Arrival of Terbuthylazine in Brazil marks a new era in weed control, initially in corn

Developed in Europe in the late 1990s, Terbuthylazine has just arrived on the Brazilian market. It is an active ingredient with cutting-edge technology, derived from a new herbicide molecule from the triazine chemical group.

In the European Union, Terbuthylazine has replaced herbicides based on benzoates with highly satisfactory results. AtrazineIt's important to remember that atrazine was banned in Germany and Italy in 1997 due to the risk of groundwater contamination. In 2004, the entire European bloc adopted the atrazine ban.

In the Brazilian market, Terbuthylazine had its first registration granted by regulatory agencies to Sipcam Nichino. The active ingredient is present in the formulation of the new Click brand herbicide (see leaflet here), which was launched last June.

From 2013 to 2016, the Italian-Japanese company began studies in Brazil for the definitive registration of Terbuthylazine, which was obtained in October 2020. Other baseline studies were conducted previously. Until the new product reached retailers and cooperatives, eight years of research and trials were carried out, along with more than 100 demonstration fields, conducted throughout the country's agricultural frontier.

It's also worth noting that the development of the new herbicide was supported by 30 members of the scientific community, members of the Eloos Group. The Eloos Group is made up of researchers from various regions of Brazil who assist Sipcam Nichino in developing the market for fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and biostimulants. Therefore, the studies on the effects of terbuthylazine on corn weed control involved a true "dream team." This research and development model, coupled with the active ingredient's technological advantages, enabled the company to disrupt the crop protection industry.

The new herbicide left researchers in no doubt about its potential to usher in a new era in weed control, initially in corn. Sipcam Nichino, we anticipate, is already conducting advanced studies seeking registration for other crops. In the corn market, the new technology has proven effective in pre-emergent and early post-emergent control of the crop's main weeds, with high selectivity and flexibility regarding application timing—from pre- to post-emergence.

Worldwide, researchers consider terbuthylazine to be one of the most important herbicides for agriculture, thanks to its broad-spectrum control, long-lasting residual effects, and extremely low incidence of resistant weed species. Terbuthylazine translocates via the xylem. It is absorbed primarily through the roots and leaves of weeds and affects photosynthesis in plants sensitive to the active ingredient.

Field analyses conducted in Brazil, both in commercial and experimental areas, revealed that the new herbicide provides above-average control in pre-emergence and early post-emergence of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species, particularly broadleaf weeds. Representative data from recent research on the Brazilian corn agricultural frontier demonstrate the new herbicide's high efficacy in controlling several resistant or difficult-to-control species, such as crow's foot grass (Eleusine indica). (See figure 1)

This result, among other findings, shows that terbuthylazine outperformed the producer's standard treatment, not only on goosegrass but also on other weeds. Other conclusions drawn from the herbicide's pre-launch phase, based on studies and international literature, indicate that, in soil, terbuthylazine has low water solubility and a moderate sorption coefficient to colloids, with low mobility.

The herbicide, as confirmed by the analyses, remains active primarily in the first 0-5 cm, providing a residual effect for long periods. Thus, it acts directly on the weed seed bank. The herbicide's effects are noticeable from pre-emergence until crop closure. When used according to the manufacturer's recommendations, producers gain effective control, long-lasting residual effects, and reduced seed bank. We are confident that corn weed control will be split between before and after Terbuthylazine.

The herbicide, according to studies and research, revolutionizes weed management and solves growing and recurring problems for producers, particularly in the face of infestations by difficult-to-control and resistant weeds, in pre-emergence and post-emergence, delivering a cleaner crop until harvest.

By Jose de Freitas, agricultural engineer in the Market Development area at Sipcam Nichino Brasil