Numerically studying Pesticide diffusion in air using Langevin formalism

TL;DR

This study uses Langevin equations to numerically model pesticide droplet diffusion in air, analyzing how weather conditions affect spread and implications for regulatory distance guidelines.

Contribution

It introduces a Langevin formalism-based numerical approach to assess pesticide dispersion, providing insights for regulatory standards and environmental safety.

Findings

Identifies weather conditions that influence pesticide spread.

Suggests potential need for guideline reassessment under certain conditions.

Provides a systematic framework for future diffusion studies.

Abstract

The use of pesticides for enhancing crop yield and preventing infestations is a widespread agricultural practice. However, in recent years, there has been a growing shift toward traditional chemical-free organic farming. Regulatory frameworks impose specific distance requirements between organic farms and neighboring lands where chemical pesticides are used to minimize cross-contamination. In this work, we numerically analyze the spread of pesticide droplets to adjacent fields under varying weather conditions, providing a systematic analysis that highlights conditions where existing guidelines might require reassessment. We employ the formalism of the Langevin equations to model the diffusion of pesticide particles and their transport due to wind and other environmental factors. Assuming a non-relativistic, classical diffusion framework, we track the dispersion of commonly used pesticides to assess their potential contamination range. We present our key findings, discuss their implications, and, toward the end, outline possible directions for future research.