Which factor is NOT typically a driver of spray drift?

• A. Droplet size
• B. Wind speed
• C. Temperature
• D. Soil texture

Answer: (D)

Spray drift is mainly about how the droplets travel through the air before they land. Droplet size is key: smaller droplets stay suspended longer and can be carried farther by the wind, while larger droplets settle out quickly near the target. Wind speed and stability push and steer that plume, so higher winds typically increase how far drift occurs. Temperature also plays a role by influencing evaporation and volatility; warmer conditions can cause droplets to evaporate and become smaller, which increases the potential for drift, and can affect air stability in a way that promotes longer transport.

Soil texture affects what happens after the droplets have landed—how readily they infiltrate, stay on the surface, or run off—rather than how they move through the air. That's why soil texture is not a driver of spray drift.