Greenhouse and field studies were conducted to determine the relative activity and persistence in soils of dinitramine (N4,N4‐diethyl‐α,α,α‐trifluoro‐3,5‐dinitrotoluene‐2,4‐diamine), GS 38946 (N‐ethyl‐N‐tetrahydrofurfuryl‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐2,6‐dinitroaniline), oryzalin (3,5‐dinitro‐N4,N4‐dipropylsulfanilamide), trifluralin (α,α,α‐trifluoro‐2,6‐dinitro‐N,N‐dipropyl‐p‐toluidine), profluralin [N‐(cyclopropylmethyl)‐α,α,α‐trifluoro‐2,6‐dinitro‐N‐propyl‐p‐toluidine], nitralin [4‐(methylsulfonyl)‐2,6‐dinitro‐N,N‐dipropylaniline], fluchloralin [N‐(2‐chloroethyl)‐2,6‐dinitro‐N‐propyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl) aniline], benefin (N‐butyl‐N‐ethyl‐α,α,α‐trifluoro‐2,6‐dinitro‐p‐toluidine), chlornidine [N,N‐Bis(2‐chloroethyl)‐2,6‐dinitro‐p‐toluidine], isopropalin (2,6‐dinitro‐N,N‐dipropylcumidine), butralin [4‐(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐N‐(1‐methylpropyl)‐2,6‐dinitrobenzenamine], and AC 92390 (N‐sec‐butyl‐2,6‐dinitro‐3,4‐xylidine). For all plant species tested, dinitramine was most toxic and butralin was least toxic. These herbicides were considered moderately persistent, but dinitramine and butralin were less persistent than the others, a fact which may be of some practical significance. At normal use rates none of the herbicides showed residual activity to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planted 5 months after application, or to corn (Zea mays L.) planted 12 months after application.