What impact can high flow rate applications have on pesticide efficacy?

High flow rate applications can significantly increase the potential for drift, which is the unintended movement of pesticide particles or droplets away from the target area. When applying pesticides at high flow rates, larger droplets or spray particles can become airborne more easily, particularly under windy conditions or when there is low humidity. This can result in the pesticide moving beyond the intended area, affecting non-target organisms and potentially causing harm to the environment.

Higher flow rates typically lead to higher pressures in the spray system, which can contribute to the formation of fine droplets that are more susceptible to drift. Furthermore, as these smaller droplets travel through the air, they are more likely to be carried away by air currents, reducing the effectiveness of the pesticide application on the intended target and decreasing the overall efficacy of the treatment.

In contrast, improved coverage on large areas, decreased application speed, and reduced need for multiple applications are not directly related to the issues caused by high flow rates. While high flow rates may seem to cover a larger area quickly, the increased drift potential undermines the effectiveness of such applications.