In terms of pesticide movement, what does "drift" refer to?

Drift refers to the movement of pesticides through the air away from the target area during or after application. It occurs when small droplets or particles of a pesticide are carried by wind or air currents, potentially affecting non-target plants, animals, and humans in the surrounding environment. Understanding drift is crucial for applicators as it emphasizes the importance of using techniques and practices that minimize unintended pesticide dispersion, ensuring they adhere to safety guidelines, regulatory requirements, and environmental considerations.

The other options involve pesticide behavior and effects, but they do not accurately define the airborne movement characteristic of drift. Specifically, downward movement through soil pertains to leaching, runoff refers to water carrying pesticides into unwanted areas, and absorption by plants deals with how plants take in pesticides. Each of these concepts is important in the context of pesticide management, but they fall outside the definition of drift.