It is important to understand the degradation and persistence of pesticides in soil and water in order to maximize pesticide efficacy while minimizing any detrimental effects they may have on the ecosystem.
Understanding mobility of pesticides is an important part of environmental toxicology and chemistry. Pesticides need to be mobile enough to allow them to be transported to the site of action. On the other hand, pesticides that are too mobile will rapidly dissipate once applied to the target area and contaminate water and sediment. Many factors can affect the mobility of pesticides in soil and water including soil characteristics, pesticide properties, and timing of application.
