What is the primary method of herbicide application to soil surfaces?

The primary method of herbicide application to soil surfaces is soil application. This technique involves applying herbicides directly to the soil, where they can interact with weed seeds or roots, preventing growth or killing existing weeds. Soil-applied herbicides work by being absorbed through the roots of weeds or their shoots when they germinate or when the soil moisture carries the product into the plant's uptake system.

This method is particularly effective for pre-emergent control, as it creates a barrier that prevents weeds from establishing in the first place. Factors like soil type, moisture, and temperature can influence the effectiveness of soil-applied herbicides, making it essential to understand these dynamics for successful weed management.

Other methods, such as foliar application or surface spray, typically target the actively growing parts of plants, which may not be as effective for preventing weed establishment in soil. Granular applications can be considered a subset of soil applications, but they often require specific conditions to be effective and may not provide the same level of uniformity as liquid soil applications. Thus, soil application stands out as the most direct and effective approach for managing weeds at the soil surface level.