21
Historical and Current Uses of Pesticides
may be formulated in a granular solid form that can be spread on the surface
soil or foliage and “disked” into a specifc depth. There are many variations,
again spelled out on the label. The reader is referred to general books such as
pesticide formulations by Hartley and Graham-Bryce (1980) and guides provided by the registrant and “best practices” provided by agricultural experiment stations and by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service. It is up to the
landowner or applicator to know, understand, and follow best practices for
formulation and application including warnings and restrictions on use. We
will note in this book restrictions that might impact air contamination with
pesticides and off-target contamination. A common example is restricted use
of herbicide on windy days or too close to streams or other water sources.
Pesticide formulation affects its behavior in the environment. While the
majority of agricultural pesticides are delivered by spraying or spreading
on surfaces of soil or vegetation, there is a trend to applying them more in
the irrigation system, e.g., by delivery to a drip or furrow or sprinkler irrigation system. This allows for delivery to the target effciently with minimal
off-target loss including to air. It works best for water-soluble chemicals that
act systemically through uptake by the target crop or weed root zone.
2.6 Summary of Current Use of Pesticides
Although the landscape of pesticides is changing, earlier generations of
pesticides remain in widespread use including sulfur, mineral oil, and copper sulfate (Table 2.2, Figure 2.13). Sulfur, horticultural oils, and fumigants
were the most commonly applied pesticides in California for the year 2018
(California DPR).
FIGURE 2.13
New active ingredient registrations for conventional pesticides and biopesticides from 1997 to
2010, organized by source. (Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Cantrell, C.L., Dayan,
F.E., and Duke, S.O. (2012). Natural products as sources for new pesticides. J. Nat. Prod. 75,
1231–1242. Copyright (2012) American Chemical Society.)
Historical and Current Uses of Pesticides
may be formulated in a granular solid form that can be spread on the surface
soil or foliage and “disked” into a specifc depth. There are many variations,
again spelled out on the label. The reader is referred to general books such as
pesticide formulations by Hartley and Graham-Bryce (1980) and guides provided by the registrant and “best practices” provided by agricultural experiment stations and by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service. It is up to the
landowner or applicator to know, understand, and follow best practices for
formulation and application including warnings and restrictions on use. We
will note in this book restrictions that might impact air contamination with
pesticides and off-target contamination. A common example is restricted use
of herbicide on windy days or too close to streams or other water sources.
Pesticide formulation affects its behavior in the environment. While the
majority of agricultural pesticides are delivered by spraying or spreading
on surfaces of soil or vegetation, there is a trend to applying them more in
the irrigation system, e.g., by delivery to a drip or furrow or sprinkler irrigation system. This allows for delivery to the target effciently with minimal
off-target loss including to air. It works best for water-soluble chemicals that
act systemically through uptake by the target crop or weed root zone.
2.6 Summary of Current Use of Pesticides
Although the landscape of pesticides is changing, earlier generations of
pesticides remain in widespread use including sulfur, mineral oil, and copper sulfate (Table 2.2, Figure 2.13). Sulfur, horticultural oils, and fumigants
were the most commonly applied pesticides in California for the year 2018
(California DPR).
FIGURE 2.13
New active ingredient registrations for conventional pesticides and biopesticides from 1997 to
2010, organized by source. (Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Cantrell, C.L., Dayan,
F.E., and Duke, S.O. (2012). Natural products as sources for new pesticides. J. Nat. Prod. 75,
1231–1242. Copyright (2012) American Chemical Society.)