Soil, Movement of Pesticides in

Abstract

Once chemicals released into the environment have reached the soil surface, they may be transported primarily horizontally via overland flow or vertically into the soil with the infiltrating rainwater. The horizontal solute transport at the soil surface following the minimal slope of the landscape poses a direct threat to the surface water quality because the soil with its buffer function is bypassed. Hazardous chemicals, such as pesticides, can be transported directly from the point of application to large water bodies via overland flow.