Active Ingredient and Mode of Action
Rifit contains pretilachlor, an active ingredient belonging to the chloroacetamide chemical group (HRAC Group 15).
It acts by inhibiting very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongase enzymes in germinating weed seedlings, halting cell division and arresting coleoptile growth at the germination stage.
- Chloroacetamide Chemistry: Selective pre-emergence herbicide with proven safety in transplanted rice
- Germination Barrier: Forms a chemical seal in the upper soil layer that kills germinating weed shoots before emergence
- Selective Tolerance: Rice seedlings rapidly metabolize and detoxify pretilachlor through natural glutathione pathways
- Extended Residual: Suppresses successive weed germination waves for 25 to 30 days after transplanting
Target Weeds in Transplanted Rice
Rifit controls difficult weed complexes that emerge during the early critical period of crop-weed competition.
Applying it early protects young rice seedlings from nutrient competition, promoting vigorous early tillering.
- Grasses: Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass), Echinochloa colona, and Leptochloa chinensis
- Sedges: Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria, and Fimbristylis miliacea
- Broadleaf Weeds: Ludwigia parviflora, Sphenoclea zeylanica, Eclipta alba, and Monochoria vaginalis
- Application Window: Applied at 0 to 4 days after transplanting before weed seeds begin germinating
Water Management and Application Protocols
Proper water management is essential for activating and maintaining the herbicidal barrier across the field.
Maintain shallow standing water (2 to 3 cm) in the paddy field at application and for 4 to 5 days thereafter.
- Standing Water: Maintain 2 to 3 cm water depth; letting the field dry out breaks the chemical barrier and allows weeds to germinate
- Sand Broadcasting: Mix recommended dose thoroughly with 15 to 20 kg of clean dry sand or urea per acre and broadcast evenly
- Foliar Spraying: Apply using 150 liters of water per acre fitted with a floodjet or flat-fan nozzle
Official source
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Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the active chemical in Syngenta Rifit?
Rifit contains pretilachlor 50% EC, a selective chloroacetamide pre-emergence herbicide.
When should Rifit be applied in rice?
Apply within 0 to 4 days after transplanting rice seedlings into shallow standing water before weed emergence.
Can Rifit be mixed with fertilizer for application?
Yes, it can be thoroughly blended with dry sand or urea and broadcast uniformly across standing water.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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