Which Weeds Does This Control? (Field Identification Guide)

Not sure whether the weeds in your wheat field match this herbicide's use case? This guide helps match weed identification to herbicides sold under brand names including Topik (Syngenta) and Jhatka (UPL).

Mode of Action

Clodinafop propargyl belongs to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate ("FOP") family within the broader ACCase-inhibitor group of herbicides (Group 1 / Group A). It acts by inhibiting acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), an enzyme essential for fatty acid biosynthesis in actively growing plant tissue. Fatty acids are needed to build new cell membranes at a plant's growing points (meristems); by blocking ACCase, the herbicide halts membrane and lipid synthesis there, so susceptible grass weeds stop growing within a day or two of spraying — leaves and growing points typically turn reddish-purple, then yellow and brown, with the plant dying over one to three weeks. Because this type of ACCase inhibitor acts on the grass-specific (chloroplastic) form of the enzyme, it is selective to grasses and does not affect broadleaf plants. Wheat is itself a grass, but it tolerates clodinafop propargyl at the recommended dose because it rapidly metabolises (detoxifies) the herbicide into inactive compounds before it can act, whereas Phalaris minor and wild oat cannot detoxify it fast enough — this differential metabolism is what gives the herbicide its crop selectivity.

Features & Benefits

• Targeted, selective control of Phalaris minor (canary grass) and wild oat — the two most damaging grass weeds of wheat across north India — without injury to the wheat crop when used as per label.
• Fast-acting Group 1 (ACCase-inhibitor) mode of action; treated weeds visibly stop growing within a day or two of spraying, well before full plant death is apparent.
• Low use rate (around 160 g of product per acre) typical of modern selective post-emergence sulfonylurea/FOP-class herbicides, reducing product handling and cost per acre.
• A single, correctly timed early post-emergence spray (30–35 days after sowing) can give season-long grass-weed control in wheat, reducing the need for repeated hand-weeding.

Recommended Usage of Clodinafop Propargyl 15% WP Herbicide

The table below gives the recommended dose and water volume per acre for wheat, based on the manufacturer's official product page and cross-checked against independent manufacturer labels. Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

Clodinafop Propargyl 15% WP is registered in India only for use in wheat — no other crop use is documented on the current label. The dose above (160 g/acre) is the manufacturer-listed label rate (400 g/ha, converted using 1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres), cross-checked between the official product page and an independent manufacturer label sheet, both of which agree closely. Always confirm the current product label and PHI/waiting period before use.

How to Use

1. Confirm your field is sown with wheat — this herbicide's label covers wheat only, and it is not recommended for any other crop.
2. Since this is a wettable powder, first mix the recommended dose into a small quantity of water to make a smooth, lump-free paste, then add this to the full spray tank volume while stirring continuously so it disperses evenly.
3. Spray uniformly over the wheat field 30–35 days after sowing, while Phalaris minor and wild oat are still small (2–4 leaf stage) — spraying later, once weeds are larger and more established, significantly reduces effectiveness.
4. Use a knapsack or power sprayer fitted with a flat-fan nozzle for uniform coverage, and spray during calm, dry weather — avoid spraying in windy conditions or when rain is expected within a few hours, as this reduces efficacy and increases drift.
5. Do not tank-mix with other herbicides of a different chemistry unless specifically recommended on the label, and avoid spray drift onto neighbouring paddy nurseries or other non-wheat crops.
6. Do not re-sow the treated field with a crop other than wheat within the season without checking the label's rotational-crop restrictions.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling the wettable powder dust while opening the pack.
• Resistance of Phalaris minor to ACCase-inhibitor (Group 1/"FOP") herbicides, including clodinafop propargyl, is a well-documented and increasingly common problem in intensively wheat-cropped areas of Punjab and Haryana; avoid repeated, season-after-season use of the same mode-of-action group, and rotate with herbicides from a different group (such as sulfonylureas) as part of an integrated weed-management program.
• Follow the recommended dose and application window strictly — both underdosing (poor weed control and faster development of resistant weed populations) and overdosing (potential crop injury, especially to a stressed or waterlogged crop) reduce field performance.
• Do not spray on a wheat crop that is under stress from waterlogging, drought, frost or nutrient deficiency, as this can increase the risk of crop injury.
• Store in the original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food and feed, and out of reach of children and livestock.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying, and change out of contaminated clothing before eating, drinking or smoking.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office and confirm the current product label before use.