Agriculture

Agriculture

How Does Glufosinate-Ammonium Work?

Glufosinate-ammonium is a plant protection product that works by inhibiting an enzyme central to plant metabolism. Plants absorb this substance primarily through their leaves and other green parts. As a contact herbicide, Glufosinate-ammonium is effective only where it comes into contact with the plant. This allows it to control weeds without affecting the roots or requiring tillage, which is important especially for erosion-prone areas such as slopes.  

Effective against weeds while ensuring safety of crops

The primary mode of action of Glufosinate-ammonium is the inhibition of the enzyme glutamine synthetase. This enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia and plays a central role in plant nitrogen metabolism. This mode of action – unique among broad-spectrum herbicides – is key to mitigate developing resistance to other herbicides when used as part of an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) program. This includes the use of multiple herbicide modes-of-action as well as physical and biological weed control methods

 

If herbicides are not rotated due to limited availability or over-reliance on a few products such as Glyphosate, weeds that are naturally resistant will survive and propagate. The next generations will therefore have greater resistance, leading to significant crop damage. 

 

The unique mode of action of Glufosinate-ammonium is an effective alternative to the commonly-used Glyphosate and other herbicides.

 

Additionally, Glufosinate-ammonium is a contact herbicide, which means that the active substance is only effective where it comes into contact with the plant. The herbicide is rapidly degraded in soil, avoiding that it enters ground water supplies. As only few treatments are needed per growing season, farmers avoid expending considerable energy and resources by applying multiple herbicides on the crop.

Did you know?

  • Glufosinate-ammonium was first derived from cultures of soil bacteria Streptomyces viridochromogenesa and was found to be active as a herbicide in greenhouse tests in 1976.
  • In many countries, Glufosinate-ammonium is also the only product on the market registered for the control of weeds and suckers – or new branches emerging from the roots of a tree – without harming the mother tree.
farmer in soybean fields
What is Glufosinate-Ammonium?
Glufosinate-ammonium is a herbicide ensuring a high degree of crop safety by affecting only the part of a plant where it is applied.
Basics
Glufosinate-ammonium is one of the most widely-applied broad-spectrum herbicides, controlling weeds in a huge variety of crops worldwide.
Safety
The use of a plant protection product is only authorized if the resulting exposure of the consumer to residues is shown to be less than a toxicological limit which always includes a safety factor of at least 100.
Benefits
For more than 30 years, Glufosinate-ammonium has become one of the key herbicides in global agriculture. For farmers, the product offers a unique, simple and effective weed control in a variety of crops, while preserving a balance between the needs of the environment, economy and society.