Abiotic components

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In biology, Abiotic components are nonliving chemical and physical factors in the environment. Often, these are described as light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases, wind as well as soil (edaphic) and physiographic (nature of land surface) factors.

These factors could be said to be the definitions for the exact environmental conditions in which plants need to grow.

The Sun is the primary source of light on Earth.

For example, the light needed by a plant could be defined by its quality, intensity, and duration. These combined factors create the environmental factor light.

Likewise, the temperatures of the environment can greatly influence a plant's development. An over- or under-abundance of water can change a plant's environment; water requirements can also be described for animals.

Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are the most commonly described gasses; and the wind, soil, and physiographic conditions can also combine in multiple ways to affect organisms.