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