Agriculture Paper 1 Questions and Answers - KCSE 2021 Westlands Mock Exams

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Agriculture Paper 2 Questions and Answers - KCSE 2021 Westlands Mock Exams

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Questions

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

This paper consists of three sections; A, B and C
Answer all the questions in section A and B
Answer any two questions in section C
Candidate should answer all questions in English.

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

State four factors determining farming systems ( 2 marks )
State four advantages of extensive farming system. ( 2 marks )
State four importance of optimum temperature in crop production. ( 2 marks )
1. Name three physical properties of the soil. ( 1 ½ marks)
2. State three importance of soil structure on production. ( 1 ½ marks)
3. State four reasons why burning of vegetation as a method of land clearing is discouraged. (2 marks )
1. State three factors influencing depth of cultivation. ( 1 ½ marks)
2. 1. What do you understand by the term sub-soiling. ( ½ marks)
  2. State two reasons for sub-soiling ( 1 mark )
State four features of a productive soil. ( 2 marks )
1. State two deficiency symptoms of iron in crop production. ( 1 mark )
2. Name two roles played by iron in crop production. ( 1 mark )
State four advantages of using inorganic fertilizers over organic fertilizers. ( 2 marks )
1. Name four sites to avoid when carrying out soil sampling. ( 2 marks )
2. State four advantages of using vegetative materials for planting. ( 2 marks )
Complete the table below ( 2 marks )

Plant part used for vegetative propagation material Crop plant

1.Splits

2.Bulbils

3. Suckers

4.Crowns
State four advantages of using certified seeds in crop production. ( 2 marks )

SECTION B ( 20 marks )

Study the diagram below carefully and answer the questions that follows.
1. Identify the weed above. ( 1 mark )
2. State two factors which contributes to the competitive ability of the above weed. ( 2 marks )
3. State two harmful affects of the weed named in (a) above. ( 2 marks )
4. Name one basis in which weed above is classified ( 1 mark )
Two maize pests are shown in the diagram below. Study them and answer the questions that follow.
1. Identify the pests in the diagrams labelled X and Y. ( 2 marks )
2. At what stage of maize production does each pest damage the crop. ( 2 marks )
3. Give two ways of controlling each of the pests in the field. ( 2 marks )
The diagram below shows a method of forage preservation. (1 mark )
1. Identify the structure above. ( 1 mark )
2. State the form in which the forage is preserved as illustrated above. ( 1 mark )
3. Name two other method of forage preservation apart from above. ( 2 marks )
1. Define the following terms as used in agroforestry
  1. coppicing ( 1 mark )
  2. Pollarding ( 1 mark )
2. Name any two forms of agroforestry ( 2 marks )

SECTION C. 40 MARKS
Answer any two questions from this section in the spaces provided after question 15.

1. Explain five human factors influencing agriculture. ( 10 marks )
2. Describe the methods used to prepare planting materials before they are planted. (4 marks )
3. Describe the use of any three materials used in budding/grafting. ( 6 marks )
1. Describe the importance of vegetable crop. ( 6 marks )
2. Explain the cultural methods of pest control. ( 7 marks )
3. Describe seven biological methods of soil and water conservation. ( 7 marks )
1. State seven reasons for pruning coffee . ( 7 marks )
2. Highlight seven effects of land fragmentation ( 7 marks )
3. Explain the basic concepts of economics. ( 6 marks )

