| | Are there actual differences between all the glyphosates on the market or are they basically the same?
A few years ago all glyphosate products had active ingredient (ai) concentrations of about 360 g/L, but now products have ai concentrations of 360, 480, 500 and 540 g/L (Table 1). Because of these ai concentrations, application rates are no longer standard for all products (Table 2), and care must be taken to ensure that products are applied at the proper rate for intended results. Except for these ai concentration differences, many of the glyphosate products are similar, but keep in mind that each of these herbicides has a unique label that defines how the product can be used and what results can be expected if the product is applied according to label.
Table 1. Overview of Some of the Similarities and Differences Between Glyphosate Products
Product Name | Company | Active ingredient concentration | Effects of Rainfall | Use on canola, corn or soybeans with the Roundup Ready(R) Gene | Pre-Harvest application |
| Credit | Nufarm | 356 g/L | * | No | ground |
| Factor 540 | IPCO | 540 g/L | * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Glyfos | Cheminova | 360 g/L | * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Maverick II | Dow AgroSciences | 480 g/L | * | No | ground |
| Renegade HC | Monsanto | 540 g/L | * * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Roundup Transorb HC | Monsanto | 540 g/L | * * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Roundup WeatherMax | Monsanto | 540 g/L | * * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| R/T 540 | Monsanto | 540 g/L | ** | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Sharpshooter | United Agri Products | 356 g/L | * | No | ground |
| Sharpshooter Plus | United Agri Products | 360 g/L | * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Touchdown iQ | Syngenta | 360 g/L | * | Canola, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Touchdown Total | Syngenta | 500 g/L | * | Canola, Soybeans | air, ground |
| Vantage Plus Max | Dow AgroSciences | 480g/L | * | Canola, Corn, Soybeans | air, ground |
*Every product label has the following statement about the effects of rainfall: "Heavy rainfall immediately after application may wash the chemical off the foilage and a repeat treatment (or application) may be required. Do not apply if rainfall is forecast for the time of application."
** In addition to the preceding statement about the effects of rainfall, the Factor 540, Renegade HC, Roundup Transorb HC, Roundup Weather Max and R/T 540 labels include: "Rainfall occuring within 60 minutes of treatment may result in reduced weed control." |
Table 2. Application Rates of Glyphosate Products with Various Active Ingredient Concentrations
 | Active Ingredient Concentration |
Active Ingredient Rate | 360g/L | 480g/L | 500g/L | 540gL |
g ai/ac | L/ac |
108 | 0.30 | 0.225 | 0.216 | 0.20 |
119 | 0.33 | 0.25 | 0.238 | 0.22 |
144 | 0.40 | 0.30 | 0.288 | 0.27 |
180 | 0.50 | 0.38 | 0.360 | 0.33 |
241 | 0.67 | 0.50 | 0.482 | 0.45 |
270 | 0.75 | 0.56 | 0.540 | 0.50 |
360 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.720 | 0.67 |
450 | 1.25 | 0.94 | 0.900 | 0.83 |
540 | 1.50 | 1.125 | 1.080 | 1.00 |
720 | 2.00 | 1.50 | 1.440 | 1.33 |
For preseed burnoffs, what can be mixed with glyphosate for improved weed control?
Glyphosate tank mixes for preseed situations are one area where there is some variation between product labels. Pardner at 0.5 L/ac is the only product that has registered mixes with all glyphosates (Table 3). Buctril M, 2,4-D (amine or ester), MCPA (amine or ester), and Express SG have registered tank mixes with some, but not all, of the various glyphosate products.
It is worth noting that there are no glyphosate tank mixes for burnoffs prior to seeding canola. Only MCPA amine and Expres SG are registered for mixing with glyphosates prior to peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Also note that the 2,4-D rates in Table 2 are based on active ingredient concentrations of 560 g/L and these rates need to be adjusted if other formulations are used. Table 3 is intended to be a guide to some glyphosate tank mixes; always refer to product labels for application details, restrictions and precautions.
