Therefore, especially during the first year, a high resistance against water stress (drought stress) has to be expected.

Plants growing in sandy soils with low water-holding capacity are more susceptible to drought stress than plants growing in clay soils.

If plants do not receive adequate rainfall or irrigation, the resulting drought stress can reduce growth more than all other environmental stresses combined.

The prior environment of a plant also can influence the development of drought stress.

On such soils some plants may experience drought stress after only a few days without water.