What can cause abiotic stresses in plants?

Prolonged drought or excessive moisture can significantly affect plant health by creating abiotic stresses. These stresses are non-living environmental factors that can hinder plant growth and development. Drought conditions lead to water scarcity, which impacts a plant's ability to perform photosynthesis, absorb nutrients, and regulate temperature, ultimately resulting in wilting, stunted growth, and even death if the water deficiency persists.

On the other hand, excessive moisture can lead to waterlogged soil, which adversely affects root respiration and can cause root rot and other fungal diseases. This creates an unfavorable environment for plants, making it difficult for them to thrive. Hence, the presence of these extreme water conditions directly causes abiotic stresses, leading to significant challenges in plant management and crop yields.

The other options, while they can affect plant health, typically relate more to biotic stresses or changes in the biological environment rather than abiotic stresses specifically, which are primarily environmental in nature.