Which description matches contact herbicides applied to foliage?

• A. Control by direct contact with plant parts; require good coverage; nicknamed chemical 'mowers'
• B. Systemic action through vascular system
• C. Absorb through roots and translocate to shoots
• D. Provide residual soil activity

Answer: (A)

Contact herbicides applied to foliage kill by direct contact with the plant tissue; they do not move within the plant, so effectiveness hinges on thorough spray coverage that coats the leaves. Because only the touched surfaces are affected, these products act quickly and are often called chemical mowers, since they knock down what they touch rather than moving systemically through the plant. They typically have little to no residual soil activity, which distinguishes them from herbicides that are absorbed by roots or that persist in the soil to affect other weeds.