Leaching describes

Leaching describes

• A. Movement of water over the soil surface
• B. Upward movement of pesticides through the plant
• C. Downward movement of pesticides and nutrients through the soil
• D. Evaporation of pesticides from the soil

Answer: (C)

Leaching is the downward movement of pesticides and nutrients through the soil as water infiltrates and moves downward. When rain or irrigation water percolates through the soil, any dissolved chemicals can be carried with it into deeper layers and potentially into groundwater. This process is driven by gravity and water movement, not by water flowing across the surface, plant uptake, or evaporation. So the option describing downward movement through the soil best captures how leaching works.

Leaching is the downward movement of pesticides and nutrients through the soil as water infiltrates and moves downward. When rain or irrigation water percolates through the soil, any dissolved chemicals can be carried with it into deeper layers and potentially into groundwater. This process is driven by gravity and water movement, not by water flowing across the surface, plant uptake, or evaporation. So the option describing downward movement through the soil best captures how leaching works.