Agriculture Paper 1 Questions and Answers - Kangundo Subcounty Pre Mock Exams 2021/2022

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

State four qualities considered when selecting seeds for planting (2 Marks)
State two classes of herbicides based on formulation (1 Mark)
State four practices which help in achieving minimum tollage (2 Marks)
Give four reasons why most farmers do not use green manure (2 Marks)
Give four policies that the government has instituted in order to regulate importation of agricultural goods. (2 Marks)
1. Give four methods of applying fertilizer to crops (2 Marks)
2. Give three examples of straight fertilizers (1 ½ Marks)
State four pieces of information contained in a land title deed (2 Marks)
State four characteristics of small scale farming (2 Marks)
Suggest four ways that should be sought to get more land into agricultural production (2 Marks)
State four ways in which soil profile influence plant growth (2 Marks)
Name two conditions that encourage damping off disease in nursery (2 Marks)
State four factors a farmer will consider when choosing a jembe for primary tillage (2 Marks)
State four factors considered when classifying crop pest (2 Marks)
A farmer owns one hectare on which he can grow maize whose yield is 15 bags/ha, but he has chosen to grow sorghum whose yield is 20bags/ha. If maize is sold KSH 1,200.00 per bag while sorghum is sold at Ksh. 700.00 per bag. Calculate the opportunity cost (2 Marks)
Give three non-chemical factors affecting rooting of cuttings (1 ½ Mark)
List four features of plastic pipes a farmer should consider before buying a pipe (2 Marks)

SECTION B
Answer all questions in the space provided
The diagram below illustrates a final seed bed after a tertiary operation done during land preparation. Study it and answer questions that follow.
1. Name the tertiary operation carried out on the seed bed (1 Mark)
2. Give two factors that may necessitate establishment of structure (2 Marks)
3. Give two advantages of planting crops on the seedbed illustrated above (2 Marks)
Study the following diagrams and answer questions that follow.
1. Identify weeds given above (1 ½ Marks)
2. State economic importance of weed A and B (2 Marks)
3. State an example of herbicide for controlling weed A and B (1 Mark)
The diagram below illustrates a method of training carried out in growing some crops. Study it and answer questions that follow
1. Identify the method of training shown (1 Mark)
2. Name two crops which the practice above can be carried out (1 Mark)
3. Explain three reason for carrying out practice above (1 ½ Mark)
4. Give two other methods of training crops (1 Mark)
A farmer is advised to apply 30kg P₃O₅/ha. The available fertilizer is 20:15:10. Calculate the amount of fertilizer he will require for his three hectare piece of land (3 Marks)
Give a reason for each of following practices
1. Topping in pasture management
2. Top dressing pasture crops
3. Weeding in pasture
  
  SECTION C (40 MARKS)
  Answer only two questions in this section
1. Explain six factors that contribute to competitive ability of weed (6 Marks)
2. Explain four maintenance practices done to a maize store before storage (4 Marks)
3. Describe safety measure one should observe when handling herbicides (10 Marks)
1. Explain four properties of nitrogenous fertilizers that dictates this handling (8 Marks)
2. Outline six cultural activities that may be undertaken to control pests in beans (6 Marks)
3. Describe reasons for raising kales in nursery before transplanting (6 Marks)
1. Explain how each of the following aspects of rain influence crop production. (4 Marks)
  1. rainfall amount
  2. rainfall reliability
  3. rainfall distribution
  4. rainfall intensity
2. Describe structural methods of conserving soil and water in a farm (8 Marks)
3. Describe methods used in preparing materials for planting (8 Marks)

MARKING SCHEME

Section A ( 30 MARKS)
Answer all questions in the questions in this section in space provided

