What is drift in pesticide application?

• A. On-target movement toward pests.
• B. Off-target movement of spray.
• C. Spray speed only.
• D. Pesticide residue decay.

Answer: (B)

Drift is the off-target movement of spray caused by air currents during application. When droplets are carried by wind or turbulent air, they can leave the intended area and deposit on nearby crops, soil, water, or non-target surfaces, potentially causing damage or contamination. Factors that affect drift include droplet size (smaller droplets travel farther), application height, wind speed and direction, nozzle type, and spray pressure. This is different from spraying toward the target pests (on-target movement) and from how fast the spray travels or how long residue remains (decay).