The weed control with herbicides and its selectivity to sisal were studied on a clay soil field trial. The treatments (in a.i./ha) were: 0.84 and 0.96kg of pre-plant incorporated trifluralin; 2.40 and 3.26kg of alachlor; 0.70 and 0.84kg of metribuzin; 1.60 and 2.40kg of bromacil; 1.60 and 2.40kg of terbacil; 2.40 and 3.20k- of diuron; 3.20 and 4.00kg of simazine; 1.20 and 1.60kg of fluometuron; a hoed check and a not hoed check. Trifluralin was applied on September 24, 1976, the bulbils were transplanted on the 29th of the same month and the PRE herbicides applied on the 30th. Weed control was evaluated at 67 and 114 days after PRE application. The grass control was over 90% by trifluralin, bromacil and terbacil, around 80% by simazine and below 75% by the remaining herbicides. The broadleaves were controlled at a level of 90 to 100% by bromacil and terbacil and 80 to 85% by simazine. None of the herbicides affected the growth of sisal plants during the considered period of 600 days. At 550 days the area covered by weeds was evaluated. Terbacil controlled still 75 and 95% of the total quantity of weeds, at the lower and higher doyes, respectively, trifluralin controlled 60 to 70% and the remainder below 45%. For final evaluation at 600 days, crop stand, number of plants with sprouts, number of leaves per plant and crop condition were considered. The treatments with best weed control also showed the best scores for crop development, partly due to their selectivity to sisal.