2,4-D a member of the phenoxy family herbicides was the first successful selective herbicide developed, was introduced in 1946, and rapidly became the most used herbicide in the world. After 50yrs of use, 2, 4-D is still the third most herbicide in the United States & Canada and the most widely used worldwide. The reason for the widespread popularity of 2,4-D and its allied products is because it is still the cheapest herbicide available to date on a unit acreage basis as well as efficacy-wise. The reason is that lower doses yield effective control of broad-leaved dicot weeds. Another reason is 2,4-D being easily soluble in water and other solvents result in rapid penetration through the leaves to the soil hence increasing efficacy of the crop and is a safe herbicide in connection with accumulation in the soil and phytotoxicity. The maximum persistence of 2,4-D in the soil is one month.2; 4-D also increases the efficacy of the soil and is also used as a plant growth hormone if used in small quantities in some crops leading to its popularity all over the world.

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2,4-D, a member of the phenoxy family of herbicides, is low in toxicity to humans & animals. 2,4-D is readily excreted in the urine of animals & humans and does not bioaccumulate. 2,4-D is a highly mobile compound that may readily disperse. Biodegradation is the primary route of loss from water and soil, with additional losses from photodegradation. The product after degradation is CO2. 2,4-D is completely degraded within 1-5 months by dealkylation, ring hydroxylation, or hydroxylation. 2,4-D being fully soluble in water is compatible with other non-selective herbicides like glyphosate, paraquat, diuron, dicamba, etc, and mixing in different proportions yields in total control of mixed weed population.