What is the most effective way to minimize environmental impact of pesticides, as suggested by the material?

• A. Use highly soluble pesticides
• B. Use surfactants
• C. Use grass buffer strips and mulches
• D. Increase application rate

Answer: (C)

Preventing movement of pesticides off the treated area is the most effective way to cut environmental impact. Grass buffer strips and mulches create a living barrier that slows and filters runoff, trapping pesticides and sediment before they reach streams, ditches, or groundwater. The grassy strips along field edges act like a sponge and filter, reducing velocity of water and capturing chemicals so they can degrade or be taken up before leaving the field. Mulches cover the soil surface, which helps prevent erosion, reduces runoff, and promotes healthier soil with moisture and microbial activity that can break down some pesticides more quickly.

In contrast, highly soluble pesticides tend to move readily with water, increasing the chance they reach water bodies; surfactants improve how well a pesticide wets or sticks to plants but don’t inherently lessen environmental exposure; and increasing the application rate adds more chemical to the environment, raising the potential for runoff, leaching, and non-target effects.