Marking Scheme

State four factors determining farming systems (2mks)
- Availability of land for farming
- Environmental factors such as climate
- methods of land ownership
- Farmers choice and preference
- Availability of labour
- Government policy regarding the enterprise
State four advantages of extensive farming system (2mks
- It is cheap due to low capital input -Does not require high level of management
- Requires less labour
- Utilizes the marginal areas
State four importance of optimum temperature in crop production (2mks)
- Enhances seed germination or emergence
- Promotes soil microbial activities
- Improves quality of crop products
- Enhances high yield
- Enhances vigorous growth and development
1. Name three physical properties of the soil ( 11/2mks)
  - soil colour
  - Soil texture
  - Soil structure
2. State three importance of soil structure on production ( 11/2mks)
  - Influences soil aeration
  - Influences water infiltration and retention
  - Influences plants root penetration and anchorage
  - It determines the type of crop to be grown
3. State four reasons why burning of vegetation as a method of land clearing is discouraged ( 2mks)
  - Destroys organic matter
  - Kills soil living organisms
  - Destroys soil structure
  - Destroys plant nutrients present in the soil
  - Leads to soil erosion
  - Causes mineral imbalance
1. State three factor influencing depth of cultivation (11/2mks)
  - The type of crop to be planted /size of seed
  - The implements available
  - The type of soil
2. 1. What do you understand by the term sub-soiling (1/2mk)
    - This is deep cultivation into the subsoil layer to break up any hardpan which which have developed
  2. State two reasons for sub-soiling (1mk)
    - To facilitate drainage
    - It brings up leached nutrients to the surface
    - increases aeration of the soil
    - To promote root penetration
    - Breaks hard pans
State four features of a productive soil (2mks)
- Has good depth
- Has good aeration
- Has good water holding capacity
- Has proper drainage
- Has correct soil pH
- Free from excessive soil borne pest and diseases
1. State two deficiency symptoms of iron in crop production ( 1mk)
  - Leaf chlorosis
  - Yellowing of young leaves
2. Name two roles played by iron in crop production (1mk)
  - Involved in synthesis of proteins
  - Takes part in oxidation –reduction reactions
State four advantages of using inorganic fertilizers over organic fertilizers ( 2mks)
- Not bulky/easy to apply
- Has high amount of nutrients per given volume
- Does not spread diseases
- Nutrients are released very fast
1. Name four sites to avoid when carrying out soil sampling (2mks)
  - Dead furrows
  - Swamps
  - Near manure heaps
  - Recently fertilized fields
  - Ant hills
  - Under big trees
  - Near fence lines or foot paths
2. State four advantages of using vegetative materials for planting ( 2mks)
  - crops originating from vegetative materials mature faster than those from seeds
  - crops shows uniformity in such qualities as disease resistance
  - is possible to produce many varieties of compatible crops on the same root stock
  - It facilitates the propagation of crops which are seedless
Complete the table below ( 2mks)

