Which term describes a herbicide that degrades quickly and leaves the environment soon?

Which term describes a herbicide that degrades quickly and leaves the environment soon?

• A. Nonpersistent
• B. Persistent
• C. Translocated
• D. Volatile

Answer: (A)

Persistence describes how long a herbicide remains active after application. A nonpersistent herbicide breaks down quickly due to factors like sunlight, microbial action, and hydrolysis, so it loses activity fast and doesn’t linger in soil or water. This makes it less likely to leave residues or affect subsequent crops and the environment. In contrast, a persistent herbicide degrades slowly and can remain active for extended periods. Translocated refers to movement within the plant itself, not how long the chemical stays in the environment. Volatile means the substance can vaporize and move through the air, which is about a different behavior, not rapid environmental degradation. So a herbicide that degrades quickly and exits the environment soon is nonpersistent.