KCSE 2010 Agriculture Paper 1 Questions with Marking Scheme

QUESTIONS

SECTION A (30 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided

Give two disadvantages of intensive system of farming. (1mk)
List four methods of farming. (2mks)
Give the meaning of the following terms:
1. nitrogen fixation into the soil; (1mk)
2. phosphorus fixation in loss of soil fertility. (1mk)
Give four reasons for keeping livestock health records on the farm. (2mks)
Explain the relationship between scarcity and choice as used in agricultural economics. (2mks)
Sate two reasons for land fragmentation in Kenya. (1mk)
Give four advantages of individual owner operator tenure system as practiced in Kenya. (2mks)
Sate four features that should be considered when choosing water pipes for use on the farm. (2mks)
Give four reasons for treating water for use on the farm. (2mks)
Name four statutory boards that are involved in the marketing of crop produce in Kenya. (2mks)
State four marketing functions of Kenya Co-operative Creameries 9K.C.C.). (2mks)
Give two reasons for carrying out each of the following operations in land preparation:
1. rolling; (1mk)
2. leveling. (1mk)
Name three recommended practices that should be carried out when clearing the bush during land preparation. (11/2 mks)
State five advantages of zero grazing. (21/2 marks)
Give four factors that would determine the stage at which a crop is harvested. (2mks)
Name two classes of weeds on the basis of each of the following:
1. growth cycle; (1mk)
2. plant morphology. (1mk)

SECTION B (20 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

Below is a diagram of a weed. Study the diagram carefully and answer the questions that follow.
1. dentify the weed illustrated above. (1/2mk)
2. Why is the weed illustrated above difficult to control? (1mk)
3. State four ways in which the weed can be controlled in a field of maize.(2mks)
The table below shows pH values of different soil samples. Study it and answer the questions that follow.
1. Which soil sample has the highest acidity? (1/2mks)
2. State two ways in which the pH value of sample S₈ can be lowered.(1mk)
3. Which of the above soil samples is suitable for growing tea? (1/2mk)
Explain how agroforestry tree seeds should be prepared after collection in readiness for planting. (4mks)
1. The diagrams below represent two ways in which a crop was pruned.
  Study them carefully and answer the questions that follow.
  1. Which diagram represents the correct way of pruning? (1/2mks)
  2. Give a reason for your answer in (i) above. (1mk)
2. State two ways in which pruning assists in controlling crop diseases. (1mk)
On 1st January 2009, Kaburu Farm started farm operations with Ksh 30,000 cash. During the month, the farm made the following transactions. Study the transactions and prepare a cash analysis for Kaburu Farm for the month of January. (51/2 mks)
Date   Transaction    Amount (Ksh)
05/0109    Livestock sales 80,000
08/01/09    Crop sales    50,000
15/01/09    Bought seed for planting 7,000
20/01/09    Paid K.F.A. for fertilizer 16,400
25/01/09    Bought livestock feeds    50,000
30/01/09    Paid wages for planting & weeding 56,000
31/01/09    Received cash from K.C.C for milk delivery 120,000
31/01/09    Paid transport charges for milk delivery 9,000
1. What do the figures 18:46:10 on a fertilizer bag represent? (1½ mks)
2. Calculate the quantity of filler materials in the fertilizer in (a) above.(1mk)

SECTION C (40 marks)
Answer any two questions in this section in the spaces provided after question 25.

