Difference Between Herbicide and Insecticide

Herbicide and Insecticide are two types of Pesticides, that are used by farmers while the process of farming to protect their crops and plants from being damaged.

Pesticides are chemical substances or organic substances that are used to spray above the cultivated crops and plants on the fields, to protect them from various other harmful diseases, insects, organisms, etc.

There are various kinds of Pesticides, and Herbicides and Insecticides are amongst them. The various Pesticides are used based on the problem that has emerged in the crops and plants.

Other various Pesticides include Fungicides, Rodenticides, Bacteriacides, Avicides, etc.

Herbicide vs Insecticide

The difference between Herbicide and Insecticide is that Herbicides are the kinds of Pesticides that are used to kill the various weeds and flower beds on the crops or plants. On the other hand, Insecticides are the kind of Pesticides that are used to kill various insects and worms on crops and plants. Herbicides are mainly manufactured for usage to get rid of unwanted plants and whereas, Insecticides are mainly manufactured to get rid of harmful insects.

Herbicides are used to kill the unwanted or to stop the unwanted growth of the plants. It is specifically manufactured for the usage of plants.

Herbicides are further sub-divided into two types, which include Contact Herbicides and Systemic Herbicides. There are both biodegradable and non-biodegradable Herbicides in the market. It has both, advantages and disadvantages.

The Chemical Compositions of Herbicides include things like Chlorinated Hydrocarbons/Organochlorines, Organophosphates, etc. On the other hand, Insecticides are used to kill harmful and dangerous insects for plants and crops.

It is specifically manufactured for the usage of killing insects. Insecticides are further sub-divided into three types, that includes Contact Herbicides, Ingested Herbicide, and Systemic Herbicides.

Also, there are both biodegradable and non-biodegradable Insecticides in the market. The Chemical Compositions of Insecticides include things like Carbonates, Pyrethroids, Triazineas, etc.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Herbicide	Insecticide
Definition	Herbicides are substances that protect plants from unwanted weeds and flower beds.	Insecticides are substances that protect plants from harmful insects on plants.
Common or another Alternate name	Herbicide is also commonly known as weed killer.	The insecticide is also commonly known as a pest killer.
Types	There are two types of Herbicides in the market, and they are Contact Herbicide and Systemic Herbicide.	There are three types of Insecticides in the market and are Systemic Insecticide, Ingested Insecticide, and Contact Insecticide.
Main Usage	The main usage of Herbicide is that it removes the unwanted weeds and stops the unwanted growth of the plants.	The main use of Insecticide is that it removes harmful insects from the plants.
Advantages	The advantages of Herbicides include things like it kills unwanted plants, it kills weeds and also helps them to grow properly, they are handy and easy to use, it works fast, the organic herbicides are safe for usage, etc.	The advantages of Insecticides include things like they kill the harmful insects that degrade the growth of the plants and crops, it prevents the wastage of foods, it also controls various dangerous insects diseases that are spread through the harmful insects, etc.
Disadvantages	The disadvantages of Herbicides include things such as they are toxic for some percentage, they can also cause illness among the organisms that consume them, the herbivore animals might sometimes consume it without prior knowledge, etc.	The disadvantages of Insecticides include things like sometimes the non-targeted insects or animals might be killed, also sometimes the resistance of some insects are so high that they have zero effect on the insecticide and hence, they end up destroying the plants and crops.
Chemical Group	Commonly Herbicides include chemical groups such as Chlorinated Hydrocarbons/ Organochlorines, Organophosphates, etc.	Commonly, Insecticides includes chemical group such as Carbonates, Pyrethroids, Triazineas, etc.
Some common names of Pesticides that are available in the market	Some commonly used Herbicides are Gycel, Roundup, etc.	Some commonly used Insecticides are Pyrethric, Rogor, Surya Neem, etc.

What is Herbicide?

The substance that is used to preserve the crops and plants from the other harmful weeds is known as Herbicides.

Many times, some harmful weeds and flower beds grow near the plants and crops, which decreases the strength of the plants to grow properly, hence the farmers use Herbicides.

It is both available in the organic and in-organic form, the in-organic Herbicides are more harmful to the other non-targeted animal that consumes it. Also, Herbicides are commonly known as weed killers.

