Final answer:
Plant growth is influenced by abiotic factors such as sunlight, soil quality, water, temperature, and nutrients. These affect photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and other vital processes. In experiments, controlling for variables like water and E) nutrients is crucial for accurate results.
Step-by-step explanation:
Various factors affect plant growth, and these can be broadly categorized into abiotic and biotic factors. The abiotic factors influencing plant growth include amount of sunlight, soil quality, water availability, temperature, and nutrient levels. These five factors are critical because they directly affect the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis, absorb minerals, and generally sustain its life processes. Soil quality encompasses the type of soil, which affects nutrient availability and water retention. The main water source for land plants is typically rain, although they also absorb moisture from the soil.
Other than these factors, various external conditions might affect plant experiments, as mentioned in the question about Gary's experimental setup. Possible uncontrollable variables include individual plant variation, soil temperature differences due to the color of containers, evaporation rates, and the effect of insects. Ensuring that plants receive the same amount of water and nutrients is crucial for controlled experiments like Gary's.
Moreover, different biomes are characterized by varying levels of net primary productivity, which is influenced by abiotic factors like precipitation levels and temperature. These elements define the type of biome and consequently the types of plants and animals that can thrive in those conditions.