Numerically studying Pesticide diffusion in air using Langevin formalism

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.