Pesticide contamination mitigation from runoff is best addressed by which practice?

• A. Increased pesticide applications.
• B. Fallow periods.
• C. Irrigation-only strategies.
• D. Integrated pest management and proper pesticide handling.

Answer: (D)

Mitigating pesticide contamination from runoff works best when you cut the amount of pesticide used and handle it safely. Integrated pest management achieves this by using careful monitoring, pest thresholds, and non-chemical or targeted control methods so pesticides are applied only when necessary and at the lowest effective rate. When you couple this with proper pesticide handling—correct labeling, precise mixing and application, safe storage, prompt cleanup, and spill prevention—the risk of pesticides entering runoff is significantly reduced because there’s less chemical to wash away and fewer chances of accidental releases.

Choosing to apply more pesticides increases the potential for runoff, while simply leaving land fallow or using irrigation-only strategies doesn’t systematically address either how much chemical is used or how safely it is managed.