Which factors are important in the lateral movement of soil-active herbicides?

The important factors in the lateral movement of soil-active herbicides are texture and slope.

Soil texture, which refers to the size of the soil particles (sand, silt, clay), plays a critical role in how herbicides interact with the soil. Coarser textures such as sandy soils have larger particles that can lead to rapid water movement, which may enhance the lateral movement of herbicides. In contrast, finer textures like clay hold onto water and can retain herbicides longer, potentially reducing lateral movement.

Slope affects runoff and erosion; on steeper slopes, water moves more quickly, which can carry herbicides more rapidly across the soil surface. This can lead to an increased risk of herbicide movement into non-target areas, both through surface runoff and by influencing how much moisture and herbicide can move through the soil.

Moisture and temperature, while influential in herbicide behavior, primarily affect the rate of herbicide degradation and uptake by plants rather than lateral movement. Color and density of the soil do not have a direct impact on how herbicides move through the soil laterally. Similarly, pH and conductivity are more related to herbicide solubility and availability rather than their lateral movement in the soil profile.