What characteristic of pesticides affects their movement from a target site?

The characteristic of solubility is crucial when considering the movement of pesticides from a target site. Solubility influences how easily a pesticide dissolves in water or other solvents, which in turn affects its potential to be absorbed by plants, soil, or enter waterways. For instance, highly soluble pesticides may be more prone to leaching into groundwater or runoff into surface waters, thus moving away from their intended application area. On the other hand, pesticides with low solubility tend to remain bound to the soil particles, limiting their mobility. Therefore, understanding a pesticide's solubility is essential for predicting its behavior in the environment and for implementing proper application practices to minimize off-target movement.