Agriculture Paper 1 Questions and Answers - KCSE 2020 Past Papers

THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
313/1
AGRICULTURE(THEORY) Paper 1

Instructions to Candidates

• This paper consists of three sections: A, B and C
• Answer all the questions in sections A and B
• Answer any two question in section C
• Candidates should answer the questions in English.

SECTION A (30 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. State four pieces of information found on animal health records.(2 marks)
2. State four ways in which organic matter in the soil is important.(2 marks)
3. Name four equipment used for large scale overhead irrigation.(2 marks)
4. State four functions of Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).(2 marks)
5. State four pieces of information found on a delivery note.(2 marks)
6. Name four implements used for primary cultivation,(2 marks)
7. State four factors that influence soil formation.(2 marks)
8. State four reasons for ridging in potato production.(2 marks)
9. Distinguish between each of the following pair of terms as used in crop production
   1. thinning and roguing(1 mark)
   2. seedling bed and nursery bed(1 mark)
10. Apart from tillage, name four methods farmers ting to control weeds.(2 marks)
11. State four causes of crop diseases,(2 marks)
12. State four ways in which a land title deed is important to a farmer.(2 marks)
13. State four agents of soil erosion.(2 marks)
14. State four effects of late defoliation in pasture utilisation.(2 marks)
15. State four agricultural practices that pollute surface water sources.(2 marks)

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

16. The diagram below shows a bag of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser.
    
    1. Classify the fertilizer.(1 mark)
    2. Explain the effect of applying the above fertilizer on soil pH.(1 mark)
    3. A farmer is advised to apply 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare. How many bags of the above fertilizer will this farmer require for one hectare? Show your working. (3 marks)
17. The diagram below shows a nursery practice carried out soon after tree seedlings have emerged.
    
    
    1. Identify the practice.(1 mark)
    2. Give two reasons for carrying out the above practice.(2 marks)
    3. State one precaution that should be observed in the practice illustrated in relation to the direction of the sun.(1 mark)
    4. Name the type of nursery bed illustrated.(1 mark)
18. The diagram below shows a soil borne pest that attacks plant roots
    
    
    1. Identify the pest
    2. State 2 symptoms of attack by the pest in tomato production
    3. State 2 control measures for the pest
19. The table below shows a farm record for Mwamuzi Farm.
    

    Receipts			Issues
    Date	Commodity/ item	Quantity	Date	Issued to	Quantity	Balance  in stock

    
    
    
    1. Identify the farm record.(1 mark)
    2. The farm received 20 bags of DAP fertilizer from Milimani Agrovet on 07/07/2018 and another 20 bags on 21/07/2018. On 28/07/2018, a gardener took eight bags of DAP and used it to plant potatoes on the farm. Enter this information in the farm record illustrated above.(3 marks)
    3. Give one reason for keeping the farm record illustrated above in farm accounting.(1 mark)

SECTION C (40 marks)

Answer any two questions from this section 

20.  
    1. Describe the risks and uncertainties encountered by sugarcane farmers in Kenya.(7 marks)
    2. Explain three ways in which each of the following reduces tomato production:
       1. inadequate rainfall ( 3 marks)
       2. low temperature;( 3 marks)
       3. strong wind.( 3 marks)
    3. Give four reasons why farmers prefer using tillage to control weeds.(4 marks)
21.  
    1. Describe how maize is planted in the field.(7 marks)
    2. Explain seven factors that determine spacing in bean production.(7 marks)
    3. Give six reasons why tree seedlings should be established using a nursery.(6 marks)
22.    
    1. Describe how a plucking table is maintained in a tea plantation.(5 marks) 
    2. Describe how onion seedlings are transplanted.(7 marks)
    3. Describe eight types of micro-catchments used in water conservation.(8 marks)

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A (30 marks)

Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. State four pieces of information found on animal health records.(2 marks)
   • Date first symptoms were noticed.
   • Symptoms noticed
   • Disease diagnosed/suspected
   • Drugs used to treat disease
   • Cost of treatment
   • Remarks
   • Animal affected
   • Date of treatment
     
     
2. State four ways in which organic matter in the soil is important.(2 marks)
   • Increased soil aeration
   • Improve water holding capacity
   • Provide food and shelter for micro-organisms.
   • Binds soil particles together.
   • Buffers soil pH.
   • Reduces toxicity of plant poisons
   • Improves soil temperature
   • Increase water filtration
     
