Sulfosulfuron 75% + Metsulfuron Methyl 5% WG Herbicide Uses

Sulfosulfuron 75% + Metsulfuron Methyl 5% WG is a selective, post-emergence premix herbicide combining two sulfonylurea actives, registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a water-dispersible granule (WG). It is registered specifically for wheat, for the control of the grassy weed Phalaris minor together with a wide range of broadleaf weeds. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage 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 wheat field match this herbicide's use case? This guide helps match weed identification to this herbicide's approved crop-wise uses.

Mode of Action

Both sulfosulfuron and metsulfuron methyl belong to the sulfonylurea group of herbicides, ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitors (Group 2 / Group B). They block the ALS enzyme, which plants need to synthesise the branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine and isoleucine) essential for cell division and growth. With ALS activity blocked, cell division halts at the weed's growing points (meristems); susceptible weeds stop growing within a few days of application, then turn yellow and reddish before becoming necrotic and dying over one to three weeks. Combining two ALS-inhibiting actives in one premix broadens the spectrum of weeds controlled in a single spray. Wheat tolerates this combination at the recommended dose because it metabolises (detoxifies) both actives faster than the labelled weeds can, which is what gives the herbicide its crop selectivity.

Features & Benefits

• Broader-spectrum wheat weed control than either active alone — a single spray controls the grassy weed Phalaris minor as well as a wide range of broadleaf weeds, including Chenopodium sp., Medicago denticulata, Coronopus didymus, Rumex spp., Melilotus alba and Anagallis arvensis.
• Fast-acting Group 2 (ALS-inhibitor) mode of action; treated weeds visibly stop growing within a few days of spraying, well before full plant death is apparent.
• Low use rate (around 16.2 g of product per acre) typical of modern selective post-emergence sulfonylurea herbicides, reducing product handling and cost per acre.
• Water-dispersible granule (WG) formulation mixes easily into the spray tank and is convenient to measure, store and handle compared to liquid concentrates.

Recommended Usage of Sulfosulfuron 75% + Metsulfuron Methyl 5% WG Herbicide

The table below gives the recommended dose, water volume and waiting period per acre for wheat, 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.

Sulfosulfuron 75% + Metsulfuron Methyl 5% WG is registered in India for wheat only — no other crop use is documented in the CIB&RC list. The dose above is converted from the CIB&RC-registered per-hectare rate (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres): sulfosulfuron 30 g a.i./ha + metsulfuron methyl 2 g a.i./ha, 40 g formulation/ha, 250–500 litres water/ha, plus a cationic surfactant at 1250 ml/ha. This product requires a cationic (non-ionic) surfactant added to the spray solution for effective uptake by the weeds — do not spray without it. 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 water-dispersible granule, first mix the recommended dose into a small quantity of water to make a smooth suspension, then add this to the spray tank while stirring continuously so it disperses evenly.
3. Add the recommended cationic (non-ionic) surfactant (~506 ml per acre) to the spray tank — this is essential for the herbicide to penetrate the weed leaf surface and work effectively; skipping the surfactant significantly reduces control.
4. Spray uniformly over the wheat field 25–30 days after sowing, while Phalaris minor and the labelled broadleaf weeds are still small and actively growing — spraying later, once weeds are larger and more established, significantly reduces effectiveness.
5. 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.
6. Do not tank-mix with other herbicides of a different chemistry unless specifically recommended on the label, and avoid spray drift onto neighbouring crops.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling the WG dust while opening the pack.
• Resistance of Phalaris minor to ALS-inhibitor (Group 2/sulfonylurea) herbicides 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 ACCase-inhibitor "FOP"/"DIM" herbicides) as part of an integrated weed-management program.
• Follow the recommended dose, surfactant rate and application window strictly — 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 wheat 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) of 110 days for wheat 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.