What could happen if the application rate of a chemical is too low?

When the application rate of a chemical is too low, it can result in ineffective pest control measures. Specifically, while the herbicide may cause some level of injury to the weeds, it does not provide sufficient potency to eliminate them. This can lead to a situation where the weeds show signs of stress or damage but are still able to survive and continue growing.

This scenario is especially concerning in landscape and turf management because it can enable the weeds to recover, grow, and potentially spread, leading to a repeated cycle of control attempts. Adequate application rates are critical to ensure that the chemical effectively targets the intended pests without fostering resilience or tolerance in these plants.

The other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of a low application rate. Immediate death of all plants is an unlikely outcome of underapplication, as it typically requires significant quantities of a chemical to achieve such results. The chance of only non-target plants being affected implies a precise selective action that does not pertain to low rates. Lastly, low application rates would not inherently lead to soil contamination; rather, excessive or improper usage of chemicals could pose that risk.