Nonliving environmental factors such as drought, salinity, low temperature, excessive heat, high winds that can have harmful effects on plants.

Stress induced by the non-living component of the environment.

Abiotic stress is caused in living organisms by nonliving environmental factors, such as drought, extreme temperatures, edaphic conditions, and high winds. Plants are especially dependent on environmental factors, and continued abiotic stress can have harmful effects on them or force natural selection. Abiotic stress is a a major constraint in crop and food production.