INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
- This paper consists of three sections: A, B and C.
- Answer all the questions in section A and B and any two questions from section C.
SECTION A (30 MARKS)
Answer ALL questions in this Section in the spaces provided
- Outline two ways in which agriculture promotes industrial growth in Kenya (1mk)
- State four factors considered when choosing a farming system. (2mks)
- Give four natural factors that encourage soil erosion. (2mks)
- List any four ways in which soil is deprived of its fertility. (2mks)
- State four factors considered when selecting a site for a tomato nursery bed. (2mks)
- State four reasons for intercropping. (2mks)
- Give four advantages of intensive farming. (2mks)
- Give four reasons why land should be prepared early in readiness for planting. (2mks)
- State four reasons for deep ploughing during land preparation. (2mks)
- State two reasons for conserving forage crops. (1mk)
- Name two types of labour records kept in the farm. (1mk)
- Give two ways in which mulch control soil erosion. (1mk)
-
- Define the following terms as used in soil fertility. (2mks)
- Macro nutrients
- Micro nutrients
- Define the following terms as used in soil fertility. (2mks)
-
- State four roles of Nitrogen as a macro nutrient in plant nutrition. (2mks)
- Give two methods that can be used to detect nutrient deficiency in crops. (2mks)
- Name two ionic forms through which element Nitrogen is absorbed by plants. (2mks)
- Give four factors considered when classifying crop pests. (2mks)
SECTION B (20 Marks)
Answer ALL questions in this section in the spaces provided
- The following illustrations show different production function curves in agricultural economics.
Study them and answer the questions that follow- Identify the production function curves A and B. (2mks)
- State the law derived from the production function labelled C. (1mk)
-
- Which one of the three production function curves is rare in Agriculture? (1mk)
- Give a reason for your answer in (c) (i) above. (1mk)
- Study the illustrations below and answer the questions that follow.
\- Name the types of grafting labeled A and C. (2mks)
- Name any two crops propagated by method C. (2mks)
- Give any two tools or materials used in propagation method C. (2mks)
- Give four advantages of using grafting method as a method of improving avocado fruits. (2mks)
- Calculate the plant population in a 5.4 hectare plot of a bean crop planted at the spacing 45cmx 20cm. Assume one plant per hole. (3 mks)
- The diagram below illustrates a feature observed after digging the soil several metres deep Study the diagram carefully and answer the question that follow.
- Identify the feature that the diagram above represents in the study of soil. (1mk)
- What is the name given to part labeled P (1mk)
- Give a reason why part B is also referred to as layer of accumulation. (1mk)
SECTION C
Answer any TWO questions from this section
-
- Explain ten ways in which the Kenyan government can improve maize production to ensure food security in the country. (10mks)
- Explain six ways in which soil fertility can be maintained. (6mks)
- Highlight four reasons for pruning coffee. (4mks)
-
- Explain eight cultural methods of soil and water conservation. (8mks)
- Explain four ways in which:
- HIV/AIDS limits agricultural production (4mks)
- Government policy improves agricultural production. (4mks)
- Explain the factors considered when choosing an irrigation method in crop production. (4mks)
-
- Describe six factors that determine the stage of harvesting crops. (6mks)
- Describe the production of carrots under the following subheadings:
- Planting (3mks)
- Field management (6mks)
- Harvesting (2mks)
- Describe three importance of agroforestry. (3mks)
MARKING SCHEME
SECTION A (30 Marks)
- Ways in which agriculture promotes industrial growth in Kenya. (1 mark)
- Provides market for industrial goods.
- Provides capital for industrial growth.
- Provides raw materials for industries.
- Factors considered when choosing a farming system (2mks)
- Aims/objectives of a farmer
- Environmental factors of soil type
- Farmers knowledge and skills concerning enterprise
- Availability of resources of : labour, capital
- Cultural factors
- Government policy
- Market availability
- Natural factors that encourage soil erosion (2mks)
- Steepness of the slope
- Rainfall amount
- Type soil
- Size of watershed/ size of catchment area
- Rainfall intensity
- Length of slope
- Bareness of soil
- Prevalence of strong winds
- Soil depth
- Four ways in which soil is deprived of its fertility. (2 marks)
- Monocropping / monoculture.
- Continuous cropping
- Change of soil PH
- Accumulation of salts.
- Burning.
- Leaching
- Four factors considered when selecting a site for a tomato nursery bed. (2 marks)
- Nearness to a source of water.
- Well drained deep fertile soil.
- Gentle slope.
- Previous cropping.
- Secure place.
- Accessibility
- Sheltered but not shaded.
- Four reasons for intercropping. (2 marks)
- Maximise production;
- Maximise utilization of nutrients in the soil;
- Control weeds;
- Control pests/diseases;
- Diversification’/spread risks
- Maximise labour utilisation/save costs on labour.
- Improve soil fertility if legumes are included.
- Maximise utilisation of land.
- Conserve soil/water (cover cropping);
- Four advantages of intensive farming. (2 marks)
- Increases production per unit area;
- Farm supervision is easy;
- Maximises utilization of available land;
- Ideal for densely populated areas/small land holdings;
- Utilizes technology to increase production.
