What effect does temperature have on pesticide effectiveness in aerial applications?

Higher temperatures can affect pesticide effectiveness significantly during aerial applications. When temperatures rise, the rate of evaporation of the pesticide increases. This means that when a pesticide is applied, especially in fine droplet form from an aircraft, it may evaporate before it can effectively settle on the target surface—such as crops or pests. This rapid evaporation can lead to less pesticide reaching the intended area, thus reducing its overall effectiveness. Therefore, understanding the effects of temperature on pesticide application is essential for optimizing efficacy and achieving the desired results while minimizing waste and potential environmental impact.

In contrast, lower temperatures can sometimes lead to enhanced stability and persistence of chemicals, but this does not necessarily correlate with increased effectiveness, particularly for application timing and vaporization concerns. The idea that temperature has no significant effect is a misunderstanding of basic chemical behavior, and the claim that higher temperatures decrease evaporation is incorrect; in fact, the opposite is true.