What property of a pesticide increases its likelihood to move with water during surface runoff?

Selecting a pesticide with high solubility is crucial when considering its movement during surface runoff. Pesticides that are highly soluble dissolve easily in water, which means they are more likely to be transported with water as it flows over surfaces. This property significantly influences how and where the pesticide might spread beyond the target area, particularly in scenarios involving rainfall or irrigation.

Soluble pesticides can be washed away more readily than those that are less soluble. In contrast, characteristics like low volatility, high persistence, and low toxicity do not necessarily relate to movement with water during runoff. Low volatility refers to how quickly a pesticide evaporates, high persistence relates to how long it remains active in the environment, and low toxicity pertains to the potential harm to non-target organisms. While these factors are important when evaluating the overall impact of a pesticide, they do not directly affect its propensity to leach or move with runoff water.