     
3. Name four equipment used for large scale overhead irrigation.(2 marks)
   • Sprinklers
   • Water pumps
   • Pipes
   • Filters
     
     
4. State four functions of Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).(2 marks)
   
   • Holds competitive agricultural shows/ exhibitions
     
   • Encourages breeding and importation of pure breeds livestsock
   • Encourages and assists in official milk recording scheme.
   • Organizing national ploughing contest
   • Publishing a monthly journal/ Kenya farmer
   • Organizing the running of young farmers clubs.
   • Awarding bursaries for local and overseas students.
   • Organizing tours for its members
   • Organizing national tree planting
   • Publishing of student books
   • Organize local and international exchange programmes
     
     
5. State four pieces of information found on a delivery note.(2 marks)
   • Date of delivery
   • Quantity of goods delivered.
   • Items delivered/ types of goods delivered
   • Person who receives the goods/ stamp of receiver 
   • Conditions in which goods are received.
   • Delivery note serial number
   • Person who is delivering/ delivered from
   • Signature of receiver
     
     
6. Name four implements used for primary cultivation,(2 marks)
   • Jembe/hoe
   • Ox-plough
   • Disc-plough
   • Mouldboard plough
   • Forked jembe/ hoe
   • Rotavator/ rotary cultivator
   • Subsoiler
   • Chisel plough
     
     
7. State four factors that influence soil formation.(2 marks)
   • Parent rock/ bed-rock
   • Climate
   • Topography/ slope
   • Time
   • Living organism/ biotic factors
     
     
8. State four reasons for ridging in potato production.(2 marks)
   • For expansion of tubers
   • To conserve soil moisture
   • For easy harvesting
   • To prevent soil erosion
   • To improve soil drainage
   • Prevent greening of tubers
     
     
9. Distinguish between each of the following pair of terms as used in crop production
   1. thinning and roguing(1 mark)
      
      • Thinning is removal of excess seedlings from the seedbed while rogueing is removal and destruction of diseased or infected plants.
        
        
   2. seedling bed and nursery bed(1 mark)
      • Nursery bed is a small piece of land where small seeds are raised into seedlings before transplanting while seedling bed in a special type of nursery which receives excess seedlings from the nursery bed after pricking out.
        
        
10. Apart from tillage, name four methods farmers ting to control weeds.(2 marks)
    • Chemical method/ use of herbicides
    • Legislative method
    • Slashing/mowing
    • Uprooting
    • Biological method
    • Cultural methods eg; clean seedbed preparation, clean planting materials, early planting
      
      
11. State four causes of crop diseases(2 marks)
    • Fungi
    • Virus
    • Bacteria
    • Poor weather conditions/ physiological conditions
    • Lack of essential elements/ nutritional imbalances
      
      
12. State four ways in which a land title deed is important to a farmer.(2 marks)
    • Used to secure credit facilities for land development
    • Land disputes are minimized
    • Encourage framer to carry out long term investment on the land
    • Enables owner to lease the farm and thus get extra income
    • Provide security of ownership
      
      
13. State four agents of soil erosion.(2 marks)
    • Water
    • Wind
    • Human activities
    • Living organisms/ animals
      
      
14. State four effects of late defoliation in pasture utilisation.(2 marks)
    • Forage has high dry matter content
    • Has high cellulose content
    • High lignin, tannin and silica which are indigestible
    • Has slow crude protein content
    • Has low leaf:stem ratio/ plantability
    • Has low dry matter digestibility
      
      
15. State four agricultural practices that pollute surface water sources.(2 marks)
    • Use of inorganic fertilizers
    • Use of excess pesticides
    • Over cultivation/ pulverisation of the soil
    • Over grazing
    • Cultivating along river banks
    • Watering animals directly in the surface water sources
      

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

16. The diagram below shows a bag of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate fertiliser.
    
    1. Classify the fertiliser.(1 mark)
       
       • Nitrogen/ straight fertilizer ( Neutral /  top dressing)
         
         
    2. Explain the effect of applying the above fertiliser on soil pH.(1 mark)
       • It neutralizes soil acidity - acidity produced by ammonium ions is counteracted by calcium carbonate which is a liming material
       • It raises/ increases soil pH
       • It has a liming effect.
         
