To avoid vapor drift, which two elements are essential for pesticide applicators to monitor?

Monitoring temperature and pesticide volatility is crucial for pesticide applicators to mitigate the risk of vapor drift. High temperatures can increase the volatility of certain pesticides, causing them to evaporate more readily and drift away from the intended application site. When pesticides become more volatile, they can be carried by the wind over considerable distances, which may lead to unintended exposure to non-target areas such as neighboring crops, sensitive habitats, or residential areas.

Understanding pesticide volatility is essential for applicators as different formulations have varying vapor pressures. By being aware of the specific characteristics of the pesticides being used and the current temperature, applicators can take appropriate measures to minimize the potential for vapor drift, such as selecting a time of day for application when temperatures are cooler or choosing formulations that have lower volatility.

The other elements in the other answer choices, while important in their own contexts, do not directly relate to vapor drift in the same manner. For instance, wind speed and relative humidity can affect drift but are not as critical as temperature and the inherent volatility of the pesticide itself in this scenario. Application technique and droplet size play a vital role in spray management but are not the primary factors when it comes to vapor drift dynamics like temperature and volatility are. Soil moisture and crop health pertain more