Plant part used for vegetative propagation material Crop plant

1.splits Nappier grass, pyrethrum

2.Bulbils sisal

3.Suckers Pineapples, bananas ,sisal

4.Crowns pineapples
1. State four advantages of using certified seeds in crop production ( 2mks)
  - They have high germination percentage
  - They are free of pests and diseases/healthy
  - They are free from weed seeds
  - They are vigorous in growth
  - They are high -yielding
2. State four characteristics of a good vegetable seedlings ( 2mks)
  - should be free from pests and diseases
  - Should be free from physical deformities
  - Should be vigorous-growing
  - Should have 4-6 true leaves /10-15cm high
Study the diagram below carefully and answer the questions that follows
1. Identify the weed above (1mk)
  - Oxalis (sorrel)
2. State two factors which contributes to the competitive ability of above weed ( 2mks)
  - Ability to produce large qualities of seeds
  - weed seeds remain viable in the soil for a long period of time waiting for conducive germination condition
  - Some have ability to propagate vegetative
3. State two harmful effects of the weed named in a) above (2mks)
  - Lowers the quality of agricultural produced
  - Competes with crops for nutrient, space light and soil crops
4. Name one basis in which weed above is classified (1mk)
  - Annual weed
Two maize pests are shown in the diagram below. Study them and answer the questions that follow.
1. Identify the pests in the diagrams labelled X and Y ( 2mks)
  - X-weevil
  - Y-squirrel
2. At what stage of maize production does each pest damage the crop ( 2mks)
  - X-storage pest
  - y-field pest
3. Give two way of controlling each of the pests in the field (2mks)
  - x-Applying appropriate pesticide
  - y-using of traps
The diagram below shows a method of forage preservation
1. Identify the structure illustrated above (1mk)
  - Trench silo
2. State the form in which the forage is preserved as illustrated above. (1mk)
  - Fermentation/silage
3. Name two other method of forage preservation apart from above
  - Hay
  - Standing forage
1. Define the following terms as used in agroforestry
  1. coppicing (1mk)
    - Is the cutting the tree crop down to its stump and allowing it to re-grow
  2. pollarding
    - It is the cutting off the tree crop at its crown leaving it to send out new branches the top of the remaining stem
2. Name any two forms of agroforestry ( 2mks)
  - Agrosilviculture
  - Silvopastoral
  - Agrosilvopastoral
1. Explain five human factors influencing agriculture
  1. Health
    - It affects the strength the vigour vision and determines to work e.g. the HIV and AIDS Pandemic
  2. Economy
    - Collapse of agricultural cooperatives has affected the marketing of farm produce farmers produce and purchase of farm inputs.
    - Liberalization has led to increased unfair competition in the agricultural produce markets and the farm input available in the market are of low quality
  3. Market forces
    - Demand and supply forces affect s the commodities in a free market, demand increases, the quantities of commodities supplied in market decreases
  4. Transport and communication
    - Good means of transport facilitates easy movement of produce from production point to consumers cheaply, fast and efficiently
2. Describe the methods used to prepare planting materials before they are planted
  - Breaking the seed dormancy
  - seed dressing
  - Seed inoculation
  - chitting
3. Describe the use of any three materials used in building/grafting
  - grafting tape-used to tie the scion and the root stock
  - grafting wax-used on the grafted part and is water repellent, this prevents water from entering the union part which might bring about rotting
  - Grafting knife-used to shape the scion and the root stock
1. Describe the importance of vegetable crop
  - source of vitamins such as vitamins A, B and C
  - supply minerals like calcium, iron phosphorus and potassium
  - source of food e.g. cabbages, kales tomatoes
  - Offers self-employment to farmers
  - source of foreign exchange through export of horticultural products
  - source of raw materials for industries dealing with vegetables processing
2. Explain the cultural methods of pest control
  - Using healthy planting materials
  - practising the field hygiene e.g. burning of diseased crop residues
  - proper seedbed preparation
  - proper spacing to control damping off disease in cabbage seedling
  - Heat treatment
  - proper drying of cereals
  - use of disease resistant varieties
3. Describe seven biological methods of soil and water conservation
  - Grass strips/ Filter strips
  - Cover cropping
  - Contour Farming
  - mulching
  - Cropping systems
  - Strip cropping
  - Vegetated waterways
1. State seven reasons for pruning coffee
  - To remove old, unproductive or diseased, damaged parts
  - To regulate the height of coffee bushes
  - To control bearing to avoid overbearing in one season
  - to control pests for example antestia
  - To facilitate easy picking or harvesting of berries.
  - To economize on use of chemicals
  - Facilitates easy penetration of the chemical sprays
2. Highlight seven effects of land fragmentation
  - Time is wasted while travelling from one holding to another
  - proper and effective control of weeds and pests become very difficult since fragments are surrounded by the farmer’ holdings
  - Difficulties of following a sound farm plan arising from distance between fragments and the farmers home
  - Difficult in controlling of of livestock parasites and diseases
  - Difficult in carrying out various soil conservation measures
  - Difficult in offering agricultural extension services/advise
  - Agricultural productivity remains poor resulting in low standards of living
3. Explain the basic concepts of economics
  1. Scarcity
    - Is a situation whereby the resources are limited in supply relative to demand, it implies that there is no time man can have enough resources to satisfy all his need or desires
  2. Choice/preference
    - preference- is an act of making choice among alternatives given that the resources are limited in order to satisfy the needs
    - choice-is an act of deciding which resources should be allocated to meet production needs and satisfy the consumer’s needs.
  3. Opportunity cost-is the value of the best foregone alternative or is the revenue forgone from the best alternative