Which of the following factors can affect pesticide drift?

Weather conditions are a critical factor that directly influences pesticide drift. Drift occurs when pesticide particles are carried away from the intended target area by environmental elements, predominantly wind. Various weather conditions such as wind speed, humidity, and temperature can significantly impact how and where pesticides are dispersed in the air. For example, high winds can increase the chances of drift by moving particles away from the application site more quickly, while low humidity might cause droplets to evaporate and turn into smaller particles, enhancing their potential to drift.

In contrast, soil type, time of day, and crop type primarily affect the application and efficacy of pesticides rather than their drift. Soil type can influence how pesticides are absorbed into the ground, time of day might determine pest activity levels and thus when to apply pesticides, and crop type can affect the amount and type of pesticide applied. However, these factors do not play as significant a role in the airborne movement of pesticides compared to the influence of prevailing weather conditions.