IOWA 3OT PESTICIDE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔State the importance of the numeric codes at the top of a pesticide label and
pesticide resistance - ✔✔These codes help applicators quickly identify the mode of
action by looking at the group number.
Varying this can help reduce resistance
✔✔State four ways to minimize pesticide drift - ✔✔Correctly chosen nozzle
Reduced spray pressure
Monitor weather conditions
Keeping the spray nozzle near the target
✔✔Summarize the ways in which pesticides can injure nontarget plants - ✔✔Contact
can kill or injure plants
Movement into the root zone where it can be absorbed is also bad
✔✔List posting rules for a pesticide application - ✔✔Required for urban areas or
municipalities
Notification signs must be posted at the start of an application to a treatment site
4 by 5 inches, weather proof, and above grass line
"This are is chemically treated. Keep off. Do not remove sign for 24 hours."
✔✔Explain how to clean up hard surfaces after a granular application - ✔✔Blow or
sweep the material back into the turfgrass area or on the plant beds.
Keep away from storm drain entrances
✔✔List two characteristics of water that may influence the effectiveness of a spray
mixture - ✔✔Water pH is one area of concern.
If the water is alkaline (pH greater than 7) it can cause alkaline hydrolysis.
If water is acidic (pH less than 7) it can cause acid hydrolysis
Hardness of water is another concern
Hardness is the amount of dissolved minerals in water
Can inactivate pesticides
✔✔Most groundwater in Iowa has a pH between - ✔✔6.5 and 8.0
✔✔pesticide application methods for leaves - ✔✔Foliar spray
Sprayed directly onto plant leaves
Wiper application
Pesticide applied to selected vegetation through a rope-wick device
✔✔pesticide application methods for soil - ✔✔Surface soil application
,Applied directly to the bare ground in the target area
Soil drench
Pouring a diluted pesticide mixture on the soil surface around the base of the plant
Soil injection
Placed a pesticide under pressure 4-6 inches below the soil surface, usually encircling
ornamental
✔✔pesticide application methods for trunk - ✔✔Bark spray
Pesticide applied to the woody portions of the ornamental plant
Basal spray
Applied only to the lower portion of a plant's stem or trunk
Trunk injection
Injected through the bark of the woody plant into the vascular system via drilled holes
✔✔pesticide application methods for stump - ✔✔Cut stump
Applied within minutes to freshly cut stump surfaces
✔✔Small capacity sprayers - ✔✔Used for spot treatments, individual plants, trunks or
stems, basal bark, and small turfgrass areas
✔✔Hand-held sprayer - ✔✔Best for spot treatments of weed patches or individual
plants
Uses compressed air to deliver mixture.
✔✔Backpack sprayer - ✔✔Alternative to compressed air sprayer
Constant flow valve recommended
✔✔Hose-end spray gun and hydraulic sprayer - ✔✔Used for broadcast applications,
high or low pressure
High pressure usually for places vehicles cant get to
Low pressure used for foliar sprays or bark sprays
✔✔Boom sprayer - ✔✔Used for large area applications to turfgrass sites
✔✔Trunk injection - ✔✔Placed at or inside cambium layer
Movement of the chemical into the tree occurs in the xylem
✔✔Rotary spreader - ✔✔Widely used in apply granular products to residential turfgrass
properties
, ✔✔Define point of runoff - ✔✔Sprayed to the point that some excess spray liquid begins
to drip to the ground
✔✔Re-entry interval - ✔✔listed on product label about when it is safe to be in area, or
when spray has dried.
✔✔List three leaf arrangements on ornamental plants - ✔✔Alternate - leaf occurs singly
per plant node and the leaves alternate sides along the stem
Opposite - having leaves arise from the same node, on opposite sides of the stem
Whorled - where three or more leaves, petals, or other place organs arise from the
same node
✔✔Ornamental plant - ✔✔one that is grown for the purpose of adding to or improving
the beauty of a landscape site.
✔✔Identifying plant material - ✔✔Plant form and size
Foliage character - deciduous or evergreen
Leaf, bud, or branch arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Whorled
Type of leaf - simple, compound
Leaf margin - entire, toothed, lobed, etc
Leaf shape - oval, round, linear, etc
Twig characteristics - plain, thorns, etc
Bark characteristics - smooth, plated, diamond patterned, etc
✔✔Outline the factors involved in matching a plant to the site - ✔✔"The right plant in the
right site"
Plant hardiness
Plant is hardy if it can tolerate the lowest average winter temperatures occurring in a
specific zone.
Most of Iowa is zoned in 5a, some 5b in south and NW is 4b.
Environmental microclimates
Conditions in their immediate vicinity
Under eaves of buildings, south side of building, hilltop, under tree, etc.
