Moisture

Importance

1. Importance in physical activities: Moisture is essential for germination, viability of seeds, transpiration, respiration of plants, which can not be possible in its absence. It is the single medium for absorption of soil minerals and gases in the plants. It is one of the raw materials required for photosynthesis. It is required not only for translocation of manufactured food, but also for all kinds of chemical reactions taking place in the plant.
2. Importance in soil formation processes: Moisture is required for physical as well as chemical weathering resulting in the formation of soil.
3. Influence on vegetation: It determines the nature of vegetation that would survive in a particular area. It determines the species, their number per unit area, height, diameter and volume growth of trees and other vegetation. So, it can be used as a basis for classifying vegetation in broad temperature zones.

Sources of Moisture

1. Precipitation in the form of rain, snow or hail
2. Dew and hoar frost
3. Invisible condensation of moisture