Environmental Factors Affecting

Crop Growth And Development

Group Members: Amisha Puran, Anliya

Chatoor, Arianna Etwaroo, David Subnauth,
Deviyani Persaud, Divya Narine and Yudister
Babooram 1
 Criteria

 State and explain aerial factors and soil factors affecting plant
growth and development
 Define the term weathering
 With the aid of a diagram, state and explain the three (3) forms
of weathering

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 Aerial and Soil Factors

 Aerial environmental factors are those that come from the air
and atmosphere (such as climate, temperature, wind, etc.)
 Soil type and fertility also contribute as soil factors.
 It is vital that appropriate crops are chosen specifically to match
the aerial and soil factors so that plants will thrive.

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Rainfall)

 Excessive rainfall results in waterlogged soil, which slows plant

growth.
 An absence of rain also damages growth hence plants may wilt
and die without enough water.

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Temperature)

 Temperature controls the rate of metabolic activities in plants.

 Effective growth is promoted by cool to moderate temperatures.
 Too high temperatures reduce plant development and growth to
accommodate for other activities

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Sunlight)

 Sunlight is crucial for photosynthesis, allowing plants to grow

and develop.
 Light direction and day duration also impact growth.
 Sunlight regulates transpiration, resulting in well-expanded
leaves.

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Wind)

 Wind can take fine particles or dirt and dust and can hold them
in the air (suspension), or roll them over an area (creep).
 Both processes (suspension and creep) can move the particles
over long distances.

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Humidity)

 Relative humidity affects the soil as the moisture content of the

air will determine how wet or dry the surface of the soil is.
 In arid areas, where humidity is relatively low, there is an
increased risk of soil erosion by wind.

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 Aerial and Soil Factors (Soil Fertility)

 Soil fertility is vital for plants to obtain nutrients for growth.

 Soils with low soil fertility restrict growth and development,
resulting in low yields.

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 Weathering

 Weathering is the decomposition of rocks on the Earth’s

surface.
 This is caused by the action of rainwater, extreme temperature
and biological activity.
 Weathering involves the breakdown of bedrock (unweathered
rock) into smaller particles.

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 Weathering

 Soil (the environment provided for the growth of plants and

also serves as a habitat for organisms) is formed through
weathering.
 Soil may be transported by natural forces (such as wind or
water) and deposited at other locations. This process is called
erosion.

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 The Three (3) Forms of Weathering

 Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

 Chemical Weathering

 Biological Weathering

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Diagram showing the 3 Forms of Weathering
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 Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

 Physical weathering is the breakdown of rocks by forces either

from within or from the outside, causing the rock to break
down.
 This is done without changing the chemical composition of the
rocks.
 Examples include: exfoliation, salt wedging, temperature
change and abrasion.
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 Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

 In the Caribbean, weathering regularly occurs when moving

water in rivers or waves at the coast causes rocks to collide or
disintegrate.
 The rocks usually get worn down into smaller pebbles and
eventually into mineral particles.

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 Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

 In dry regions, wind with sand particles abrasively wears away

rock surfaces.
 High temperatures cause rock surface expansion and
contraction at night, resulting in onion-skin weathering, where
surface layers break away over time.

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Diagram showing Mechanical (Physical) Weathering

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 Chemical Weathering

 Chemical weathering alters, decomposes, dissolves or weakens

the rock through chemical processes to form residual materials.
 The main factors that cause chemical weathering are:
- water
- oxygen
- carbon dioxide
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 Chemical Weathering (Caused by Water)

 When water reacts with mineral grains in rocks, it forms new

minerals and soluble salts.
 This reaction occurs when the water is slightly acidic.

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 Chemical Weathering (Caused by Oxygen)

 Oxidation occurs when minerals in rocks combine with

atmospheric oxygen or the oxygen dissolved in rainwater.
 The minerals are converted to oxides, which are more likely to
break down or undergo weathering.

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 Chemical Weathering (Caused by Carbon Dioxide)

 When carbon dioxide in air dissolves in rainwater, carbonic

acid is formed. (This is a weak inorganic acid)
 As rainwater filters through rock containing carbonate (such as
limestone), the minerals in the rock dissolve and the rock
breaks up.

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Diagram showing Chemical Weathering
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 Biological Weathering

 Biological weathering (organic weathering) is the disintegration

or decay of rocks or minerals as a result of chemical or physical
agents of living organisms.
 For example: A rabbit burrowing into a crack in a rock making
it bigger and eventually splitting the rock.
 Another example: a plant growing in a crack in a rock and its
growing roots cause the rock to split and widen.
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 Biological Weathering

 Plants rot and are decomposed by micro-organisms in the soil.

 Due to this, organic acids called humic acids are released into
the soil and break down rock minerals.

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Diagram showing Biological Weathering
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 Reference(s)

Perrett-Pearson, M. and Ramharacksingh, R. Agricultural Science

for CSEC Examinations. 2nd ed., Macmillan Education, 2020

* This reference was cited using the APA (American Psychological

Association) system.

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