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔State the importance of the numeric codes at the top of a pesticide label and
pesticide resistance - ✔✔These codes help applicators quickly identify the mode of
action by looking at the group number.
Varying this can help reduce resistance
✔✔State four ways to minimize pesticide drift - ✔✔Correctly chosen nozzle
Reduced spray pressure
Monitor weather conditions
Keeping the spray nozzle near the target
✔✔Summarize the ways in which pesticides can injure nontarget plants - ✔✔Contact
can kill or injure plants
Movement into the root zone where it can be absorbed is also bad
✔✔List posting rules for a pesticide application - ✔✔Required for urban areas or
municipalities
Notification signs must be posted at the start of an application to a treatment site
4 by 5 inches, weather proof, and above grass line
"This are is chemically treated. Keep off. Do not remove sign for 24 hours."
✔✔Explain how to clean up hard surfaces after a granular application - ✔✔Blow or
sweep the material back into the turfgrass area or on the plant beds.
Keep away from storm drain entrances
✔✔List two characteristics of water that may influence the effectiveness of a spray
mixture - ✔✔Water pH is one area of concern.
If the water is alkaline (pH greater than 7) it can cause alkaline hydrolysis.
If water is acidic (pH less than 7) it can cause acid hydrolysis
Hardness of water is another concern
Hardness is the amount of dissolved minerals in water
Can inactivate pesticides
✔✔Most groundwater in Iowa has a pH between - ✔✔6.5 and 8.0
✔✔pesticide application methods for leaves - ✔✔Foliar spray
Sprayed directly onto plant leaves
Wiper application
Pesticide applied to selected vegetation through a rope-wick device
✔✔pesticide application methods for soil - ✔✔Surface soil application
,Applied directly to the bare ground in the target area
Soil drench
Pouring a diluted pesticide mixture on the soil surface around the base of the plant
Soil injection
Placed a pesticide under pressure 4-6 inches below the soil surface, usually encircling
ornamental
✔✔pesticide application methods for trunk - ✔✔Bark spray
Pesticide applied to the woody portions of the ornamental plant
Basal spray
Applied only to the lower portion of a plant's stem or trunk
Trunk injection
Injected through the bark of the woody plant into the vascular system via drilled holes
✔✔pesticide application methods for stump - ✔✔Cut stump
Applied within minutes to freshly cut stump surfaces
✔✔Small capacity sprayers - ✔✔Used for spot treatments, individual plants, trunks or
stems, basal bark, and small turfgrass areas
✔✔Hand-held sprayer - ✔✔Best for spot treatments of weed patches or individual
plants
Uses compressed air to deliver mixture.
✔✔Backpack sprayer - ✔✔Alternative to compressed air sprayer
Constant flow valve recommended
✔✔Hose-end spray gun and hydraulic sprayer - ✔✔Used for broadcast applications,
high or low pressure
High pressure usually for places vehicles cant get to
Low pressure used for foliar sprays or bark sprays
✔✔Boom sprayer - ✔✔Used for large area applications to turfgrass sites
✔✔Trunk injection - ✔✔Placed at or inside cambium layer
Movement of the chemical into the tree occurs in the xylem
✔✔Rotary spreader - ✔✔Widely used in apply granular products to residential turfgrass
properties
, ✔✔Define point of runoff - ✔✔Sprayed to the point that some excess spray liquid begins
to drip to the ground
✔✔Re-entry interval - ✔✔listed on product label about when it is safe to be in area, or
when spray has dried.
✔✔List three leaf arrangements on ornamental plants - ✔✔Alternate - leaf occurs singly
per plant node and the leaves alternate sides along the stem
Opposite - having leaves arise from the same node, on opposite sides of the stem
Whorled - where three or more leaves, petals, or other place organs arise from the
same node
✔✔Ornamental plant - ✔✔one that is grown for the purpose of adding to or improving
the beauty of a landscape site.
✔✔Identifying plant material - ✔✔Plant form and size
Foliage character - deciduous or evergreen
Leaf, bud, or branch arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Whorled
Type of leaf - simple, compound
Leaf margin - entire, toothed, lobed, etc
Leaf shape - oval, round, linear, etc
Twig characteristics - plain, thorns, etc
Bark characteristics - smooth, plated, diamond patterned, etc
✔✔Outline the factors involved in matching a plant to the site - ✔✔"The right plant in the
right site"
Plant hardiness
Plant is hardy if it can tolerate the lowest average winter temperatures occurring in a
specific zone.
Most of Iowa is zoned in 5a, some 5b in south and NW is 4b.
Environmental microclimates
Conditions in their immediate vicinity
Under eaves of buildings, south side of building, hilltop, under tree, etc.
