Which application practice should pesticide applicators avoid to protect non-target organisms?

Applying pesticides directly to surface water poses a significant risk to non-target organisms, including aquatic life such as fish, invertebrates, and plants. When pesticides enter water bodies, they can disrupt the ecosystem and harm organisms that are not intended targets of the application. Pesticides can negatively affect these organisms by being toxic, leading to potential declines in populations, reduced biodiversity, and long-term ecological damage.

In contrast, starting applications in early morning can actually help minimize drift and exposure to non-target species during times when they are less active. Using buffer zones can effectively protect sensitive areas by creating a physical space that limits pesticide exposure to non-target organisms located nearby the application area. Choosing non-toxic chemicals is a proactive approach to minimize harm, but it doesn’t address the practices that directly lead to harmful exposure. Hence, applying pesticides directly to surface water remains the most problematic practice and should be strictly avoided to safeguard non-target organisms.