         
    3. A farmer is advised to apply 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare. How many bags of the above fertiliser will this farmer require for one hectare? Show your working. (3 marks)
       • if 20kg N is contained in 100kg CAN
         50kg N is contained 100kg of CAN x 50kg N  = 250kg of CAN
                                                       20kg N
         250kg
          50kg
         = 5 bags
         
         
17. The diagram below shows a nursery practice carried out soon after tree seedlings have emerged.
    
    
    1. Identify the practice.(1 mark)
       • Shading
         
         
    2. Give two reasons for carrying out the above practice.(2 marks)
       • Protects seedlings from direct sunlight
       • Protects seedlings from heavy rainfall which damage seedlings
       • Prevents splash erosion
       • Conserves soil moisture/ reduces rate of water loss
         
         
    3. State one precaution that should be observed in the practice illustrated in relation to the direction of the sun.(1 mark)
       • Should be laid along North/ South orientation
       • Should allow in sunlight early in the morning and later in the evening
         
         
    4. Name the type of nursery bed illustrated.(1 mark)
       • Raised nursery bed/ tree nursery/ containerized nursery
         
         
18. The diagram below shows a soil borne pest that attacks plant roots
    
    
    1. Identify the pest
       • Root nematode/ red worm
         
         
    2. State 2 symptoms of attack by the pest in tomato production
       • Root swells/ formation of root galls
       • Wilting of crop even when moisture is adequate
       • Retarded growth/ stunted growth of shoots/ plants
       • Discolouration of leaves
         
         
    3. State 2 control measures for the pest
       • Crop rotation
       • Use of nematicides
       • Fumigation of soil
       • Soil solarisation
       • Closed season
       • Plant resistant crop varieties
         
         
19. The table below shows a farm record for Mwamuzi Farm.
    

    Receipts			Issues
    Date	Commodity/ item	Quantity	Date	Issued to	Quantity	Balance  in stock

    
    
    1. Identify the farm record.(1 mark)
       • Consumable goods inventory
         
         
    2. The farm received 20 bags of DAP fertiliser from Milimani Agrovet on 07/07/2018 and another 20 bags on 21/07/2018. On 28/07/2018, a gardener took eight bags of DAP and used it to plant potatoes on the farm. Enter this information in the farm record illustrated above.(3 marks)
       
       

       Receipts			Issues
       Date	Commodity/ item	Quantity	Date	Issued to	Quantity	Balance  in stock
       7/7/18	DAP fertilizer	20 bags				20
       21/7/18	DAP fertilizer	20 bags				40
       			28/7/18	Gardener	8 bags DAP	32

    3. Give one reason for keeping the farm record illustrated above in farm accounting.(1 mark)
       
       • It provides information used for drawing Profit and Loss account and balance sheet

SECTION C (40 marks)

Answer any two questions from this section 

20.  
    1. Describe the risks and uncertainties encountered by sugarcane farmers in Kenya.(7 marks)
       • Fluctuation of commodity prices
       • Physical yield uncertainty where the farmer does not know how much to expect
       • Ownership uncertainity. Farmer lose produce through theft, fire, death or change in government policy
       • Outbreak of pests and diseases which affect expected outcome
       • Sickness and injury uncertainty. Farmer affected lose ability to work due to sickness or injury
       • New production technique uncertainty. The farmer may not be certain as to whether technology is as effective as the previous one
       • Farmer investing in machinery which may become outdated(obsolete) within a short time
       • Natural catastrophe. Things like floods, drought, earthquakes, storms and strong winds may destroy the crops.
         
         
    2. Explain three ways in which each of the following reduces tomato production:
       1. inadequate rainfall ( 3 marks)
          • Results in failure in seed germination
          • Results to restricted root development
          • Results to moisture stress which reduces fruit weight
          • Slow rate of growth
          • Reduced rate of photosynthesis
            
            
       2. low temperature;( 3 marks)
          • Slow growth rate of crops due to slowed photosynthesis
          • High incidence of disease infection to crop e.g, late blight
          • Lower the quality of tomato fruits
            
            
       3. strong wind.( 3 marks)
          • Agent of soil erosion carrying top fertile soil reducing nutrients
          • Causes lodging and damage to crops
          • Increases rate of evaporation from soil leading to water loss
          • Increases spread of pests and disease attack
            
            
    3. Give four reasons why farmers prefer using tillage to control weeds.(4 marks)
       • Cheap, therefore, a good option for small scale farmers ie, economical
       • Tillage opens up soil allowing infiltration of water to occur and thus minimize soil erosion
       • During tillage, earthing up is done which encourages root growth
       • During tillage, crop residue is incorporated into the soil to form organic manure
       • Improves soil aeration
       • Exposes soil borne pests and diseases agents
         
21.  
    1. Describe how maize is planted in the field.(7 marks)
       • Planting suitable varieties
       • Plant early at onset of rain/ dry plant
       • Plant at 2.5cm to 10cm depth
       • Spacing at 20cm to 30cm by 75cm to 90cm
       • Apply DAP during planting./synthetic fertilizer/ well decomposed manure
       • Plant 25kg  seed per hectare
       • Place one or two seeds per hole
       • Plant by hand or machine planter
       • Use organic manure at handful per plant
       • Apply DAP at rate of 100-190kg/ 1 teaspoon per hole
       • Mix phosphatic fertilizer/ well rated manure
       • Cover seed with soil
         
         
    2. Explain seven factors that determine spacing in bean production.(7 marks)
       • Type  of machinery used, use of machines require wider space
       • Soil fertility, fertile soil - closer spacing
       • Type of beans/ varieties of beans/ growth habit/ indeterminate beans/ s[reading beans require wide spacing
       • Moisture availability: High rainfall - close spacing
       • Use of the crop - green pod beans require
       • Pests and disease control: proper spacing control pest and disease spread.
       • Number of seeds per hole - more seeds require wider spacing
         
         
    3. Give six reasons why tree seedlings should be established using a nursery.(6 marks)
       • Facilitates production of many seedlings in a small area
       • Routine management practices are easily and timely carried out in a nursery than in the main seed bed
       • Makes it possible to provide the best conditions for growth such as fine tilth, levelled field and shade
       • Facilitates the planting of small seeds which develop into strong seedlings that are easily transplanted.
       • It ensures transplanting of only those seedling that are healthy and vigorously growing
       • Excess seedlings from the nursery may be sold, thus become a source of income to the farmer
       • Reduce time trees take in the main field to mature.
         
22.    
    1. Describe how a plucking table is maintained in a tea plantation.(5 marks) 
       • Cutback the tea bush to 5cm above the last pruning height after 2 - 5 years
       • Carry out tipping after 3 months
       • After many such pruning, tea bush is cut down to 45cm above the ground
       • Rehabilitation/ done after every 40-50 years
       • Use a plucking stick to maintain plucking table during harvesting
         
         
    2. Describe how onion seedlings are transplanted.(7 marks)
       • Water the nursery bed before transplanting
       • Selecting healthy and vigorous growing seedlings
       • Lift the seedlings using a garden frame
       • Put them into a container for transporting to the seedbed/ transport carefully to the main field
       • Plant one seedling per hole at the same height as was in the nursery
       • Firm the soil around the base
       • This should be done preferably late evening or during a cloudy day
       • Mulch the seedlings
       • Water them regularly/ when necessary
       • Put appropriate amount of fertilizer / manure into planting
       • Apply phosphatic fertilizer/ manure for planting
       • Mix phosphate fertilizer/ manure with soil in the hole
       • Transplant when seedlings are about one month old
       • Plant at spacing of 30cm between rows by 8-10cm between the plants
         
         
    3. Describe eight types of micro-catchments used in water conservation.(8 marks)
       1. Negarim micro attachments  
          • Are closed grid diamond shape or open-ended 'Vs' formed by constructing small earth ridges with infiltration pits for purpose of collecting water
       2. Contour bunds
          • These are earth bunds constructed along the contours and are spaced 5-10cm apart
       3. Contour ridges
          • Are small earth ridges constructed along contours and are spaced 1.5 - 5cm apart and are used to conserve water
       4. Semi-circular bunds
          • These are semi-circular shaped earth bunds with tips, constructed along contour. Used in rangeland hence appropriate for pasture and tree planting
       5. Trapezoidal bunds
          • Are earth bunds which are trapezoidal in shape. they capture surface flow and allows the excess, water to overflow around wing tips
       6. Contour stone bunds
          • Formed by heaping small stones along the contour to slow surface flow and filter eroded soil.
       7. Rock dams.
          • Constructed across valleys to slow surface flow
       8. Water spreading bunds
          • They are used to divert water from watercourse onto crops or pasture
       9. Planting pits
          • There are extra large planting holes where water from the surrounding collect around the plant base