You as a potential user of agricultural chemicals have the responsibility of learning the vulnerability of the sites you are going to treat. You need to answer certain questions before you choose to apply chemicals. Both soil properties and site conditions affect pesticide movement. Soil texture, organic matter content, and permeability are soil factors affecting pesticide movement. The physical and chemical properties that make pesticides effective for pest control also create a potential for groundwater contamination.
Persistence is the lasting power of a pesticide.
Most pesticides in the soil break down or degrade over time as a result of several chemical and microbiological reactions. Adsorption is the process that binds pesticides to soil particles, like iron filings or paper clips sticking to a magnet. Adsorption occurs because of the attraction between chemicals and soil particles. Factors controlling pesticide adsorption include pesticide charge, soil pH, temperature, water content, and the amount of organic matter present. The label is a legal document and its instructions should be carefully read.