What are selective herbicides designed to do?

Selective herbicides are formulated to target specific plant species while leaving others unharmed. This means they can effectively manage undesirable plants or weeds without affecting the surrounding desirable plants, such as crops or desired landscape flora. This selectivity is achieved through chemical formulations that interact with specific physiological pathways in the targeted plants, allowing for effective weed control in various agricultural and horticultural settings.

The benefit of using selective herbicides lies in their ability to minimize damage to non-target species, helping to maintain biodiversity within an ecosystem. This strategic approach reduces competition for resources like light, water, and nutrients in cultivated environments while promoting the health of desired plant species.

Other herbicide types that aim to control all plant species or enhance soil fertility would not fit the definition of selective herbicides and would either damage all vegetation indiscriminately or not serve the primary function of controlling plant growth.