What is particle drift?

Particle drift refers to the physical movement of pesticide droplets through the air away from the target area during or after application. This phenomenon can occur due to a variety of factors such as wind speed, droplet size, and application method. When pesticides are applied, they are often suspended in tiny droplets, and if these droplets are carried by the wind, they can potentially land on non-target areas, leading to unintended exposure to the pesticide.

Understanding particle drift is crucial for pesticide applicators because it directly relates to application efficacy and environmental safety. Effective management techniques, such as selecting appropriate weather conditions for application, opting for droplet size adjustments, and utilizing equipment designed to minimize drift, can help mitigate the risks associated with particle drift.

In contrast, the other choices represent different phenomena: movement of pesticide in vapor form relates to vapor drift, soil erosion concerns physical displacement of soil rather than pesticide, and inadvertent mixing of products refers to the accidental combination of different pesticide products, which is a separate issue entirely.