To reduce drift and vaporization during pesticide application, which practice should be avoided?

The practice of reducing spray nozzle opening size should be avoided when the goal is to reduce drift and vaporization during pesticide application. Smaller nozzle openings typically produce finer droplets that are more susceptible to wind drift and evaporation. When the droplets are small, they can easily be carried away by even light winds, increasing the likelihood of off-target application and environmental contamination.

Conversely, increasing droplet size is an effective method to minimize drift, as larger droplets are less affected by wind and settle more quickly to the ground rather than drifting away from the target area. Likewise, applying pesticides at lower spray pressures contributes to producing larger droplets and helps reduce drift. Additionally, selecting to apply pesticides during low wind conditions minimizes the potential for drift altogether. By keeping these factors in mind, one can optimize pesticide application while mitigating adverse effects on the environment.