What are signs of pesticide over-application?

Pesticide over-application can lead to several adverse effects on crops and the environment, with crop damage and excessive runoff being clear signs of this issue. When pesticides are applied in excess, it can result in phytotoxicity, which manifests as leaf burn, stunted growth, or even plant death—these occurrences clearly indicate damage to the crops. Additionally, over-application can cause pesticides to exceed the soil's absorption capacity, leading to runoff. This excessive runoff can carry harmful chemical residues into nearby water bodies, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and contaminating water supplies.

Other choices, while potentially linked to pesticide use, do not reflect the specific signs of over-application. For example, improved crop yield would typically suggest effective use of pesticides rather than over-application. Increased pest activity could indicate pesticide resistance or ineffective application rather than over-application. Healthy non-target organisms would suggest appropriate use of pesticides, as over-application generally harms beneficial species. Therefore, the presence of crop damage and excessive runoff serves as the definitive indicator of pesticide over-application.