What is meant by the term absorption in the context of pesticides?

Absorption refers to the process by which a pesticide penetrates plant tissues or enters the bodies of other organisms. This occurs when a pesticide is taken up through various parts of a plant, often through the roots or leaves, allowing it to be distributed throughout the organism. Understanding absorption is crucial for effective pest management because it helps determine how fast and efficiently a pesticide can control targeted pests.

In contrast, decomposition pertains to breaking down substances, which does not relate to the uptake of pesticides into living organisms. Volatilization involves the transition of pesticides from a liquid to vapor form, making it a different process entirely, while neutralization refers to rendering a pesticide inert, which again does not relate to absorption. Thus, the identification of absorption as the movement of pesticides into plants or other organisms is foundational to understanding how pesticides operate within an ecological and agricultural context.