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Climate Factor · Climate factor

Temperature

Temperature — of air and soil — is a fundamental driver of plant metabolism, governing germination, growth rate, developmental timing, and the geographic and seasonal range over which a given crop can be grown.

Dated referenceLast reviewed: 2026-07-12Updated: 2026-07-12
Illustrative diagram · AgricultureID (original)

Air and soil temperature influence nearly every biological process in crop production, from seed germination and root development to the rate of vegetative growth and the timing of flowering and maturity. Because these processes generally speed up with warmth, within a species-specific range, and slow down or stop outside it, temperature is often described as the primary "clock" driving plant development, alongside day length in many species.

Temperature varies diurnally (day–night), seasonally, and geographically, and these patterns interact with elevation, proximity to large water bodies, and local topography to create microclimates that can differ meaningfully from regional averages. Matching crop and cultivar choice to the local temperature regime is one of the most basic decisions in agricultural planning.

What temperature is, in this context

Agricultural temperature considerations distinguish air temperature, which affects above-ground growth and canopy processes, from soil temperature, which strongly influences germination, root growth, and nutrient availability. Both fluctuate diurnally and seasonally, and local factors such as elevation, aspect, and proximity to water bodies can create microclimates warmer or cooler than the surrounding region.

Why it matters for crops

Temperature governs the rate of enzyme-driven biological processes underlying germination, growth, and development, generally increasing up to a species-specific optimum and declining above it. This relationship underlies the concept of growing degree days, which sums accumulated warmth above a crop-specific base temperature as a way of tracking developmental progress. Temperature regimes also determine, at a broad level, which crops and cultivars are geographically and seasonally viable in a given location.

Effects of extremes

Low-temperature extremes can cause chilling injury in cold-sensitive species or frost damage when tissue temperatures fall to or below freezing, while high-temperature extremes can impair pollination, reduce photosynthetic efficiency, and accelerate development in ways that shorten grain- or fruit-fill periods — effects covered in more detail under frost and heat stress. Temperature also affects the development rate of many insect pests and pathogens, generally accelerating their life cycles as temperatures rise within their tolerance range.

Managing and adapting

  • Selecting species and cultivars matched to the local thermal regime and season length
  • Using protected cultivation, such as greenhouses, to extend a season or moderate extremes
  • Adjusting planting dates to align sensitive growth stages with more favourable temperature windows
  • Choosing sites with favourable microclimates, considering elevation, slope, and aspect

Regional and seasonal variation

Temperature regimes vary with latitude, elevation, and continentality (distance from moderating water bodies), producing very different growing conditions across regions at similar latitudes. Meteorological and agricultural agencies also monitor longer-term shifts in average and extreme temperatures, since these can gradually affect which crops and cultivars remain well suited to a given area over time.

Relationships

Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.

Affects

Managed with

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Scope & limitations

Geographic scope: Global overview; temperature regimes and their agricultural implications vary by latitude, elevation, and local microclimate.

  • This is a general overview of temperature as a climate factor, not region- or crop-specific thermal recommendations.
  • No universal optimal-temperature values are given, since these are species- and cultivar-specific.

Sources

This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.

  1. [1]WMO — World Meteorological Organization (opens in a new tab)

    World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Temperature measurement and climate standards

    Type:
    Intergovernmental organization
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  2. [2]NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (opens in a new tab)

    U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Temperature monitoring and climate data

    Type:
    Government agency
    Jurisdiction:
    United States
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  3. [3]FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization (opens in a new tab)

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Temperature effects on crop development

    Type:
    Intergovernmental organization
    Jurisdiction:
    Global
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12
  4. [4]USDA NASS — National Agricultural Statistics Service (opens in a new tab)

    USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

    Authoritative

    Cited for: Crop progress and temperature-related condition data

    Type:
    Government agency
    Jurisdiction:
    United States
    Accessed:
    2026-07-12

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