The weeds that surround the potato take away moisture and a lot of nutrients and nutrients, thereby provoking the diseases of the potato, a significant decrease in its yield and deterioration of external and qualitative indicators. In a neglected garden, potatoes cannot grow normally and produce a large crop. In solving this problem, mechanical methods of weed control are not always effective, but herbicides can always help gardeners, drugs intended for the destruction of unwanted and harmful plants.
Description and Impact
At first, weeds were fought solely with the help of mechanical treatment: they prepared the soil before planting, removed the weeds that had appeared from the ground, and did not allow the weeds to propagate by seed. But all mechanical methods of struggle did not become a guarantee of protection against weeds, and the constant loosening of the soil contributed to the evaporation of moisture and its dryness, as well as sometimes the spread of infection. Herbicides came to the rescue. 
The term "herbicides", meaning the totality of all chemical means for the protection of cultivated plants, appeared in one thousand nine hundred and forty-fourth year, its name translated means "plant" and "destroy." In the fight against weeds, herbicides, unlike mechanical methods of treatment, are almost always one step further, not allowing harmful plants to grow.
Did you know? Salt was one of the first, known in ancient times, ways to combat weeds.There are many different types of herbicides. By chemical components, they are divided into organic and inorganic. By the nature of the impact on plants, they are divided into drugs that affect in certain doses only selectively certain types of weeds, and drugs that affect all types of vegetation, and not only weeds.
See also the most common types of herbicides.
Herbicides of selective action, in turn, are divided into widely selective (their action extends to many species of weeds) and narrowly selective (they destroy plants of one species). Also, according to the method of movement and the field of action of a plant, these substances can be contact (they act only at the site of contact or contact with the plant, not reaching the root) and systemic (when they hit a certain part of the plant, they are distributed with the juice completely, destroying the root system). Systemic herbicides are most suitable for use in the fight against weeds, having a developed root, with which it is almost impossible to cope mechanically.
Important! If the required dose of use is exceeded, contact herbicides can become systemic drugs.The fastest and easiest way to get rid of even a perennial weed and avoid transferring diseases to healthy bushes, many gardeners consider using a herbicide as part of a solution intended for spraying.
Preparations are recommended to be used in work only with healthy potato bushes, applying them according to the terms of the most effective action and choosing the right means themselves. It should be borne in mind that some varieties of potatoes do not tolerate the use of certain substances with chemical properties. In this case treatment with herbicides of systemic action is not recommended, it is better to apply contact action substances after germination. To minimize the effect of chemicals on fruits, the use of herbicides in the correct dosage should be alternated with mechanical treatment. Powders that need to be dissolved, emulsion and suspension concentrates — such are the forms of herbicide release.Did you know? During the war with Vietnam, the United States used a herbicide to spray Agent Orange in the jungle, which severely affected the population of the country and the American soldiers themselves, and people who are victims of this operation and suffer from hereditary genetic diseases live in Vietnam to this day.
Popular and effective means
In terms of use, weed killing plants can be divided into pre-emergence, post-emergence, and those that are used regardless of the stage of development of the cultivated plant. 
Pre-emergence
Herbicides for potatoes that are used on the shoots of weeds, until the potatoes have risen, or before planting, are called pre-emergence or soil. They are introduced into the ground during the irrigation process or in dry form. Preventing the emergence of weeds for a long time - the main advantage of this type of means of combating weeds. Several types of these drugs are widely known.
Zencore - quite effective in combating various weeds. It consists of metribuzin, which makes it one of the best herbicides. Zenkor is released in granules that must be dissolved in water. It destroys weeds during germination, due to the effects on the plant itself and on the soil. A small rain will only add to the effectiveness of the effects of the drug on the weeds, and heavy rain can wash it out of the ground. How much resistant the protection of soil and potatoes from weeds will depend on several factors: the moisture of the earth, the type of soil, and the air temperature. The drug does not adversely affect the potato, but some varieties of potatoes after applying Zenkora amenable to the process of wilting. It is better to apply the remedy until the potatoes sprout, and weeds have already appeared on the surface of the earth. The effect of the drug is noticeable after one or two weeks. For all the time of Zenkar’s existence, no cases have been heard that indicated weed resistance to the action of the preparation. It is very reliable and can be widely used in different parts of the country.
Roundup - preparation of continuous effects on plants with a low level of toxicity based on glyphosate. Qualitatively destroys weeds with roots. Can be used in the autumn or in the spring for several weeks before planting. After a short period of several days, the weeds will begin to fade. 
