Pesticides might runoff more readily from soils with which of the following characteristics?

The choice of low pH as a characteristic that would cause pesticides to runoff more readily from soils is based on the chemical behavior of pesticides in acidic environments. Soils with low pH tend to have higher solubility for many pesticides, meaning that when it rains or when the soil becomes saturated, these chemicals are more likely to dissolve in water and be carried away.

In contrast, soils that have high organic matter can retain pesticides through adsorption, thus reducing runoff. High water retention also means that there would be less excess water to carry the pesticides away. Lastly, low solubility of pesticides means they do not dissolve easily in water, so they are less likely to be flushed out during runoff events. These soil characteristics collectively affect how well pesticides are retained in the soil versus how easily they can be transported away with water movement.