There are two types of Herbicides in the market, and they are Contact Herbicide and Systemic Herbicide. Contact Herbicides are the Herbibicides that are permanently absorbed by the plants.

Whereas, Systemic Herbicides are the Herbicides that can be washed away from the plants or the plant’s leaves.

Commonly Herbicides include chemical groups such as Chlorinated Hydrocarbons/ Organochlorines, Organophosphates, etc. Herbicides are manufactured with the help of these chemical compositions.

As we know, it is manufactured in both organic and non-organic form, hence it has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages of Herbicides include things like it kills unwanted plants, it kills weeds and also helps them to grow properly, they are handy and easy to use, it works fast, the organic herbicides are safe for usage, etc.

And, its disadvantages include things such as they are toxic for some percentage, they can also cause illness among the organisms that consume it, the herbivore animals might sometimes consume it without prior knowledge, etc.

There are various brands available in the market to buy Herbicides.

What is Insecticide?

Insecticides are substances that are used to kills various insects that can damage crops and plants by building their houses or by laying eggs.

It is not only used by the farmers to protect the plants from insects but, for various other purposes such as in medicine, industries, or also by the consumers to kill cockroaches specifically. It is also known as a pest killer.

It is found in both liquid and granular forms. The liquid form is generally used in agricultural activities, as it is handy to spray upon the plants and crops. Whereas, the powdery form is used in the soil.

Insecticides are manufactured in a way that, controls various diseases from being spread by the insects. It is divided into three types. They are Systemic Insecticide, Ingested Insecticide, and Contact Insecticide.

Also, some Insecticides are found in the organic form and in-organic form. Commonly Insecticides includes chemical group such as Carbonates, Pyrethroids, Triazineas, etc.

It is very harmful too if some consume or get in contact with the Insecticides while using.

The advantages of Insecticides include things like they kill the harmful insects that degrade the growth of the plants and crops, it prevents the wastage of foods, it also controls various dangerous insects diseases that are spread through the harmful insects, etc.

And on the other hand, its disadvantages are like sometimes the non-targeted insects or animals might be killed, also sometimes the resistance of some insects are so high that they have zero effect on the insecticide and hence, they end up destroying the plants and crops.

Main Differences Between Herbicides and Insecticides

1. Herbicides are substances that protect plants from unwanted weeds and flower beds. On the other hand, Insecticides are substances that protect the plants from harmful insects on the plants.
2. Herbicide is also commonly known as weed killer. On the other hand, Insecticide is also commonly known as pest killer.
3. There are two types of Herbicides in the market, and they are Contact Herbicide and Systemic Herbicide. On the other hand, there are three types of Insecticides in the market and are Systemic Insecticide, Ingested Insecticide, and Contact Insecticide.
4. The main usage of Herbicide is that it removes the unwanted weeds and stops the unwanted growth of the plants. On the other hand, the main use of Insecticide is that it removes harmful insects from the plants.
5. The advantages of Herbicides include things like it kills unwanted plants, it kills weeds and also helps them to grow properly, they are handy and easy to use, it works fast, the organic herbicides are safe for usage, etc. On the other hand, the advantages of Insecticides include things like they kill the harmful insects that degrade the growth of the plants and crops, it prevents the wastage of foods, it also controls various dangerous insects diseases that are spread through the harmful insects, etc.
6. The disadvantages of Herbicides include things such as they are toxic for some percentage, they can also cause illness among the organisms that consume them, the herbivore animals might sometimes consume them without prior knowledge, etc. On the other hand, the disadvantages of Insecticides include things like sometimes the non-targeted insects or animals might be killed, also sometimes the resistance of some insects are so high that they have zero effect on the insecticide and hence, they end up destroying the plants and crops.
7. Commonly Herbicides include chemical groups such as Chlorinated Hydrocarbons/ Organochlorines, Organophosphates, etc. On the other hand, commonly Insecticides includes chemical group such as Carbonates, Pyrethroids, Triazineas, etc.
8. Some commonly used Herbicides are Gycel, Roundup, etc. On the other hand, some commonly used Insecticides are Pyrethric, Rogor, Surya Neem, etc.

References

1. https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1890/03-5342
2. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/181/4102/847.abstract