Which environmental factor does NOT affect pesticide efficacy?

The choice highlighting soil type as a factor that does not affect pesticide efficacy is accurate because pesticide efficacy is largely determined by how the pesticide interacts with the environment in which it is applied. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed directly impact how pesticides perform in the air and on surfaces.

Temperature can influence the rate of chemical reactions, evaporation rates, and the activity of pests and beneficial organisms, thereby affecting how well a pesticide works. Humidity plays a critical role in determining the persistence of pesticide residues and the potential for drift. Wind speed can impact the application accuracy and the potential for drift, which can reduce effectiveness or lead to unintended consequences.

On the other hand, while soil type can influence the behavior and availability of pesticides in the soil, it does not directly affect the efficacy of the pesticides themselves during the application process. Factors like absorption into the soil or degradation rates may vary with soil type, but efficacy, which refers to the ability to control the target pest effectively, is more closely tied to the conditions present during and immediately after application.