- Four reasons why land should be prepared early in readiness for planting. (2 marks)
- Allow time for weeds to dry and decompose;
- Allow for proper soil aeration;
- Allow timely planting / subsequent operations;
- Allow time for soil clods to disintegrate/soften.
- Four reasons for deep ploughing during land preparation. (2 marks)
- Facilitates aeration;
- Facilitates drainage;
- Breaks hard pans/facilitates water infiltration;
- Bring up previously leached nutrients;
- Facilitate development of deep rooted crops;
- Expose lower soil layers to weathering;
- Expose soil borne pests and disease agents.
- Remove deeply rooted weeds.
- Two reasons for conserving forage crops. (1mk)
- To avoid wastage in times of planting
- To ensure enough supply throughout the year
- To earn income from selling excess forage
- To ensure good utilization of land.
- Two types of labour records kept in the farm. (1mk)
- Master roll
- Labour utilization analysis record
- Two ways in which mulch control the soil erosion. (1mk)
- Reduce speed of surface run – off
- Insulates the soil reducing direct conduct between the soil and the agents of erosion.
- Define the following terms as used in soil fertility (2mks)
- Macro-nutrients
- Macro-nutrients are nutrients required by plants in large quantities
- Micro-nutrients
- Micro- nutrients are nutrients required by plants in small quantities
- Macro-nutrients
-
- Roles of nitrogen as a macro-nutrient in plant nutrition (2mks)
- Protein formation
- Forms part of chlorophyll molecule
- Encourages vegetation growth
- Increases size of grains/ increases yields
- Regulates availability of phosphorus and potassium in plants
- Methods that can be used to detect nutrient deficiency in crops (2mks)
- Observing deficiency symptoms
- Analysis of plant parts
- Soil analysis/ soil testing
- Two ionic forms through which element nitrogen is absorbed by plants (2mks)
- Nitrate form/ NO3
- NH4+ /Ammonium ion
- Roles of nitrogen as a macro-nutrient in plant nutrition (2mks)
- Factors considered when classifying crop pests (2mks)
- Crop attacked /mode of felling
- Whether field /storage pest/stage of attack
- Crop part attacked
- Science classification e.g. insect mite, rodent
SECTION B (20 Marks)
-
- Identify the production function curves labelled A and B. (2 marks)
- A - Increasing returns production function curve
- B - Constant returns production function curve
- State the law derived from the production function labelled C. (1mk)
- The Law of diminishing returns.
- If successive units of one variable input are added to fixed quantities of other inputs, a point is reached where additional (marginal/extra) product per additional unit of input declines.
-
- Which one of the three production function curves is rare in Agriculture? (1mk)
- B
- Give a reason for your answer in (c)(i) above. (1 mark)
- Other factors influence / limit agriculture production.
- Which one of the three production function curves is rare in Agriculture? (1mk)
- Identify the production function curves labelled A and B. (2 marks)
- Name the types of grafting labeled A and C above. (2 marks)
- A - Side grafting
- C - Whip / tongue grafting
- Name any two crops propagated by method C. (2 marks)
- Pear.
- Plum.
- Avocado.
- Citrus spp
- Give any two tools or materials used in propagation method C. (2 marks)
- Budding knife.
- Grafting tape.
- Grafting wax.
- Give four advantages of using grafting as a method of improving avocado fruits. (2mks)
- Plants mature early
- It is possible to produce crops that would otherwise not be propagated through other means like use of seeds
- It is possible to use root stock with certain beneficial traits such as drought and disease resistance.
- More than one type of plant variety can be produced on the same rootstock
- It makes possible to repair damaged plant parts,
- Crop variety obtained may have higher /more desirable qualities in terms of taste and size.
- Name the types of grafting labeled A and C above. (2 marks)
- Calculate the plant population in a 5.4 hectare plot of a bean crop planted at the spacing 45cm x 20cm. Assume one plant per hole. (4 marks)
Plant population = Area of land
Spacing
1 ha = 10000m2
5.4 ha. = 54000m2
= 54000m²
0.45 x 0.2m
= 600,000 bean plants. -
- Identify the feature that the diagram above represents in the study of soil (1mk)
- Soil profile
- What is the name given to the part labeled p(1mk)
- Transitional Zone
- Give a reason why part b is also referred to as layer of accumulation (1mk)
- This is the soil horizon in which the leached nutrients accumulate
- Identify the feature that the diagram above represents in the study of soil (1mk)
SECTION C (40 Marks)
-
- Explain ten ways in which the Kenyan government can improve maize production to ensure food security in the country. (10mks)
- Farmers training on improved methods of maize production
- Provision of extensive services to advice farmers on modern maize production, techniques
- Provision of subsidies on maize inputs
- Provision of credit facilities e.g. AFC
- Imposing high taxation on imported maize and maize products to discourage importation
- Quality control to ensure production of high quality maize that can attract foreign market.