Table 3. Pre-seed Burnoff Tank Mix Summary *
| Buctril M
(0.2-0.4 L/ac)
Prior to wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, flax, canary seed and seedling grasses. No surfactant required with this tank mix. | 2-4-D1
(0.2-0.5 L/ac)
Prior to wheat, barley, and rye for all registered products. No surfactant required with this tank mix. | MCPA2
(0.2-0.4 L/ac)
Prior to wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, and flax.
(0.2-0.28 L/ac)
Prior to peas, lentils3, and chickpeas3 No surfactant required with this tank mix. | Pardner
(0.5 L/ac)
Prior to wheat, barley, and oats. Surfactant required with this tank mix. | 2,4-D1
(0.4 L/ac)
For alfalfa control prior to seeding cereals not underseeded to legumes4. No surfactant required with this tank mix. | Express SG
(6 g/ac)5
For pre-seed weed control prior to wheat, barley, oats, canary seed, peas, beans, fababeans, lupins and soybeans6. No surfactant required with this tank mix. |
Rate Per Acre |
| Credit | Not registered | Not registered | Not registered | 0.3 – 0.4 L/ac | 1 – 2 L/ac | Not registered |
| Factor 540 | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.3 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.3 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.20 - 0.27 L/ac | 0.67 - 1.33 L/ac | Not registered |
| Glyfos | Not registered | Not registered | Not registered | 0.3 – 0.4 L/ac | Not registered | Not registered |
| Maverick II | Not registered | Not registered | Not registered | 0.227 – 0.303 L/ac | 0.76 – 1.52 L/ac | Not registered |
| Renegade HC | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.20 – 0.27 L/ac | 0.67 – 1.33 L/ac | Not registered |
| Roundup Transorb HC | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.3 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.3 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.20 – 0.27 L/ac | 0.67 – 1.33 L/ac | Not registered |
| Roundup WeatherMax | 0.33 – 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 – 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 – 0.5 L/ac | 0.2 – 0.270 L/ac | 0.67 – 1.33 L/ac | 0.33 L/ac |
| R/T 540 | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.33 - 0.5 L/ac | 0.2 – 0.270 L/ac | 0.67 – 1.33 L/ac | Not registered |
| Sharpshooter | Not registered | Not registered | Not registered | 0.3 – 0.4 L/ac | Not registered | Not registered |
| Sharpshooter Plus | Not registered | Not registered | Not registered | 0.3 – 0.4 L/ac | 1 - 2 L/ac | Not registered |
| Touchdown IQ | 0.5 - 0.75 L/ac | 0.5 - 0.75 L/ac | 0.5 - 0.75 L/ac | 0.3 – 0.4 L/ac | 1 – 2 L/ac | 0.5 L/ac |
| Touchdown Total | 0.364 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.364 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.364 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.202 - 0.283 L/ac | 0.73 - 1.46 L/ac | Not registered |
| Vantage Plus Max | 0.38 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.38 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.38 - 0.567 L/ac | 0.227 – 0.303 L/ac | 0.76 – 1.52 L/ac | Not registered |
*Note: Where specified, tank mixes require 140 mL/ac of a suitable surfactant (refer to product label for approved surfactants)
1Amine or ester formulations. Rates are based on Amine or Ester 600 (560 g/L active ingredient concentrations). Adjust rates accordingly for other formulations. For example, to convert to LV Ester 700 (660 g/L active ingredient), multiply rate by 0.848. So 0.20 L/ac of Ester 600 equals 0.17 L/ac of Ester 700. To convert to Amine 500, multiply 600 rate by 1.19.
2MCPA amine or ester with 500 g/L active ingredient BUT only amine formulation prior to peas, lentils, chickpeas and corn.
3 Renegade HC, Roundup Transorb HC, Roundup WeatherMax, Touchdown iQ,Touchdown Total, and Vantage Plus Max.
4This tank mix requires a 14 day interval between application and planting.
