Consider what you know about biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. What is one of the reason that nutrients in a vegetable patch might be considered abiotic?

Question

A. Available nutrients affect the carrying capacity of garden plants
B. Nutrients can come from dead plants which have decomposed
C. Nutrients levels can change with changing ecosystem
D. Nutrients are mostly obtained from the soil

Answer 1

D. Nutrients are mostly obtained from the soil

Nutrients in a vegetable patch are considered abiotic because they come from the non-living components of the ecosystem, specifically the soil. Biotic factors, on the other hand, refer to living organisms within the ecosystem.