Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC Herbicide Uses

Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC is a selective, post-emergence herbicide from the aryloxyphenoxypropionate ("FOP") chemical group, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC). It is registered across seven major crops — soybean, rice, blackgram, cotton, onion, groundnut and jute — for the control of grassy weeds, applied as a post-emergence spray at a crop-specific timing window. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage for each crop as per the official Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) list of approved herbicide uses (Government of India), cross-checked against manufacturer labels.

Which Weeds Does This Control? (Field Identification Guide)

Not sure whether the weeds in your field match this herbicide's use case? This guide helps match weed identification to this herbicide's approved crop-wise uses.

Mode of Action

Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl belongs to the aryloxyphenoxypropionate ("FOP") family within the broader ACCase-inhibitor group of herbicides (Group 1 / Group A) — the same mode-of-action class as clodinafop-propargyl. 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 or most broadleaf crops. The crops it is registered on tolerate fenoxaprop-p-ethyl at the recommended dose because they rapidly metabolise (detoxify) the herbicide into inactive compounds before it can act, whereas the susceptible grassy weeds listed above cannot detoxify it fast enough — this differential metabolism is what gives the herbicide its crop selectivity.

Features & Benefits

• Broad-spectrum, post-emergence control of major grassy weeds (Echinochloa, Digitaria, Eleusine, Setaria, Brachiaria, Dactyloctenium, Eragrostis) across seven important crops, without injury to the 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.
• Registered across a wide range of crop-specific timing windows (DAS/DAT), allowing it to fit into the weed-control program of several major kharif and other crops.
• A single, correctly timed post-emergence spray can give effective in-season grassy-weed control, reducing the need for repeated hand-weeding.

Recommended Usage of Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC Herbicide

The table below gives the recommended dose, water volume, timing and waiting period per acre for each crop, converted from the CIB&RC-registered per-hectare rate — see the note below the table for conversion details. Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl 9.3% EC is registered in India for use in soybean, rice, blackgram, cotton, onion, groundnut and jute — no other crop use is documented in the CIB&RC list. The doses above are converted from the CIB&RC-registered per-hectare rates (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres) as follows: Soybean 100 g a.i./ha, 1111 ml formulation/ha, 250–300 litres water/ha; Rice 56.25 g a.i./ha, 625 ml formulation/ha, 300–375 litres water/ha; Blackgram 56.25–67.5 g a.i./ha, 625–750 ml formulation/ha, 375–500 litres water/ha; Cotton 67.5 g a.i./ha, 750 ml formulation/ha, 375–500 litres water/ha; Onion 78.75 g a.i./ha, 875 ml formulation/ha, 375 litres water/ha; Groundnut 78.75 g a.i./ha, 875 ml formulation/ha, 375 litres water/ha; Jute 67.5 g a.i./ha, 750 ml formulation/ha, 375 litres water/ha. These agree closely with manufacturer label rates. The waiting period (PHI) and timing window differ by crop, as shown in the table above. Always confirm the current product label and PHI/waiting period before use.

How to Use

1. Confirm your field is sown with one of the seven registered crops (soybean, rice, blackgram, cotton, onion, groundnut or jute) — this herbicide's label covers only these crops, each with its own timing window.
2. Since this is an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), it mixes directly with water — measure the recommended dose and add it to the spray tank, half-filled with water, stirring continuously; top up to the required water volume with continued agitation. No pre-mixing paste or suspension step is needed, unlike wettable powder or granule formulations.
3. Spray at the crop-specific timing given in the table above — for soybean and blackgram this is 15–20 days after sowing (DAS), for rice it is 10–15 days after transplanting (DAT), and for cotton it is 20–25 DAS; for onion, groundnut and jute, spray post-emergence once weeds are small and actively growing. Applying too late, once weeds are large, 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 broadleaf crops or nurseries of crops not on this label.
6. Do not re-sow the treated field with a crop other than the one treated 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.
• Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl belongs to Group 1 (ACCase-inhibitor, "FOP"), the same mode-of-action group as clodinafop-propargyl and other "fop"/"dim" grass killers; avoid repeated, season-after-season use of the same mode-of-action group on the same field, and rotate with herbicides from a different group (such as Group 15 or Group 27) as part of an integrated weed-management program to delay resistance development.
• Follow the recommended dose, timing window and application rate strictly for each crop — both underdosing (poor weed control and faster development of resistant weed populations) and overdosing (potential crop injury) reduce field performance.
• Do not spray on a crop that is under stress from waterlogging, drought, frost or nutrient deficiency, as this can increase the risk of crop injury.
• Respect the labelled waiting period (PHI), which differs widely by crop — from 5 days in jute and 10 days in onion, up to 100 days in soybean — before harvest, and follow your local agricultural extension advice for the latest guidance.
• 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.