1. Explain eight factors that can encourage soil erosion. (8 mks)
2. Describe the seven management practices that should be carried out on a vegetable nursery after sowing seeds until the seedlings are ready for transplanting. (7 mks)
3. State five soil factors that should be considered when selecting a crop to grow in an area. (5mks)
1. Outline five ways in which high temperature affects agricultural production in Kenya. (5mks)
2. 1. Explain four presentations that should be observed when harvesting cotton. (4mks)
  2. Describe the harvesting of sugar cane. (3mks)
3. Explain eight factors that should be considered when planning to set up a farm business. (8mks)
1. Explain six physical methods that can be used to control crop pests on the farm. (6mks)
2. Describe the production of bulb onions under the following sub-headings:
  1. field management; (4mks)
  2. harvesting. (3mks)
3. Explain seven factors that influence seed rates in crop production.(7mks)

Marking Scheme

Disadvantages of intensive system of farming.
- Requires high initial capital/Expensive
- Is labour expensive
- Requires high level of management/skilled labour (2 x 1/2 = 1 mark)
4 methods of farming.
- Shifting cultivation
- Nomadic pastoralism
- Organic farming
- Mixed farming
- Agroforestry (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
1. Nitrogen fixation
  - Process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted to nitrates for plant uptake. (1 x 1 = 1 mark)
2. Phosphorous fixation
  - Process in which phosphorous combines with other elements to form compounds that cannot be absorbed by plants. (1 x 1 = 1 mark)
4 reasons for keeping livestock health records.
- Help in calculation of treatment and health costs
- Help in culling/selecting livestock
- Help in future diagnosis treatment and control measures
- Help determine the common diseases and parasites/prevent diseases and parasites
- Help to support livestock insurance claims (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
Relationship between scarcity and choice.
- Scarcity is where production resources are limited in supply relative to demand; therefore a choice has to be made on which enterprise(s) to allocate the limited resources. (2 marks - mark as a whole)
2 reasons for land fragmentation.
- Buying/selling/paying debts/compensation
- Inheritance
- Settlement and resettlement
- Gift/donations
- Shifting cultivation (2 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
Advantages of individual tenure system.
- Easy to acquire credit.
- Land disputes are minimized
- Long term investment is encouraged
- Incentive to conserve and improve land
- Easy to plan and make decisions
- Easy to sell/lease whole or part of the land. (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
4 features for choosing powers
- Durability
- Strength/ability to withstand pressure/thickness of the wall of the pipe
- Diameter/size of the pipe
- Workability/manoeverability of the pipe
- Colour (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
4 reasons for treating water.
- Remove chemical impurities/softening of water
- Kill disease causing organisms/kill germs/pathogens
- Remove bad smells and taste
- Remove impurities of solid particles (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
4 Statutory Boards
- Kenya Sugar Board/Authority (KSB/KSA)
- Kenya Tea Development Authority/Agency/Tea board of Kenya (KTDA, TBK)
- National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB)
- Coffee Board of Kenya (CBK)
- Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK)
- Cotton Lint and Seed Marketing Board/Cotton Board of Kenya (CLSMB, CBK)
- Horticultural Crop Development Authority (HCDA)
- Kenya Sisal Board (KSB) (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
4 marketing functions of KCC
- Buying and assembling milk/collection
- Processing milk
- Market research
- Advertisement/promotion of milk/milk products
- Strategic storage of milk products
- Distribution of milk/transportation
- Selling milk
- Marketing and packaging
- Risk bearing
- Financing - related to marketing function
- Grading/standardization
- Rej: Marketing alone (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
1. - Increases seed soil contact
  - Compacts soil/seed to protect it against agents of erosion
  - Crushing large soil clods
  - Soil levelling (2 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
2. Levelling
  - Ensures uniform depth of planting/uniform germination/uniform fertilizer application
  - Ensures uniform water level in paddy
  - Rice fields
  - To remove depression which collect water leading to rotting of seeds.(2 x 1/2 = 1 mark)
3 activities in clearing land
- Tree felling
- Stumping/removal of stumps/destumping
- Slashing/mowing (3 x 1/2 = 11/2 marks)
5 Advantages of zero grazing
- Requires little land
- Quick accumulation of manure
- Easy to control diseases and parasites
- Less wastage of feeds
- Has high stocking rate
- High milk yield
- Efficient use of fodder (5 x 1/2 = 21/2 marks)
4 factors determining stage of crop harvesting.
- Intended use of the crop
- Chemical concentration of the produce/stage of maturity/change in colour
- Prevailing weather conditions
- Market demand for the produce/market price (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
1. Growth Cycle
  - Annual weeds
  - Biennual weeds
  - Perennial weeds (2 x 1/2 = 1 mark)
2. - Broad leaved weeds
  - Narrow leaved weeds (2 x 1/2 = 1 mark)
1. Weed
  - Couch grass/Digitaria scalarum (1 x 1/2 = 1/2 mark)
2. Why its difficult to control.
  - Presence of underground stems/rhizomes which are difficult to control/underground storage structure (1 x 1 = 1 mark)
3. 4 control
  - Uprooting
  - Cultivation
  - Slashing
  - Use of herbicides
  - Mulching
    Rej: Rogueing (4 x 1/2 = 2 marks)
1. Soil Sample with highest acidity
  - Sample S1 (1 x 1/2 = 1/2 mark)
2. Lowering pH
  - Application of acidic fertilizers: Accept S/A; ASN; DAP; MAP
    Rej: Nitrogenous fertilizers
  - Application of sulphur (2 x 1/2 = 1 mark)
3. Soil sample suitable for tea growing
  - S₂
  - S₃
  - S₄
- Extraction to remove seeds from pods/fruits
- Drying to reduce seed moisture content
- Testing to verify seed quality
- Treatment to break dormancy/helps improve germination/soaking in water
- Seed dressing to control pests and diseases
- Seed innoculation to improve nitrogen fixation
- Washing/cleaning to remove mucilage (4 x 1 = 4 marks)
  No procedure
1. 1. Correct pruning
    - B
      NB: Wrong identity
      Wrong reason (1 x 1/2 = 1/2 mark)
  2. Reason
    - Slant cut is a few centimetres above the bud/leaf (1 x 1 = 1 mark)
2. 2 how pruning controls diseases
  - Removes diseased parts
  - Creates unfavourable conditions/environment for disease agents
  - Facilitates penetration of chemical sprays. (2 x 1/2 = 1 marks)

