Describe the factors which influence the terrestrial ecosystem.
Factors which affect the terrestrial ecosystems are:
i. Moisture : Moisture provided by water plays an important part in plant growth because all the nutrients required for growth are supplied to the plants in the dissolved state through the medium of water from the roots to the leaves.
ii. Water helps not only in the process of photosynthesis but also in germination, growth and reproduction of plants.
iii. Temperature : Along with water, temperature also plays an important part in the germination, growth and reproduction. But temperature is required within limits beyond which the plants cannot survive. In deserts, plants do not grow in most part of the year because of excessive heat.
iv. Soil : Soil is also an important factor in plant growth. There are different types of soils-sandy soil, loamy soil, black soil. Black soils have proved very suitable for the cultivation of cotton while loamy soils are good for the cultivation of wheat, rice, sugarcane, etc. Some soils can retain moistures for a longer period than the others and thus they prove useful for certain types of crops.
v. Other Factors: There are some other factors like drainage and relief features which affect the type of vegetation and the terrestrial ecosystem. As for example, in the mountain regions, the type of vegetation varies according to altitude.