5This tank mix requires a minimum 24 hour interval between application and planting.
6Residue may injure pulse crops on low organic matter (<3%) soils or coarse-textured soils (>50% sand). Avoid planting pulse crops in these situations. |
In Roundup Ready canola, is weed control the same for all the registered products?
Annual broadleaf and grassy weed control is similar for all the glyphosates registered for use in Roundup Ready canola (Table 4). Crop staging (up to 6 leaf stage) is also the same for all registered products.
For perennial weed control all products are registered for a single application of 270 g ai/ac (0.75 L/ac Factor, Glyfos and Touchdown iQ; 0.5 L/ac Factor 540, Renegade HC, Roundup Transorb HC, Roundup WeatherMax) to give full season control of Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle, (Table 4).
Table 4. Weed Control in Glyphosate Tolerant Canola
Rate (L/ac) | Weeds Controlled | Comments |
0.33 – 0.51 L/ac
0.22 – 0.332 L/ac | Barnyard grass, chickweed, corn spurry, green foxtail, hempnettle, kochia, lady’s thumb, lamb’s quarters, redroot pigweed, Russian thistle, stinkweed, volunteer barley, volunteer canola (non Roundup Ready), volunteer wheat, wild mustard, wild oats, wild tomato.
Cow cockle, night flowering catchfly, and shepherd’s purse controlled with the low rate only when weeds are in 1 - 3 leaf stage. Smartweed at 4 - 6 leaf stage also controlled with the low rate. For all other stages of these weeds use the high rate. | 1Glyfos, Sharpshooter Plus, Touchdown iQ
2 Factor 540,Renegade HC, Roundup Transorb HC, Roundup WeatherMax
3 Vantage Plus Max
Glyphosates have no
residual activity. Repeat
applications may be
required if a second flush
of weeds germinates prior to canopy closure.
Ensure the crop has not
advanced beyond the 6
leaf stage. |
0.51 L/ac
0.332 L/ac | Above weeds plus cleavers, flixweed, narrow-leaved hawk’s beard, stork’s bill, and wild buckwheat.
Weeds suppressed with a single application of this rate: Canada thistle,
dandelion, perennial sow thistle and quackgrass (season long control). |
Repeat applications of
0.51 L/ac or 0.332 L/ac | Season long control: Canada thistle, foxtail barley, perennial sow thistle, and round-leaved mallow. |
Single application of 0.751
L/ac or 0.52 L/ac | Season long control: Canada thistle and perennial sow thistle |
| 0.24-0.5673 L/ac | Refer to Vantage Plus Max label for recommended application rates for control or suppression of target weed species |
Tank Mix
0.113 L/ac Lontrel 360 plus
0.51 L/ac, 0.332 or 0.383L/ac glyphosate | ..
All weeds controlled with 0.5 L/ac plus season long control of Canada thistle, dandelion < 15 cm diameter3 , perennial sowthistle3 , and control of wild buckwheat. | Canola in 2 – 6 leaf stage.
40 L/ac spray volume. |
Note: Herbicide labels are updated periodically. Consequently some of the differences identified in this document may be minimized or eliminated in the future and other differences may develop. This document is based on the labels as of the following dates.
| Product Name | Label Date |
| Credit | Jan 5, 2006 |
| Factor 540 | Not Dated |
| Glyfos | January 2, 2007 |
| Maverick II | February 9, 2006 |
| Renegade HC | January 3, 2008 |
| Roundup Transorb HC | August 28, 2007 |
| Roundup Weather Max | January 23, 2008 |
| R/T 540 | January 4, 2008 |
| Sharpshooter | April 5, 2007 |
| Sharpshooter Plus | April 5, 2007 |
| Touchdown iQ | January 31, 2008 |
| Touchdown Total | November 22, 2007 |
| Vantage Plus Max | November 6, 2007 |
Prepared by Doon Pauly, Alberta Ag- Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development |
|