In oil palm production herbicides often constitute an important component of weed management and may be used for a wide variety of purposes, including preparation of land for planting, clearing roads, paths and waterways, ground cover management, maintaining a weed-free ‘circle’ around the palm base, treating volunteer oil palm (VOP), killing woody trees (by trunk injection for example).

The toxicity and environmental and ecological fate of a herbicide active ingredient is related to, and may be influenced by, the chemical and physical properties of the active ingredient, its mode of action, the formulation of the product containing it, how it is used and prevailing environmental conditions (this also applies to any additives, such as adjuvants and surfactants, included in a product formulation).

That's why we must use herbicides wisely.
However, if herbicide use is reduced, can we still get satisfactory weed control results?