Antiburyan - means of continuous action on more than three hundred types of weeds. Herbicide in compliance with the norms of application does not affect the potato, and most importantly - is quickly removed from the soil. It is used in the fall and in the spring before planting potatoes. 
Gezagard - representative of herbicides for potatoes before germination, used for a couple of weeks before planting crops and intended to combat annual weeds, as well as cereals. 
Boxer - a preparation used in the soil and serving to destroy dicotyledonous and annual cereal weeds.
Post-emergence
Post-emergence (leaf) herbicides from weeds act on the aerial parts of weeds after they have started to grow, and can be used for processing on potatoes.
Titus - an excellent product from the category of herbicides for potatoes to control weeds after sprouting potatoes to a height of 5-20 centimeters, controls their appearance and keeps the crop safe. This drug destroys both annual and perennial weeds stops the process of their development and growth, does not adversely affect the potato. Titus is best used during wet, warm weather. He is completely free from weeding. 
Lapis lazuli - a remedy for annual weeds of selective action based on metribuzin. It is used for the first time at a height of potato shoots of 2-5 centimeters, again - in a month against wheatgrass, quinoa, chamomile, sow thistle, dandelion and other weeds. The most effective time for treatment with a herbicide is dry weather, for example a light rain. Metribuzin after application through the leaves gets into the root of the plant, destroys the weed, stopping the metabolism in it, preventing the supply of oxygen and moisture. Burian fades and dries, not having a chance to appear again. Lapis lazuli practically does not represent a danger to human health, it does not get into the potato, but when working with the drug, you must follow the safety rules described in the instructions.
Regardless of the development phase
Herbicides from weeds used for potatoes, regardless of their stage of development, are universal preparations.
Zellök super - drug from cereal weeds for potato systemic action. Its distinctive feature is the fact of persistence before precipitation, it can be used one hour before it starts to rain. Weeds are destroyed within two weeks after exposure to the funds. Resistant wheatgrass roots become dust. 
Shogun - representative of herbicides from annual and perennial weeds for potato systemic action. The tool is used with the growth of wheatgrass in 12-15 centimeters, regardless of the phase of development of potatoes.
Centurion - a means of systemic action for the control of cereal weeds on the basis of cell-dima. Requires additional use of adhesive Amigo, enhancing its action.
If you want to quickly and effectively protect cultivated plants from excess seedlings, also use the following herbicides: "Tornado", "Callisto", "Dual Gold", "Prima", "Stomp", "Hurricane Forte", "Reglon Super", " Agrokiller, Lontrel-300 and Ground.
Rules of application
Most often, herbicides are used in fields with a large area. It makes sense to use them in private gardens only when manual processing does not help to cope with weeds. This is usually the case when the land was occupied by weeds with large roots, when weeding them, the pieces of the roots still remain in the ground and later grow back again. Often on weeds survive the winter of harmful microorganisms that can cause various diseases of potatoes, late blight. Therefore, the sooner herbicides can be used to kill weeds, the greater the chance of not infecting potatoes. Also, with the manual processing of new potatoes, it is easy to damage its roots, with the use of means this can be avoided. 
Important! Although herbicides are not very dangerous for human health, the use of a gauze bandage or respirator, gloves, glasses, and closed clothing will be important when processing.When applying herbicides, never Do not forget about the norms of their use, always follow the instructions. There are also several nuances that can improve the effect of these substances. For greater effectiveness of the action of drugs, the optimum soil moisture should not exceed eighty percent. Loosened structure of the earth contributes to the uniform distribution of funds throughout the site.
When applying it is necessary to take into account the state of the weather, suitable for this process is the absence of precipitation, windlessness, dryness and very high air temperatures are also unfavorable factors. If the tubers are planted shallowly, then the use of herbicides is not desirable, since it is necessary to avoid getting the substance on the roots. If the potato was affected by frosts or diseases, then the herbicidal agent should not be allowed to hit it. 
The level of coverage of the land weeds - One of the main criteria when choosing a tool. If there are a lot of weed roots, then it is optimal to use continuous action substances for the complete destruction of vegetation. The treatment process is carried out in the spring before germination and in time for planting potatoes or in the fall. After the potatoes spawn, you can use herbicides of selective action.
Weed control is a complex of important measures for obtaining the maximum quality harvest, which should be carried out competently and systematically. Herbicides in this regard in modern agriculture occupy one of the main positions. It is necessary to navigate in their forms, rules of application and know all the pros and cons of their use.
