Benfluralin
Benfluralin is a herbicide of the dinitroaniline class. The mechanism of action of benfluralin involves pre-emergent inhibition of mitosis, root and shoot development, same as trifluralin, from which benfluralin was developed in 1963.
It is used to control grasses and other weeds. Annual use in the United States was approximately in 2004, down from in 1974, when it was used more than paraquat. The USGS estimates used in the US in 2018. Non-agricultural use includes domestic use, turf, golf courses, ornamentals, tree plantations, roads and paths. It is used on lettuce, alfalfa, clover, fruit, nuts, berries, and vineyards. Benfluralin's EU approval expired in 2023, leaving pendimethalin as the only EU-approved dinitroaniline.
Benfluralin was registered in Australia from 1967 to 1997, with 200 g/L benfluralin and 680 g/L xylene solvent.
Environmental behaviour
Benfluralin's soil half-life is moderate, 22-79 days, and volatilises quickly. It can bioaccumulate in fish, to whom it is very toxic. It is practically non-toxic to birds and bees.Vapours of benefin can affect growing tobacco leaves, and exposed leaves are shortened, narrowed, thicker and distorted. Plant height is reduced, though more leaves sprout.
Safety
Benfluralin is practically non-toxic. Chronic exposure may harm the liver and kidneys. No endocrine disruption is known. EPA modelling puts benfluralin water concentrations below any level of concern, and real life evidence shows benfluralin levels to be lower than predicted.Herbicide application
Benfluralin's HRAC classification is group K1, D, 3.After application, benefin must be inforporated into soil. It is usually applied at ~1.2 lb/ac active ingredient.
Tradenames
Benfluralin has been marketed as: Balan, Balfin, Benefex, Benfluralin, Benefin, Bethrodine, Bonalan, Carpidor, Emblem, EL-110, Flubalex, Pel-Tech, Quilan, Surflan XL 2G, Team, and XL 2G.Target weeds
Benefin controls the following weeds: Grasses: Annual bluegrass, barnyardgrass / watergrass, crabgrass Digitaria, crowfootgrass, foxtails / bottlegrass / bristlegrass / pigeongrass, Johnsongrass , junglerice, fall panicum, Texas panicum / buffalograss / coloradograss and ryegrass / sandbur. Weeds: carpetweed, chickweed, florida pusley / purslane / mexican clover, knotweed, common lambsquarters, pigweeds, common purslane and redmaids.Links
Category:1-nitro-3-benzene derivativesCategory:Herbicides
Category:Anilines
Category:Preemergent herbicides
Category:Group 3 herbicides
Category:Tertiary amines