State four qualities considered when selecting seeds for planting (2 Marks)
- Should be pure/ clean/ no impurities
- Should have high germination percentage
- Free from pest attack/ disease/ healthy
- Whole/ no physical damage
- Suitable to ecological condition
- Have high vigour
- Be uniform in size/ colour/ shape
State two classes of herbicides based on formulation (1 Mark)
- Liquids
- Welt able powder
State four practices which help in achieving minimum tollage (2 Marks)
- Establish cover crops
- Use of herbicides to control weeds
- Timely cultivation
- Mulching
- Cover cropping
- Uprooting/ slashing weeds
Give four reasons why most farmers do not use green manure (2 Marks)
- Most crops are sued as food
- Manure crops use most of soil moisture leaving little for the next crop
- Most nutrients are used by micro-organisms in the process of decomposing green manure
- It delays planting as it takes time for crop to decompose.
Give four policies that the government has instituted in order to regulate importation of agricultural goods. (2 Marks)
- Heavy taxation of imported agricultural goods
- Quality control
- Subsidizing the growing of locally
- Stepping up control of disease/ parasites that affect crops/ livestock
1. Give four methods of applying fertilizer to crops (2 Marks)
  - broadcasting
  - placement
  - side dressing
  - foliar spray
  - drip
2. Give three examples of straight fertilizers (1 ½ Marks)
  - nitrogenous fertilizer (accept valid example)
  - pottasic fertilizers (accept correct example)
  - phosphate fertilizer (accept correct example )
State four pieces of information contained in a land title deed (2 Marks)
- Land tittle number
- Size of land
- Name / identity of owner
- Seal number of registrar
State four characteristics of small scale farming (2 Marks)
- Small size pieces of land
- Simple tools used
- Produce for subsistence (surplus is sold)
- Low yied per unit
Suggest four ways that should be sought to get more land into agricultural production (2 Marks)
- Drainage
- Drainage
- tsetse fly control
- practice agroforestry
- afforestation
- planned deforestation
State four ways in which soil profile influence plant growth (2 Marks)
- Anchorage
- Drainage
- Water retation
Name two conditions that encourage damping off disease in nursery (2 Marks)
- Heavy watering
- Excessive shadding
- Overcrowding of seedlings
State four factors a farmer will consider when choosing a jembe for primary tillage (2 Marks)
- Small piece of land
- If only available tool
- Lack of skills for operating other implements
- Lack of capital
- Sleep slope where ploughs cannot be used
State four factors considered when classifying crop pest (2 Marks)
- Where pest are found
- Feeding habit/ mouth part/type of damage
- Crop attacked
- Scientific classification
- Stage of grow that which crop is attacked
- Stage of development at which it causes damage
- Part of plant attacked
A farmer owns one hectare on which he can grow maize whose yield is 15 bags/ha, but he has chosen to grow sorghum whose yield is 20bags/ha. If maize is sold KSH 1,200.00 per bag while sorghum is sold at Ksh. 700.00 per bag. Calculate the opportunity cost (2 Marks)
Revenue of best forgone alternative
15 bag x 1200/=
18000/=
Give three non-chemical factors affecting rooting of cuttings (1 ½ Mark)
- Oxygen supply
- Leaf area
- Chemical treatment
- Hormone concentration
List four features of plastic pipes a farmer should consider before buying a pipe (2 Marks)
- Durability of the pipe
- Size
- Colour
- Working pressure
  
  SECTION B
  Answer all questions in the space provided
The diagram below illustrates a final seed bed after a tertiary operation done during land preparation. Study it and answer questions that follow.
1. Name the tertiary operation carried out on the seed bed (1 Mark)
  ridging
2. Give two factors that may necessitate establishment of structure (2 Marks)
  - When growing tuber crops
  - If land is water logged
3. Give two advantages of planting crops on the seedbed illustrated above (2 Marks)
  - Enhance tuber/ root expansion
  - Make harvesting easy
  - Prevent soil erosion
  - Conserve soil moisture
Study the following diagrams and answer questions that follow.
1. Identify weeds given above (1 ½ Marks)
  1. Thorn apple/ datura straminium
  2. nut grass
  3. double thorn
2. State economic importance of weed A and B (2 Marks)
  1. – Poisonous to livestock
  2. – feed to livestock
3. State an example of herbicide for controlling weed A and B (1 Mark)
  2-4 D
  MC-PA
The diagram below illustrates a method of training carried out in growing some crops. Study it and answer questions that follow
1. Identify the method of training shown (1 Mark)
  Trelishing
2. Name two crops which the practice above can be carried out (1 Mark)
  - Passion fruit
  - Tomatoes
  - Strawberry
3. Explain three reason for carrying out practice above (1 ½ Mark)
  - Clean fruits
  - Easy harvesting/ inspection/ weeding
  - Economizes spray/ easy penetration of spray
  - Control soil borne pest and diseases infestation
4. Give two other methods of training crops (1 Mark)
  - Propping
  - Pruning
  - staking
A farmer is advised to apply 30kg P₃O₅/ha. The available fertilizer is 20:15:10. Calculate the amount of fertilizer he will require for his three hectare piece of land (3 Marks)
If 100kg containS 15kg P₂O₅
30kg P₂O₅
100kg × 30kg P₂O₅=200kg fertilizer / ha
15kg P₂O₅
Give a reason for each of following practices
- Topping - stimulate fresh growth/regeneration
  - Prolong productive life
- Top dressing - add nutrients
  - Increase herbage yield
  - Improve correct PH and soil structure
  - Improve microbial activities
- Weeding – weeds interfere with forage fertilization
  - Weeds reduce life span of pasture
  - Competes with forage crops for nutrients
  - Weeds reduce quality of herbage
  - Weeds reduce herbage yield
    