KABURU FARM CASH ANALYSIS FOR JANUARY 2009
No marks for title

RECEIPTS (SALES AND RECEIPTS) EXPENDITURE(PURCHASESAND EXPENSES)
DATE	DESCRIPTION	TOTAL	CASH	LIVESTOCK	CROP	DATE	DESCRIPTION	TOTAL	CROPS	LIVESTOCK
		Ksh	Ksh	Ksh	Ksh			Ksh	Ksh	Ksh
01/1/09	cash in hand	30,000	30,000			15/1/09	seeds for planting	7,500	7,500
05/1/09	livestock sales	80,000		80,000		20/1/09	paid KFA for fertiliser	16,400	16,400
08/1/09	crop sales	50,000			50,000	25/1/09	bought livestock feed	50,000		50,000
31/1/09	cash for milk delivery to KCC	120,000		120,000		30/1/09	paid wages for planting & weeding	56,000	56,000
						31/1/09	transport charges for milk delivery	9,000		9,000
TOTAL		280,000	30,000	200,000	50,000	TOTAL		138,900	79,900	59,000
						CLOSING BALANCE		141,100
TOTAL		280,000				TOTAL		280,000

NB: Check for double entry

Correct labelling of expenditure and receipt columns 1 x 1/2 = 1/2 mark
Correct entries by dates 9 x 1/2 = 41/2 marks
Balancing 1 x 1/2 = 1/2 mark
Closing balance
Cash at hand i.e 141,000

