Which of the following is critical to minimize off-target drift when applying pesticides?

Minimizing off-target drift during pesticide application is essential for ensuring both environmental safety and effective pest control. The size of spray droplets plays a critical role in this process. Smaller droplets are more susceptible to being carried away by wind, increasing the risk of drift to unintended areas. In contrast, larger droplets fall more quickly to the ground due to their weight and are less likely to be influenced by wind currents, making them a better choice for reducing drift.

Selecting an appropriate droplet size allows operators to achieve better coverage on the target area while reducing the potential for drift to non-target sites. Therefore, understanding and controlling droplet size is fundamental for effective aerial application practices to minimize unintended pesticide exposure and protect surrounding ecosystems.