    SECTION C (40 MARKS)
    Answer only two questions in this section
- Explain six factors that contribute to competitive ability of weed (6 Marks)
  - Ability to produce large quantities of viable seeds e.g pig weed
  - Weed seeds remain viable in the soil for long time awaiting conducive germination conditions
  - Most weed seeds are easily and successfully dispersed
  - Ability to survive in soils with low nutrient supply have short lifecycles hence reaching maturity easily
  - Some weeds have ability to propagate vegetatively.
  - Some have elaborated/ extensive root system useful in supporting plant & absorption of nutrients.
- Explain four maintenance practices done to a maize store before storage (4 Marks)
  - Clean store thoroughly
  - Repair/ replace broken parts to avoid loss of grains
  - dust with appropriate chemicals to control storage pest clear vegetation around the store to keep of pests
- Describe safety measure one should observe when handling herbicides (10 Marks)
  - read manufacturers instructions and follow them
  - wear protective clothing/ put on gloves, overall/face mask, boosts
  - avoid inhaling herbicides/ not smoke while spraying/ not spray against wind/ wear breaking mask
  - bath thoroughly after handling the herbicide/ not eat before bathing
  - not blow/ suck blocked nozzles
  - proper disposal of empty containers bottles
  - keep away from reach of children
  - avoid drift to pasture filed
  - wash the equipment thoroughly
  - not was equipment neat water bodies
1. Explain four properties of nitrogenous fertilizers that dictates this handling (8 Marks)
  - Short residual – apply them frequently
  - Burning/ scorching effect – should not come into contact with any part of plant especially the leaves
  - Highly volatile – applied in moist soil
  - Highly hygroscopic – should be stored under dry condition well covered containers
  - Highly corrosive – should not be handled with bare hands
2. Outline six cultural activities that may be undertaken to control pests in beans (6 Marks)
  - Timely planting – crops escape pest attack
  - Timely harvesting – crop escape pest attack
  - Proper tillage o exposes pest to predators/ scorch sun
  - Trap cropping – attracts pests away from the main crop thus it easy to destroy the pest
  - Crop rotation – starves pests to death
  - Planting resistant – varieties
  - Filed hygiene – keep field free from any plant material harboring pest
  - Use of clean planting materials – prevent introduction/ spread of pest
  - Destruction of alternative host such as weeds.
3. Describe reasons for raising kales in nursery before transplanting (6 Marks)
  - It facilitates production of many seedlings in a small area.
  - Routine management practices are easily and timely carried out in the nursery than in the main seed bed
  - It makes it possible to provide the best conditions for growth such as fine tilth leveled field and shade
  - It facilitates the planting of small seeds which develop into strong seedling 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
1. Rainfall amount ¬– determines type of crops to be grown in an area
  Rainfall reliability – determine time to prepare and plant crops.
  Rainfall distribution – determines choice of crop varieties to plant
  Rainfall intensity – high rainfall intensity cause erosion, low rainfall may not provide enough moisture for crops.
2. Structural methods of conserving soil and water
  - Buds – heaps of soil along contour- trap eroded soil/slow down speed of water
  - Cut off drains/diversion ditches- open trench with walks on lower side- collect and divert water into rivers, valley or water way
  - Terraces – constructed to reduce surface flow/carry away water which cannot be absorbed by soil
  - Gabions / porous dams – are boxes of wire mesh filled with stones build across gullies to trap eroded soil/ slow down speed of run off.
  - Dams - Barriers built across river to hold and store water/ reduce speed of water
3. Methods used in preparing materials for planting (8 Marks)
  - Breaking seed dormancy to hasten germination is done by ; (accept any valid method)
  - Seed dressing – coating seeds with fungicides or insecticide/ chemicals to control soil borne pest & disease
  - Seed inoculation – coating legume seeds with right rhizobium strain to increase nodulation/ nitrogen fixation
  - Sprouting – is breaking dormancy in Irish potatoes where selected potato sets are sprouted before planting.