What should be avoided to minimize runoff during pesticide application?

To minimize runoff during pesticide application, it is important to avoid spraying before heavy rain. When pesticides are applied shortly before a heavy rain event, the likelihood of those chemicals being washed away into nearby waterways increases significantly. Rain can cause surface runoff, which not only reduces the effectiveness of the pesticide application but can also lead to environmental contamination and harm to non-target species. Therefore, scheduling pesticide application when rain is not expected helps ensure that the pesticides remain on the target area for sufficient time to be effective while minimizing the risk of runoff.

Other options relate to practices that may contribute positively to reducing runoff or enhancing application timing, such as applying in the early morning when conditions like wind and evaporation rates are more favorable or using vegetative buffers, which can act as barriers to reduce movement of the pesticides into water bodies. Contour farming is also a beneficial practice as it involves plowing and planting across the slope of land which helps slow down water runoff and increase absorption. However, these do not directly involve the immediate timing of pesticide application relative to weather conditions like heavy rain.