The absorption, translocation, metabolism, and retention of an isopropylamine formulation of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] in the presence and absence of the commercial dimethylamine salt and isooctyl ester formulations of 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], or the commercial isooctyl ester formulation of bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) was investigated in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Summit′). In all treatments, absorption of 14C-glyphosate continued for up to 24 h, but no further absorption occurred with a further 48 h of treatment. A considerable reduction in absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate occurred when it was applied to the leaf surface in a mixture with the commercial formulation of either 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, or bromoxynil. When a 14C-glyphosate solution was spotted on the leaf adjacent to drops of the commercial formulation of either 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, or bromoxynil, no reduction in absorption or translocation of 14C-glyphosate occurred. The herbicide components of the 2,4-D amine and bromoxynil formulations were solely responsible for reduced absorption and translocation of 14C-glyphosate. No 14C-glyphosate metabolites were detected in barley following treatment with 14C-glyphosate either alone or mixed with the commercial formulations of 2,4-D amine or bromoxynil. No 14C-glyphosate complexes were detected in mixtures of the commercial formulations of 2,4-D amine, 2,4-D ester, or bromoxynil with 14C-glyphosate. Barley leaves retained less glyphosate when it was spray-applied together with the commercial formulation or the solvent system of 2,4-D amine.