Wind increases what?

• A. Drift
• B. Runoff
• C. Volatility
• D. Pesticide resistance

Answer: (A)

Wind during spraying mostly increases drift. Drift is the off-target movement of pesticide droplets caused by air currents. Smaller droplets are carried more easily, so higher wind speeds can push these droplets farther from the target, leading to contamination of unintended areas. Runoff, on the other hand, is the movement of pesticide with water across the soil surface due to rain or irrigation, not air flow. Volatility refers to how readily a chemical vaporizes, which is a property of the substance itself rather than something wind creates, though wind can remove vapor once it forms; it doesn’t make the chemical more volatile. Pesticide resistance arises from biological processes and selection, not wind conditions.

To minimize drift, choose coarser droplets and drift-reducing nozzles, keep the spray boom at an appropriate, lower height, spray in conditions with minimal wind, and use buffer zones or containment as needed.