What does a post emergence herbicide target?

A post-emergence herbicide is specifically designed to target both crops and weeds that have already emerged above the soil surface. This type of herbicide is applied after the targeted plants have started to grow, which allows it to effectively kill or inhibit the growth of weeds while ideally minimizing damage to the crops that have also emerged.

The selection of this herbicide is strategic, as it allows for the control of visible weeds in a field while crops are growing, thus managing competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight. By focusing on plants that have already emerged, post-emergence herbicides can effectively address the immediate issue of weed infestations in established crops.

Other options suggest either targeted applications that do not align with the characteristics of post-emergence herbicides, such as addressing only weeds or crops, or refer to actions taken before crops have been planted, which would instead relate to pre-emergence herbicides.