1. Figures 18:46 on a fertilizer bag mean
  - 18% Nitrogen (NO
  - 46% phosphorous pentoxide (P₂O₅)
  - 10% Potassium oxide (K₂O) (3 x 1/2 = 11/2 marks)
2. Filler material
  - = 100 - (18 + 46 + 10)
    = 100 - 74
    = 26kg or 26%
    Ignore working
    Mark answer only i.e 26
    Unit must be therefore a score. 1 x 1 = 1 mark
1. 8 Factors that encourage soil erosion.
  - Lack of ground cover exposes soil to agents of soil erosion/removal of cover crops
  - Steep slopes increase the speed of surface run-offs hence erosive power of water
  - Light/sandy soils are easily carried away by agents of soil erosion.
  - Shallow soils are easily saturated with water and carried away
  - High rainfall intensity on bare ground/leads at detachment of soil hence run off
  - Frequent cultivation/over cultivation pulverizes the soil making it easy to detach and carry away.
  - Overstocking leads to overgrazing which destroys ground cover exposing it to agents of erosion.
  - Burning/deforestation destroys vegetation cover and exposes soil to agents of erosion.
  - Ploughing up and down the slope creates channels which speed up and increases the erosive it to agents of water.
  - Cultivation of river banks destroys riverine (Viparia) vegetation & destroys soil structure exposing it to agents of erosion.
  - Cultivating the soil when too dry destroys soil structure making it easy to be eroded.
  - Long slopes increases volume speed of run off hence increasing erosive power of water.
    Question if filter not qualified = No mark
    Factor & effect
  - High rainfall amount increase saturation of soil hence increase in soil erosion.
2. - Mulching to conserve moisture
  - Erection of shade to minimize evapotranspiration
  - Weed control to reduce competition with seedlings for nutrients, light, space etc
  - Pest and disease control to ensure healthy and vigorously growing seedlings
  - Pricking out/thinning to minimise competition for growth elements
  - Fertilizer application to supplement nutrients in the soil
  - Watering to ensure adequate moisture supply
  - Hardening off/removing shade/reducing watering to acclimatize the seedling to conditions in the field.
  - Removal of mulch immediately after germination
    NB: Correctly stated (7 x 1 = 7 marks)
3. 5 soils factors that determine a crop growth in an area.
  - Soil drainage/rate of water infiltration and percolation through the soil
  - Soil structure/arrangement of soil particles or aggregates/water holding capacity
  - Soil nutrient content/variety and quantity of mineral nutrients in the soil/Soil fertility
  - Soil profile/soil depth/depth and arrangement of soil horizons in relation to the rooting systems of the crop
  - Soil pH/chemical properties of the soil/degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil solution
  - Soil borne pests and diseases/the prevalent pests/diseases in the soil
  - Water holding capacity
    5 correctly stated (5 x 1 = 5 marks)
1. 5 effects of high temperature
  - Increases incidences of some pests/parasite and diseases
  - Improves quality of certain crops e.g fruits, pineapples, papaws’
  - Lowers quality of certain crops e.g pyrethrum
  - Increases rate of evapotranspiration/wilting in plants
  - Increases rate of growth for early maturity in crops
  - Limits distribution of exotic livestock breeds
  - Lowers production in livestock
  - Influences design of farm buildings and structures
  - Lowers labour productivity (5 x 1 = 5 marks)
2. 4 precautions observed in cotton harvesting
  - Sisal bags/gunny bags should not be used to prevent mixing of lint and sisal fibres which causes ginning problems
  - Hands should be cleaned to avoid staining of the lint
  - Picking should be done when the lint is dry to prevent fibres from sticking together
  - Use clean containers for picking
  - Use different containers for AR (Safi) and BR (fifi) gardens of cotton to ensure quality/separation
  - Picking should be done immediately the bolls open/split to prevent staining by dust/dirt
  - Avoid picking leaves & twigs to avoid (containers)1 x 4 = 4 marks
3. Sugar cane harvesting
  - Harvest at the correct age / 13 -22 months for plant crop/ 12 - 18 months for rotation
  - Take sugar can samples of testing to determine maturity.
  - Cut the mature cane at the base/near the ground
  - Cut off the green tops
  - Strip off green leaves/burn the cane
  - Deliver the cane to the factory within 48 hours/immediately after cutting
  - Use a cane harvesting machete. (6 x 1/2 = 3 marks)
4. 8 factors considered in farm planning
  - Risk and uncertainties: enterprises should be analysed to determine the risks and uncertainties involved.
  - Security: enterprises which require more security should be sited near the farm house/provision of adequate security
  - Land size: a large number of enterprises can be established on a large scale compared to a small scale farm.
  - Current trends in labour market: to determine availability and cost of labour especially during peak period.
  - Farmers objectives and preferences: to ensure the farmer who is the operator has a sense of ownership of the plan and brings about motivation
  - Current market trends and prices of outputs: to ensure consideration of enterprises with high profits returns.
  - Availability and cost of farm inputs: to identify enterprises that are affordable and whose inputs are readily available.
  - Government policy/regulation: to seek permission for enterprises undertaken on quota system e.g coffee growing and avoid enterprises and farming systems prohibited by the government
  - Environmental factors: soil, climate and topography should be analysed to determine livestock crop enterprises that are suitable to the local ecological conditions.
  - Communication and transport facilities and facilitate movement of outputs to the market and supply of inputs. Also helps in conveying improved methods of farming and market trends.
  - Availability of capital: to acquire farm inputs
  - Possible production enterprises: should be identified and analysed so that suitable and profitable enterprises are selected
    Wrong factor
    Award for explanation
    1/2 mk - stating the factor = 1/2 x 8 = 4
1. 6 physical methods of controlling crops pests
  - Trapping/picking and killing the pests
  - Use of lethal temperature to kill the pests
  - Flood the suffocate and kill the pests
  - Use of physical barriers e.g fences, rat guards, etc to keep the pests away from the crop/produce
  - Proper drying to make penetration difficult
  - Use of explosive to destroy breeding grounds and the kill the pests
  - Suffocation: carbon dioxide build up to suffocate pests in stores especially cyprus bins. (6 x 1 = 6 marks)
2. 1. Field management of bulb onions
    - Weed control through shallow cultivation to avoid damage to the shallow inion roots
    - Remove excess soil around the roots gradually to facilitate bulb expansion
    - Water regularly at the early stages to ensure adequate moisture supply
    - Top dress with nitrogenous fertilizer at appropriate rates
    - Control pests e.g thrips using appropriate pesticides
    - Control diseases e.g rusts, mildews using appropriate method. (4 x 1 = 4 marks)
  2. Harvesting of bulb onions
    - Is done 4 -5 months after planting/when leaves wither/turn brown
    - Cut break and bend this tops at the neck
    - Harvesting is done by lifting/pulling/digging out the crop
    - Leave the bulbs on the ground/undershade to dry for 3 days and turn frequently to ensure uniform drying.
      3 x 1 = 3 marks
3. 7 factors influencing seed rate
  - Intended use of the crop e.g fodder maize requires high seed rate than grain maize.
  - Germination percentage - high speed rate is required for seeds with low germination percentage
  - Method of planting: Broadcasting requires high seed rate than row planting.
  - Number of seeds per hole: two or more seeds per hole requires more seed rate than one seed per hole.
  - Soil fertility: poor/infertile soils require low seed are because crops are widely spread compared to fertile soils.
  - Growth characteristics of the crop: tall/tillering/indeterminate varieties require low seed rate compared to short/less tillering/determinate varieties
  - Spacing: High sped rate is required in closer spacing than wider spacing
  - Seed purity: Impure seed/containing chaff and foreign materials will lead to high seed rate compared to pure seed
  - Pure/mixed stand
    High seed rate for pure stand and low seed rate for mixed stand.
    1/2 mk for stated factor = 1/2 x 7 = 31/2 mk
    1/2 mk for explanation given = 1/2 x 7 = 31/2 mk