Soil sterilants destroy all vegetation to which they are applied. Not all nonselective herbicides are soil sterilants. Chemicals such as glyphosate will kill all vegetation, but do not persist in the soil. The use of herbicides with a short-term residue is ideal in the landscape since plants may be safely introduced shortly after brush, turf, etc. have been eliminated. Recognizing Herbicide Injury Leaf chlorosis, or yellowing of foliage, is a common symptom of herbicide injury in plants.
Photosynthesis is disrupted and later ceases as a result of many chemicals on the market today.
Without photosynthesis, plants yellow, fade, and quickly display chlorosis. Often, soil-applied herbicides are responsible for this type of symptom. Unfortunately, chlorosis may also be caused by a number of other factors, with poor nutrition being a major contributor. Therefore, herbicides are often overlooked as the cause of yellowing. Nutrient deficiencies rarely result in rapid death of plants as many herbicides are capable of producing.