Which type of herbicides are absorbed into the living portion of the plant?

Systemic herbicides are designed to be absorbed into the living tissue of plants, allowing them to travel throughout the plant's system. When applied, these herbicides penetrate foliage and move through the vascular system, reaching roots and other parts of the plant. This ability to move within the plant is what makes them effective, as they can target and disrupt physiological processes in the entire plant, leading to its eventual death.

In contrast, contact herbicides only affect the parts of the plants they come into contact with; they do not move internally. Non-systemic herbicides operate similarly, typically only affecting the plant where they are applied and not being absorbed and translocated. Residual herbicides, while they may remain active in the soil for extended periods, do not directly interact with the living portions of plants in the same manner as systemic herbicides. Therefore, the nature of systemic herbicides is key to their function in controlling aquatic pests effectively.