PESTICIDES AND PROTECTING YOUR
ENVIROMENT
Effects on and in the immediate environment?
When using pesticides, what are the….
Non- target species
WeatherSoil type
Pest susceptibility
SENSITIVE AREAS
Pesticide Movement
AIR - DROPLETS WATER
ON OR IN SOIL, PLANTS, CLOTHING,
ANIMALS
• Droplets• Vapor• Pesticide bound to dust or soil
Physical Drift Vapor or Chemical Drift
Physical Drift & Droplet
SizeSmaller
Larger
Comparison of Micron Sizes(approximate)
• 2000 m
• 850 m
• 420 m
• 300 m
• 150 m
• 100 m
#2 Pencil lead
paper clip
staple
toothbrush bristle
sewing thread
human hair
Nozzle Drop Size ClassesNozzle Drop Size Classes
Very Fine to Fine < 200 um
Medium to Coarse – 200 to 450 um
Very Coarse > 450 um
Tip Spray Selection by Drop Size
Turbo TeeJet Flat-fan
Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Aerodynamic EffectsAerodynamic Effects
Air friction due to speed of the application Air friction due to speed of the application vehicle causes additional production of vehicle causes additional production of
small dropletssmall droplets
Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Secondary Break-UpSecondary Break-Up
Droplet elongation and fracture Droplet elongation and fracture produces small droplets produces small droplets
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Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Sources of Spray Mist or Fines Aerodynamic EffectsAerodynamic Effects
Air friction due to speed of the application Air friction due to speed of the application vehicle is dependent upon the nozzle vehicle is dependent upon the nozzle
orientation angle. 90orientation angle. 90oo produces the greatest produces the greatest number of small dropletsnumber of small droplets
Movement
Spray Tip Height
Moves the droplets!
Driftability of Spray Driftability of Spray Droplets of Varying Sizes Droplets of Varying Sizes
10
fee
t 1
0 fe
et
Crosswind @ 3 mphCrosswind @ 3 mph
20 20
50 50
100 100
150 150
400400
8 ft 22 ft. 48 ft. 178 ft. 1065 ft. 8 ft 22 ft. 48 ft. 178 ft. 1065 ft.
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Air Temperature & Evaporation77oF
2nd Type of Drift
Vapor Drift
Pesticide Volatility
Vapor Drift
• Pesticide changes into a gas -- the pesticide evaporates!!
• Moves from the target area
Volatility is also affected by:
• Weather
– High temperatures
• 2x more 2,4-D ester volatilizes at 80o than 70o
– Low humidity = more volatilization
– Air Inversions
• Droplet Size
• Wind -- < 10 MPH & away from sensitive areas
• Choose formulation wisely
• Drift control additives
• Apply early morning or late evening. Higher humidity.
• Air Inversions!
• Avoid high temps > 85 F
• Know your surroundings
• Calibrate equipment
• Mix properly
• Read and heed all labels.
Pesticide Losses In Water
• Leaching
• Run off
• Spills and backsiphoning
• Improper disposal
Runoff vs. Leaching
Solubility• Amount of chemical
that can be dissolved into a solution
• Expressed as parts per million.
• > 30 ppm means high solubility = high tendency to leach or runoff.
• Tordon = 400- 430• 2,4-D = 890• Assert = 1370• Ally/Escort
– 1750 (pH 5)– 2790 (pH 7)– 213,000 (pH 9)
• Paraquat = 7000• Roundup = 15,700
– 900,000
Adsorption • The binding of a
pesticide molecule to a soil particle
• Mostly due to organic matter that coats the soil particle
• More organic matter = more binding by less-soluble pesticides
Koc of Common Pesticides
• Banvel – 2
• Stinger – 6
• Pursuit – 10
• Tordon – 16
• 2,4-D – 20
• Assert – 35 to 66
• 2,4-D Ester – 100
• MCPA – 110
• Broadstrike - 700
• Methyl Parathion – 5100• Lorsban - 6070• Treflan – 7000• Roundup – 24,000 *• Buctril – 10,000• Capture – 216,500• Paraquat – 1,000,000
* binds tight but also highly water soluble
Some things to ponder
• Read the label! – Look for restrictions based on soil type.
Example – restrictions on loamy sand to sandy soils.
• Calibrate! Calibrate! Calibrate!• Do not over apply • Know the soil type in the area you are
spraying. Conduct a soil test….
Even a jar test will give you an idea!
• Degradation
– Microbes (#1)
– pH (#2)
– Sunlight
– Rate applied
• Degraded over time to produce CO2, H2O, N, P, Su,
• Expressed as “half-life.”
• Time required for that substance to degrade to one-half its previous concentration.
Persistence (Residual)
Protecting Water Resources
Protect your wells!
Protecting Water Resources
• Practice IPM• Environmental considerations• Well Locations?• Calibrate and use only what is needed• Mix and load carefully• Prevent back-siphoning• Consider the weather• Select, store and dispose of pesticides carefully
Disposal of Pesticides & Containers
• Know the size of the area you want to spray.
• Know how to calibrate a sprayer.
• Know how to mix pesticides
• Buy mix, apply and store only what you need!!
Triple Rinsing Containers
Triple Rinsing Containers
• Triple rinsed within 48 hours of being emptied
• Must be triple rinsed for landfill disposal
• Never use pesticide containers for other purposes
• Burning of pesticide containers is not allowed
Montana Department of Agriculture Waste Pesticide Program
http://mtpesticides.org