What is the likely consequence of a malfunctioning sprayer during pesticide application?

When a sprayer malfunctions during pesticide application, the most direct and immediate consequence is the inconsistent application of pesticides. This inconsistency can lead to patches of areas receiving either too much or too little pesticide, which can compromise the effectiveness of pest control efforts.

Inconsistent application can result in some pests being exposed to high concentrations of pesticide, potentially leading to increased resistance over time, while others may benefit from inadequate treatment. This uneven exposure undermines the overall goal of pest management, which is to achieve uniform coverage to effectively manage pest populations.

Although other options may arise from the circumstances surrounding a malfunctioning sprayer—such as increased operational costs due to wasted material or potentially needing to reapply pesticides—the primary issue is the lack of uniformity in the application itself. Therefore, option B accurately captures the most likely and immediate consequence of a sprayer not functioning as intended.