Agriculture Paper 1 Questions with No Answers - Maseno Mock Exams 2020/2021

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education
443/1
AGRICULTURE - Paper 1
2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

1. This paper consists of THREE Sections A, B and C.
2. Answer ALL questions in Section A and B.
3. Answer ANY Two questions in Section C in the spaces provided.

SECTION A (30MARKS)

Answer all the questions in this section

1. What is a vegetable? (1mark)
2. List three tertiary operations carried out in the farm (1 ½marks)
3. Highlight three ways trough which minimum tillage is achieved (1 ½marks)
4. State two disadvantages of too much nitrogen in crop production (1mark)
5. State four factors used in classification of inorganic fertilizers (2marks)
6. Highlight four aspects of rainfall that affects agricultural production (2marks)
7. Give two changes that would indicate an improvement of labor efficiency on a farm (1mark)
8. State the law of substitution (1mark)
9. Outline three ways by which afforestation helps in land reclamation (1½marks)
10. Outline any four steps followed in land adjudication (2marks)
11. State any four characteristics of trees used in agroforestry (2marks)
12. List three advantages of tenancy system (1 ½marks)
13. Under what conditions do opportunity cost exist as zero? (1 ½marks)
14. Apart from broadcasting as a method of fertilizer application, list four other fertilizer application methods (2marks)
15. Highlight three importance of tissue culture in crop propagation (1 ½ marks)
16. Highlight four disadvantages of using seeds as a planting material (2marks)
17. State four factors affecting rooting of cuttings (2marks)
18. Explain what is meant by the following terms; (1 ½ marks)
    1. Chitting
    2. Certified seed
    3. Seed dressing
19. State any three significance of nursery in crop production (1 ½ marks)

SECTION B (20MARKS)

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

20. The diagram below shows a graphical representation of an economic law.
    
    
    1. Name the law depicted by the curve above (1mark)
    2. Explain what is happening in each of the zones marked A,B and C (3marks)
21. The diagram below show a maize cob which has been attacked by a certain disease. Study it and answer the questions that follow.
    
    
    1. Identify the disease ( 1mark)
    2. Name the causal organism of the disease (1mark)
    3. State two cultural method of controlling the disease (2marks)
22. Mr. Kioko has 5ha of arable land, 1.5ha of which is under maize, 1.0 ha under rice, 0.5 ha under fodder crop and the rest either under improved hay or natural grass. He wishes to know whether replacing 0.5 ha of maize with Irish potato the following season would be worthwhile. The fertilizer rate would have to be increased from 2bags per ha for maize to 3.0 ha bags per ha for Irish potato and extra 30 man-days of casual labor per ha would be necessary as a result of the change. Average yields of maize and Irish potato are 60 and 90 bags per ha respectively. The prices are Ksh. 1500 per bag of maize and Ksh. 400 per bag of Irish potatoes. Seed costs are Ksh. 1450 per 5kg of maize and ksh. 150 per 50kg of Irish potatoes.D.A.P Fertilizer costs 1250 per 50kg bag.Labour is paid at ksh.150 per man-day. He would require 10bags of Irish potato seed and 1.5 bag of maize seed to cover 0.5 ha.
    Draw up the partial budget and indicate the effect of the change. (7marks)
23. The diagram below shows an experiment that was carried out by form one students. Study it carefully and answer the questions that follow.
    
    
    1. What was the aim of the experiment? (1mark)
    2. What observation did the students make in the two flasks at the end of the experiment (2marks)
    3. Give a reason for the observation made in flask 1 (1mark)

SECTION C (40MARKS)

Answer any two questions from this section

24.  
    1. Describe the factors that determine the quality of Farm Yard Manure (5marks)
    2. Explain why green manure is not commonly used by farmers (4marks)
    3. Explain the soil conservation measures that can be used to conserve soil on a sloping farm land (8marks)
    4. State three ways by which soil PH influences soil fertility (3marks)
25.  
    1. State and explain the agricultural support services available to farmers (10marks)
    2. Explain the various ways a farmer may adjust to risk and uncertainties (8marks
    3. State two factors that influences the market forces (2marks)
26.  
    1. State and explain 5 causes of land fragmentation in Kenya since independence (10marks)
    2. Give reasons for the success of settlement schemes in Kenya after independence (5marks)
    3. State the contribution of settlement schemes to agricultural development (5marks)