- Supporting research into new and improved varieties of maize for high yields
- Farm input supplies
- Provision of marketing services
- Provision of drying and storage facilities
- Provision of tractor hire services
- Ensuing effective pest/ disease/ weed control
- Farmers training on improved methods of maize production
- Explain six ways in which soil fertility can be maintained. (6 mks)
- Adding manure to the soil to enrich it with nutrients.
- Using inorganic fertilizers which release nutrients in forms that are readily available to plants.
- Practicing crop rotation to ensure balanced nutrients use.
- Using appropriate tillage, for instance minimum tillage.
- Regulating soil PH though liming
- Controlling soil erosion
- Practicing a forestation and reforestation
- By irrigation which increases availability and uptake of plant nutrients and reclaims saline soil through mulching
- By weeding to reduce competition for nutrients.
- By practicing inter cropping preferably with legume to enhance nitrogen fixation.
- Adding manure to the soil to enrich it with nutrients.
- Highlight four reasons for pruning coffee (4mks)
- To train the plant so that it can have the required shape
- To remove the diseased and the unwanted parts of a plant such as extra suckers, leaves, branches, flowers or even stems
- To control cropping
- To facilitate picking
- For ease penetration of the spray
- To control pest and diseases.
- To train the plant so that it can have the required shape
- Explain ten ways in which the Kenyan government can improve maize production to ensure food security in the country. (10mks)
-
- Explain eight cultural methods of soil and water conservation. (8 marks)
- Grass/Filter strips:- reduce speed of flowing water/filter soil;
- Cover cropping:- prevents surface flow/reduces impact of rain drops/prevents evaporation/volatilization;
- Contour farming:- creates ridges of soil which hold up water/reduce speed of run-off;
- Mulching:- reduces impact of rain drops/prevents evaporation/surface run-off;
- Rotational grazing:- allows grass to recover for soil and water conservation;
- Crop rotation:- maintain soil cover for protection against erosion/improves soil structure thus increasing infiltration;
- Inter cropping:- provides adequate cover on the soil;
- Strip cropping:- the different strips reduce speed of run-off/filter soil;
- Grassed/vegetated waterways:- slow the speed of water/trap eroded soil;
- Afforestation/Re-afforestation; Act as water catchments/stabilizes soil/canopy intercepts raindrops/wind;
- Agroforestry - stabilises soil/canopy intercepts raindrops/act as water catchment/wind;
- Use of manures/fertilizers; Promotes vegetative growth which covers soil against evaporation and erosion;
- Correct spacing of crops; Ensure adequate soil cover.
- Explain four ways in which:
- HIV/AIDS limits agricultural production (4 marks)
- Shortage of labour;
- Lack of motivation to invest in agriculture
- Increased cost of living leading to low investment in agriculture/lack of resources for Agricultural production.;
- Government and NGOs are spending a lot of time and resources controlling the disease instead of investment in agriculture.
- Lack of market for agricultual produce.
- Government policy improves agricultural production (4 marks)
- Establishment of national food security policy to supply free farm input to farmers to improve production;
- Facilitate soil conservation;
- Imposes laws to regulate quality of agriculture products;
- Imposes laws to regulate production and sale of agricultural produce to ensure sustainability;
- Imposes high taxes on imported agricultural products;
- Providing subsidies on agricultural inputs, e.g. fertilizers;
- Establishment of government agencies to supply inputs and market agricultural products;
- Construction of bulky handling and storage facilities for agricultural products;
- Funding research into new and improved agricultural production technologies;·
- Ensures control of parasites/diseases/weeds is done effectively;
- Provision of extension services/education.
- HIV/AIDS limits agricultural production (4 marks)
- State four factors that determine the choice of irrigation method to be used in the farm. (2mks)
- Topography
- Capital available
- Soil type
- Availability of water
- Type of crop to be grown
- Profit margin
- Explain eight cultural methods of soil and water conservation. (8 marks)
-
- Describe six factors that determine the stage of harvesting crops. (6mks
- Concentration of required chemicals
- Prevailing weather conditions
- Market demand
- Attack by pests and diseases.
- Labour demand/ labour availability.
- Moisture contents.
- Intended use of the crop
- Production of carrots
- Planting
- Seeds are sown at 1cm depth
- Firm soil after sowing
- Apply phosphatic fertilizer at the rate of 200kg /ha
- Use seed rate of 4kg/ha
- Field Management
- Thin to 5 cm between plants
- Irrigate when necessary
- Top dress at rate of 600kgN/ha
- Keep field weed free by uprooting
- Earthing up is done
- Control pests using appropriate herbicides
- Control diseases (6mks)
- Harvesting
- Carrots mature in 3-5 months
- Pull off tubers/uproot tubers by use of hand or carrot lifter (2mks)
- Planting
- Describe three importance of agroforestry (3mks)
- Source of income from sale of tree products e.g. fruits and timber
- Source of wood fuel
- Regulation of Micro climates
- Soil and water conservation
- Increase land productivity per unit area
- Recycling of nutrients after decomposition
- Describe six factors that determine the stage of harvesting crops. (6mks
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