How Do Biotic and Abiotic Factors Affect Crop Production?

Biotic factors refer to living organisms that interact with crops. If harmful, they can drastically reduce crop production.

• Pests and Insects: Insects like locusts and caterpillars eat the leaves, stems, and fruits of the crop, reducing the yield.
• Diseases: Pathogens like bacteria, fungi, and viruses cause diseases (e.g., rust in wheat) that destroy the plant's ability to photosynthesize and grow.
• Weeds: Unwanted wild plants grow alongside crops and steal their sunlight, water, and soil nutrients.
• Nematodes and Rodents: Rats and worms destroy the roots and the stored grains.

Abiotic factors are the non-living environmental conditions.

• Drought / Water Scarcity: Lack of rain causes plants to dry up and die.
• Waterlogging: Too much rain or flooding drowns the roots, cutting off oxygen and causing root rot.
• Temperature Extremes: Frost, extreme heat, or sudden cold waves can freeze or burn the sensitive plant tissues.
• Salinity: High salt content in the soil prevents roots from absorbing water properly.

Both biotic and abiotic factors lead to:

1. Weight loss of the grains.
2. Poor germination rates.
3. Discoloration of the produce, reducing its market value.
4. Overall massive loss in crop yield.