Do environmental factors impact height?
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Consensus Meter
Environmental Factors Impacting Height
Environmental Influences on Plant Height
Genotype and Environment Interaction in Soybean
Plant height in soybeans is significantly influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. A study involving 308 soybean lines and 168 F9 progeny planted across different field sites revealed substantial genotype × environment (G × E) interactions affecting plant height traits. The research identified 51 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for plant height across four environments, with specific environmental factors such as average day-length, maximum temperature, soil pH, and available nitrogen having the most significant impacts on soybean height .
Environmental Determinants of Forest Canopy Height
In forest ecosystems, environmental factors such as climate, topography, and soil properties play crucial roles in determining tree height. Research in the Sierra Nevada Mountains showed that climate variables like climatic water deficit and mean annual precipitation were strongly correlated with maximum canopy height. Soil bulk density, pH, and topographic variables also significantly influenced tree height, with these relationships varying across different spatial scales. Similarly, in boreal forests, maximum canopy height was positively associated with mean annual temperature, terrain slope, and depth-to-water, highlighting the importance of local environmental conditions.
Environmental Factors Affecting Human Height
Socioeconomic and Environmental Stressors
Human height is a complex trait influenced by genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. A study examining adult height across different countries found that environmental stressors such as income inequality, air pollution, and life expectancy were strongly correlated with height. These stressors were grouped into "Quality of Life" and "Social Factors," both of which significantly impacted average height, with income inequality and air pollution being the most influential.
Historical and Regional Influences
Historical and regional factors also play a role in shaping human height. Research comparing children of Guatemalan and European ancestry living in Guatemala City found that environmental conditions significantly influenced growth patterns. European children in Guatemala grew similarly to their Guatemalan peers before adolescence but exhibited growth patterns similar to European children during adolescence, indicating the impact of both genetic and environmental factors.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions Over Time
A comprehensive analysis of twin cohorts from 20 countries revealed that the influence of shared environmental factors on height is most significant in early childhood but persists into early adulthood. The genetic contribution to height increases with age, peaking during adolescence. This pattern was consistent across different geographic regions, although the extent of genetic variance varied.
Conclusion
Environmental factors significantly impact height in both plants and humans. In plants, factors such as climate, soil properties, and topography play crucial roles, while in humans, socioeconomic conditions, historical influences, and regional environmental stressors are key determinants. Understanding these interactions can help in optimizing growth conditions for plants and addressing health and well-being disparities in human populations.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic