KCSE 2019 Agriculture Paper 1 Questions With Marking Scheme

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KCSE 2019 Agriculture Paper 2 Questions With Marking Scheme

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SECTION A (30 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section

Name four aspects of rainfall that affect agriculture. (2 marks)
State four factors that determine the depth of cultivation. (2 marks)
State four factors that influence the quality of farmyard manure. (2 marks)
State two factors that determine national income. (1 mark)
State four causes of land fragmentation. (2 marks)
Name two types of labour records. (1 mark)
State four ways in which crop pests are classified. (2 marks)
What is the minimum number of people required to form a co-operative society in Kenya? (½ mark)
Give two examples of fixed costs in maize production. (1 mark)
What is meant by the term production function? (1 mark)
State three characteristics of good trees for agroforestry. (1½ marks)
Name two varieties of sorghum grown in Kenya. (1 mark)
State four reasons why agriculture is important to Kenya's economy. (2 marks)
Give two reasons why the use of fire is discouraged in land clearing.
State four ways in which mulching conserves water. (2 marks)
State four uses of farm records. (2 marks)
State four characteristics of shifting cultivation. (2 marks)
State the law of supply as used in agricultural marketing, (1 mark)
State four ways in which trees improve soil productivity. (2 marks)
What is meant by the term integrated pest management? (1 mark)

SECTION B (20 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section

The diagram below illustrates a tomato fruit infested by a field pest.
1. Identify the pest. (1 mark)
2. State two ways in which the pest is economically important. (2 marks)
3. State two cultural ways of controlling the pest. (2 marks)
The diagram below shows a weed.
1. Identify the weed. (1 mark)
2. Using features on the diagram, give two reasons why it is difficult to eradicate the above weed. (2 marks)
3. State two ways in which the weed is economically important. (2 marks)
The diagrams below illustrate soil structures.
1. Identify the soil structure labelled M, N and P.
  M.................. (1 mark)
  N................... (1 mark)
  P.................... (1 mark)
2. Name the type of soil where each of the structures labelled N and Q is found.
  N.................(1 mark)
  Q................. (1 mark)
The diagram below shows an illustration of a crop field practice.
1. Identify the field practice illustrated above. (1 mark)
2. Name two crops which require the practice illustrated. (2 marks)
3. Give two reasons for carrying out the practice on one of the crops you have named in (b) above. (2 marks)

SECTION C (40 marks)

Answer any two questions from this section

1. Explain seven factors that should be considered when selecting seeds for planting. (7 marks)
2. State four benefits of adequate and reliable rainfall in vegetable crop production. (4 marks)
3. State four pieces of information contained in an invoice. (4 marks)
4. State five roles of calcium in crop production. (5 marks)
1. Describe how sugar cane is harvested. (5 marks)
2. Explain four factors that determine the nutrient content of hay. (4 marks)
3. State seven roles of a farm manager. (7 marks)
4. Describe four methods used to reclaim a swampy land for agricultural production (4 marks)
1. Describe the production of carrots under the following subheadings:
  1. land preparation (3 marks)
  2. planting (4 marks)
2. Describe six ways in which grass cover helps in soil and water conservation. (6 marks)
3. Explain seven nursery management practices. (7 marks)

Marking Scheme

Name four aspects of rainfall that affect agriculture. (2 marks)
- Rainfall intensity
- Rainfall distribution/pattern
- Rainfall amount
- rainfall reliability
State four factors that determine the depth of cultivation. (2 marks)
- The type of crop to be grown
- Type of farm implement to be used
- Soil moisture content
- Presence of hardpuns
- Presence of underground obstacles
- Type of soil
State four factors that influence the quality of farmyard manure. (2 marks)
- Feed material eaten by animal
- Species of the animal
- type of bedding material used
- Method of storage
- Age of farmyard manure
- Age of aniaml which produces the waste material
- Type of animal
State two factors that determine national income. (1 mark)
- Per capita income
- Gross dosmetic product
- Gross national product
- Household - firm relationship
State four causes of land fragmentation. (2 marks)
- Shifting cultivation
- Inheritance of land/traditional system
- Population pressure leading to purchase of small scattered pieces
- Accumulation of land holdings by money lenders due to debtors failing to pay
- Settlement and resettlement/Government subdivision of land
Name two types of labour records. (1 mark)
- Muster oil
- Labour utilizaton analysis
State four ways in which crop pests are classified. (2 marks)
- Storage pests
- Field pests
- Biting and chewing pests
- Piercing and sucking pests
- Rodents
- Insect pets/birds/mites/nematodes
What is the minimum number of people required to form a co-operative society in Kenya? (½ mark)
- ten people
Give two examples of fixed costs in maize production. (1 mark)
- Salaries of permanent workers
- Insurance
- Rent
- Depreciation cost of farm machinery
- Cost of buying machinery
What is meant by the term production function? (1 mark)
- It is the physical relationship between resource inputs and the corresponding output/product
State three characteristics of good trees for agroforestry. (1½ marks)
- Fast growth rates
- Deep rooted
- Nitrogen fixing
- Good in by product production/leafy/highly branched
- Should not compete for sunlight
- Hardy/should have high survival rate
Name two varieties of sorghum grown in Kenya. (1 mark)
- Serena
- dobbs
- Intama
- Leslu
- Sudan grass/sorghum sudanese
- columbus grass/sorghum alum
State four reasons why agriculture is important to Kenya's economy. (2 marks)
- Source of food
- Source of employment
- provision of raw materials for industries
- Provide market for industrial goods
- Source of income/money/capital/Foreign Exchange
Give two reasons why the use of fire is discouraged in land clearing.
- it kills soil micro-organisms
- Leads to loss of nutrients
- Destroys soil organic matter/Destroy soil structure/Leads to soil erosion
- Leads to accumulation of ash that changes soil pH
- Loss of Soil moisture.
State four ways in which mulching conserves water. (2 marks)
- Prevents splash erosion/intercepts rain drops
- Reduces speed of surface run offs
- Reduces evaporation
- Increases water holding capacity
- Improves water infiltration
State four uses of farm records. (2 marks)
- Records help to compare the performance of different enterprises within a farm or other farms.
- They show the history of the farm.
- Guide a farmer in planning and budgeting of farm operations
- Help to detect losses or theft on the farm.
- Help in the assessment of income tax to avoid over or under taxation
- Help to determine the value of farm or to determine the assets and liabilities of the farm.
- Make it easy to share the profits and losses in partnerships
- Help in settling disputes among heirs to the estate when a farmer dies without leaving a will,
- Records help to show whether the farm business is making profits y or losses.
- Helps th claiming Insurance
- Provide Labour information
- Help the farmer to get credit/to determine the credit worth of the farmer
State four characteristics of shifting cultivation. (2 marks)
- Movement/shifting when soil loses its fertility
- Practiced where land is plenty
- Practicable with annual crops not with perennials
- Agricultural output is low V Inputs such as pesticides, fungicides are rarely used
- Simple hand tools are used
- Land is communaly owned
- Population is sparce
- Low number of livestock per unit area
State the law of supply as used in agricultural marketing, (1 mark)
- As the price of a commodity increases the quantity offered for sale increases and as the price of commodity falls the quantity supplied declines acc. vice versa
State four ways in which trees improve soil productivity. (2 marks)
- Conserve moisture
- Improve soil structure
- Control soil erosion
- Contribute plant nutrients/organic matter
What is meant by the term integrated pest management? (1 mark)
- Is a combination of chemical, physical and cultural pest control methods.

SECTION B (20 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section

The diagram below illustrates a tomato fruit infested by a field pest.
1. Identify the pest. (1 mark)
  - American bollworm
2. State two ways in which the pest is economically important. (2 marks)
  - Reduces the quality of produce by boring holes on fruits
  - Increase the cost of production by purchase of pesticide
3. State two cultural ways of controlling the pest. (2 marks)
  - Early planting
  - Field hygiene/Removal and destruction of affected crop residues
  - Plant Mexican marigold in the field
  - Destruction of alternate host
  - Close season
  - Crop rotation
  - Intercropping
The diagram below shows a weed.
1. Identify the weed. (1 mark)
  - Nut grasses/sedge/cyperus rotundus/Cyperus spp
2. Using features on the diagram, give two reasons why it is difficult to eradicate the above weed. (2 marks)
  - It has underground nuts which regenerate.
  - Produces many seeds to enhance survival chances
3. State two ways in which the weed is economically important. (2 marks)
  - Competes for nutrients with crops, greatly reducing yield
  - Increases production costs
  - Reduces quality of pastures/can damage the teeth of livestock
  - Blocks irrigation channels
The diagrams below illustrate soil structures.
1. Identify the soil structure labelled M, N and P.
  M.................. Prismatic structure (1 mark)
  N................... Platy structure (1 mark)
  P.................... Granular(1 mark)
2. Name the type of soil where each of the structures labelled N and Q is found.
  N................. Clay soil(1 mark)
  Q................. Sandy soil(1 mark)
The diagram below shows an illustration of a crop field practice.
1. Identify the field practice illustrated above. (1 mark)
  - Earthing up
2. Name two crops which require the practice illustrated. (2 marks)
  - Groudnuts
  - Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes
  - Maize,millet, sorghum, tobacco
3. Give two reasons for carrying out the practice on one of the crops you have named in (b) above. (2 marks)
  - To improve tuber formation in irish/sweet potato
  - To improve drainage/improve seed formation in groundnuts
  - To improve drainage
  - To provide support/prevent lodging in cereal crops like maize/millet/sorghum
  - For easy harvesting
  - To prevent greening in crops e.g irish potatoes, sweet potatoes and carrots

SECTION C (40 marks)

Answer any two questions from this section

1. Explain seven factors that should be considered when selecting seeds for planting. (7 marks)
  - Adaptability - should be adapted to local ecological conditions
  - Physical deformities damages -should be free from physical deformities/damages
  - It should be free from pests/discases the
  - Viability bright germination percentage - should have high viability/ germination percentage
  - Should be from high yielding/healthy plant-early maturing mother plant
  - Purity; should be clean/free from impurities
  - Maturity, should be of correct maturity stage
  - Age/storage period; seeds stored for long periods have low viability/germination percentage hence should not be selected
  - Size of seeds; seeds should be of correct size
2. State four benefits of adequate and reliable rainfall in vegetable crop production. (4 marks)
  - Ensures adequate supply of water to the crop
  - Production/growing of vegetables is done throughout the year
  - Controls pests in crop production
  - Maximizes the utilization of available resources
  - Increases yields and ensure a steady supply of food throughout the year
  - Ensures a steady and reliable source of income and employment
3. State four pieces of information contained in an invoice. (4 marks)
  - Date of the transaction
  - Type of goods
  - Quantity of goods
  - Price of goods
  - Total amount of money involved
  - Invoice number
  - Terms of payment
  - Name of supplier
  - Name of recipient
  - Signature of supplier/stamp
4. State five roles of calcium in crop production. (5 marks)
  - Calcium acetate strengthens plant cell wall
  - Calcium is necessary in protein synthesis
  - Promotes soil aggregate formation thus improving soil acration, water infiltration and retention
  - Calcium compounds when added to acidic soils they raise soil pH
  - Increases cation exchange capacity
  - Makes phosphorus and potassium available for plant uptake.
  - Controls blossom end rot in tomatoes
1. Describe how sugar cane is harvested. (5 marks)
  - Harvest at the correct age 13 - 22 months for plant crop/12 - 18 months for ratoon crop
  - Take sugarcane sample for testing to determine maturity
  - Cut the mature cane at the basc/near the ground/below 10 cm
  - Cut off the green tops
  - Strip off green leavesłusing machete/Burn the plantation before harvesting.
  - Deliver the cane to the factory within 48 hours/ immediately after cutting
2. Explain four factors that determine the nutrient content of hay. (4 marks)
  - Stage of growth at harvesting time- cut when 50% of the plant has flowered to ensure high quality
  - Species of the crop used - species with high nutrients make quality high
  - Duration of storage - length of storage lowers the quality
  - weather conditions during drying - dry hay when the weather is sunny and dry
  - Length of drying period - Rapid dying ensire high quality hay
  - Pest/disease attack on the crop -avoid Using pest/disease infested plants to ensure high quality
  - Method of storage - store in dry shed to avoid decomposition by rain water
3. State seven roles of a farm manager. (7 marks)
  - Short term planning/making quick decisions in order to carry on the activities in appropriate time and hence avoid a crisis
  - Long term planning/making decisions which are linked to the future plans and operations on the farm
  - Gathering and analyzing information related to the enterprises
  - Detecting weaknesses and constraints and finding ways and means of overcoming them.
  - Keeping farm records or accounts
  - Guiding and supervising the farm management
  - Bearing consequences/responsibility of plans/decisions
  - Making predictions of the likely outcome of possible alternative courses of action
  - Comparing standards of the enterprise with set standards
4. Describe four methods used to reclaim a swampy land for agricultural production (4 marks)
  - Open ditches - U shaped, V-shaped, trapezoidal ditches are dug for excess water to flow away by gravity
  - Underground drain pipes/perforated pipes are laid underground, excess water then sceps from the surrounding area into the pipes and flows to a water way
  - French drains - ditches are dug, filled with stones and gravel and then covered with soil. Excess water from the surrounding area seeps into these drains and is carried away.
  - Cambered beds - Raised beds are constructed to allow excess water to flow away in furrows.
  - Pumping - is draining excess water from the swampy area using mechanical force.
  - Planting of trees - e.g. Eucalyptus absorbs a lot of water from swampy areas.
1. Describe the production of carrots under the following subheadings:
  1. land preparation (3 marks)
    - Clean the bushes using a panga/slasher
    - Remove stumps fit
    - Primary cultivation is done using jembe/ploughs dig deer
    - Secondary cultivation/harrow to a fine tilth
    - Prepare and early..
  2. planting (4 marks)
    - Make drills 20-30 cm apart and 1cm deep
    - Apply phosphated DSP/DAP/MAP fertilizer during planting
    - Avoid application of organic manure to avoid forking
    - Sow seeds along the drills 00mic maire ano
    - Cover with top soil
    - Apply fortilizer at the rate of 90kg of DSP/DAP/MAP per ha
    - Plant at the onset of rains/when the soil has enough moisture
    - Firm the soil after planting
2. Describe six ways in which grass cover helps in soil and water conservation. (6 marks)
  - Grass cover reduces the speed of run off which lowers the erosive power of run off
  - Grass cover reduces/intercepts the impact of rain drops which reduces splash erosion
  - Grass cover protects soil surface hence reducing wind erosion
  - Grass cover holds soil particles together from being carried away by crosive agents
  - The grass improves soil structure
  - Grass cover improve infiltration rate of water/Penetration
  - Grass cover reduces the rate of evaporation of soil moisture.
  - Filters/Trap Soil hence conserving the soil
3. Explain seven nursery management practices. (7 marks)
  - Mulching - A light mulch is applied on the nursery bed before seedlings emerge to conserve moisture and control erosion
  - Watering - nursery bed is watered regularly in the morning and evening to ensure adequate water supply.
  - Weed control-weeds are removed through uprooting to minimize competition with the crop
  - Pricking out- overcrowded seedlings are removed and planted in a second nursery bed/seedling bed
  - Shading - A light shade is erected over the nursery bed to protect young seedlings from excess sunlight/rain drops that damage them.
  - Pest and disease control - controlled through application of appropriate chemical/fungicides
  - Hardening off - is gradual reduction of shade and watering 1 - 2 weeks before transplanting seedlings to acclimatize them to seed bed conditions
  - Root trimming - cut the tap roots to encourage development of lateral branching of roots and ease the lifting of the seedlings
  - Application of foliar feeds feertilisers to boost growth and development of seedlings
  - Removal of mulch - remove mulch immediately the seedlings emerge to prevent etiolation