Pretilachlor 50% EC Herbicide Uses

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    Pretilachlor 50% EC is a selective, pre-emergence herbicide from the chloroacetanilide group, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), it is diluted in water and applied to standing water shortly after transplanting rice, forming a treatment layer that acts on weed seeds at the point of germination. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage for transplanted rice as per CIB-registered labels.

    Which Weeds Does This Control? (Field Identification Guide)

    Not sure whether the weeds appearing in your transplanted rice field fall within this herbicide's control range? This guide helps you identify the grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds it targets so you can confirm before spraying.

    Crop Weed (Common Name) How to Recognise It
    Transplanted Rice Echinochloa crus-galli / Echinochloa colonum — commonly called "सांवक" (Sanwak) by farmers, or barnyard grass / jungle rice Closely mimics young rice; stems are hairless and often reddish-purple at the base, the leaf lacks the small membrane (ligule) rice seedlings have at the leaf-stem junction, and it tillers heavily, soon overtopping the crop if left uncontrolled.
    Transplanted Rice Cyperus difformis / Cyperus iria — commonly called "मोथा" (Motha) by farmers, or nut grass / sedges Grass-like sedge with a distinctly triangular stem (not round) when rolled between the fingers; grows in tufts from the base and carries umbrella-like clusters of small brownish spikelets at the top of the stem.
    Transplanted Rice Fimbristylis miliacea — known as Hoora grass Small, densely tufted sedge with very thin, wiry, three-angled stems and tiny clustered brownish flower heads; easy to mistake for young Cyperus but has noticeably finer foliage.
    Transplanted Rice Eclipta alba — commonly called "भृंगराज" (Bhringraj) by farmers, or false daisy Low, spreading broadleaf weed with narrow, rough-textured, paired leaves and small white daisy-like flower heads; stems root easily wherever a node touches moist soil.
    Transplanted Rice Ludwigia parviflora — commonly called "बनलौंग" (Ban Long) by farmers, or water primrose Broadleaf weed of standing-water fields with narrow, lance-shaped leaves and small four-petalled yellow flowers close to the leaf joints; stems are often reddish and somewhat fleshy.
    Transplanted Rice Monochoria vaginalis — oval-leaf pondweed Broadleaf weed with glossy, heart-to-oval shaped leaves on long stalks rising from the base, and small violet-blue flower spikes; easily mistaken for a young aquatic ornamental if the field is not scouted early.
    Transplanted Rice Leptochloa chinensis — known as red sprangletop Fine, clumping grass with slender, slightly reddish stem bases and an open, spreading seed head made up of several thin, finger-like branches; often found alongside barnyard grass in the same fields.
    Transplanted Rice Panicum repens — known as bullet grass (torpedo grass) Perennial grass that spreads through sharp-pointed underground stems (rhizomes) resembling small bullets or torpedoes, which is where its common name comes from; forms dense creeping patches that are hard to remove by hand-weeding alone.

    Mode of Action

    Pretilachlor is a chloroacetanilide herbicide that inhibits the synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids needed to build new cell membranes in growing tissue. It has no effect on weeds that have already emerged and established true leaves; instead, it is absorbed by the coleoptile and young shoot of grass and sedge seeds as they germinate within the treated soil-water layer, blocking cell division at these growing points before the seedling can push through to the surface. Transplanted rice largely escapes injury because its root system is already established below the treated zone at the time of application. Because the herbicide only intercepts weeds at the germination stage, correct timing shortly after transplanting and maintaining a shallow standing water layer afterward are both essential for reliable control.

    Features & Benefits

    • Pre-emergence, soil/water-acting control that intercepts weeds before they compete with young transplanted rice for nutrients, light and space.
    • Broad spectrum of activity covering grasses (Echinochloa spp., Leptochloa chinensis, Panicum repens), sedges (Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis miliacea) and several broadleaf weeds (Eclipta alba, Ludwigia parviflora, Monochoria vaginalis) common in transplanted rice.
    • Emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation for straightforward tank-mixing with standard spray equipment.
    • A single, correctly timed application shortly after transplanting can reduce the need for repeated early-season hand-weeding.

    Recommended Usage of Pretilachlor 50% EC Herbicide

    The table below gives the CIB-registered dose, water volume, timing and waiting period per acre for transplanted rice, converted from the official per-hectare rate (1 hectare ≈ 2.47 acres). Always confirm against the current product label before use.

    Crop Target Weeds Dose per Acre Water Volume Application Timing Waiting Period (PHI)
    Transplanted Rice Echinochloa crus-galli, Echinochloa colonum, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis miliacea, Eclipta alba, Ludwigia parviflora, Monochoria vaginalis, Leptochloa chinensis, Panicum repens ≈202–304 g a.i. (≈405–607 ml formulation) ≈200–285 litres Pre-emergence, shortly after transplanting, into standing water 75–90 days

    Doses above are converted from the CIB-registered per-hectare rate (0.50–0.75 kg a.i./ha; 1.0–1.5 litres formulation/ha; 500–700 litres water/ha) for Pretilachlor 50% EC in transplanted rice. Always confirm the current pack label/CIB registration and consult your local agricultural extension office before use and before harvest.

    How to Use

    1. Apply shortly after transplanting, once the field has a thin layer of standing water, so the herbicide settles into a uniform layer at the soil-water interface where weed seeds are germinating.
    2. Mix the required quantity of Pretilachlor 50% EC thoroughly into the spray tank before application.
    3. Apply uniformly across the field, working backward so you do not walk through the just-treated area.
    4. Avoid draining treated water out of the field for at least 3–4 days after application, so the herbicide layer is not washed away before it can act on germinating weeds.
    5. Maintain a thin, standing water layer in the field for several days after application, since pretilachlor's activity depends on this water layer carrying it to germinating weed seeds.
    6. Do not use on direct-seeded or newly germinating rice unless specifically permitted on the current label, since young rice without an established root system can also be affected.

    Precautions & Safety

    • Wear appropriate PPE — mask, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and applying.
    • Apply only at the correct crop stage (shortly after transplanting) and dose given above; early or excess application can stunt young rice seedlings.
    • Maintain the recommended standing water depth after application; premature drainage or field overflow reduces weed control and can move the herbicide off-field.
    • Store in the original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food, feed and out of reach of children and livestock.
    • Respect the labelled 75–90 day waiting period (PHI) before harvest and follow your local agricultural extension advice for the latest guidance.
    • 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.

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