Agriculture Questions and Answers - Form 2 Term 1 Opener Exams 2023

1. Define the following
   1. Agriculture (1mk)
   2. Mixed farming. (1mk)
   3. Seedbed (1mk)
   4. Soil fertility. (1mk)
   5. Agricultural economics. (1mk)
2. State four main branches of Agriculture. (2mk)
3. State three physical weathering agents of soil formation. (3mk)
4. State the importance of agriculture to the economy of Kenya. (4mk)
5. List five soil constituents. (5mks)
6. Give three reasons why soil is important to crops. (1 ½ mk)
7. The diagram M, N, P AND Q
   
   1. Identify the tools above M,N,P,Q. (2mk)
   2. Give the functions of each tool above. (2mk)
8. Complete the table below. (3mk) 
   
   

   Description	Cattle	Pig	Poultry
   Young one from weaning/ hatching first parturition
   Young female before parturition
   Mature male for breeding Boar

9. State three main sources of water for use in the farm. (1 ½ mk)
10.  
    1. What is drainage. (1mk)
    2. Explain the importance of drainage in agricultural production. (3mk)
11. State four ways in which soil loses its fertility. (4mk)
12. 
    
    1. By use of arrows indicate on the diagram how the following materials should be transferred. (1mk)
    2. Give a reason for turning the material in the heap regularly. (1mk)
    3. Give a reason for sprinkling water on the heap. (1mk)
13. Give reason why farmers keep livestock. (4mk)
14. 
    
    The diagram shows a practice used in crop production.
    1. Identify the method. ( ½ mk)
    2. Give three reasons for carrying out the practice. (3mk)
15. Describe any three characteristics of dairy breed. (3mk)
16. Name any two dual purpose sheep breeds. (3mk)
17. Study the document below and answer the questions that follow.
    
    

    Date	Disease symptoms	Animal affected	Drug used	Cost of treatment	remarks

    1. Identify the document. (1mk)
    2. State any four importance of keeping farm records. (2mk)
18. How does cultural and religious belief influence agriculture? (2mk)
19. State three aspects of rainfall that influences the growth of crops. (3mks)
20. Outline four reasons why a farmer should prepare land before planting. (4mks)
21. An experiment was carried out to investigate a certain process.
              
    
    1. State the aim of the experiment. (1mk)
    2. Identify the soil type A, B,C. (3mks)

MARKING SCHEME

1. Define the following
   1. Agriculture (1mk)
      • It is the art and science of crop and livestock production.
   2. Mixed farming. (1mk)
      • A method of farming involving growing crops and rearing livestock in the same farm.
   3. Seedbed (1mk)
      • A piece of land that has been prepared ready to receive planting materials.
   4. Soil fertility. (1mk)
      • Ability of the soil to supply crop with all nutrients required in correct amount and in the right proportion.
   5. Agricultural economics. (1mk)
      • It is a branch of economics that deals with how scarce production resources are combined with minimum cost to produce agricultural goods for use by the society.
2. State four main branches of Agriculture. (2mk)
   • Crop production
   • livestock production
   • soil science
   • Agricultural economics
   • Agricultural engineering
3. State three physical weathering agents of soil formation. (3mk)
   • wind 
   • Moving ice
   • Temperature changes.
4. State the importance of agriculture to the economy of Kenya. (4mk)
   1. Supply food
   2. Provide employment
   3. Earn foreign exchange
   4. Source of income/ revenue/ capital
   5. Source of raw materials for industries
   6. Provide market for industrial goods.
5. List five soil constituents.
   • Organic matter
   • Mineral matter
   • Air
   • Water 
   • Living organisms
6. Give three reasons why soil is important to crops. (1 ½ mk)
   • Provides water to the crop.
   • Provides oxygen for crop growth
   • Provides support
   • Provides nutrients
7. The diagram M, N, P AND Q
   1. Identify the tools above M,N,P,Q. (2mk)
      • M – Sickle
      • P – Mason’s trowel
      • Q – Try square
      • N – Troca and canula
   2. Give the functions of each tool above. (2mk)
      • M – Harvesting
      • P – Scooping mortar during construction
      • Q – Checking right angles.
      • N – Removing of excess gas during bloat
8. Complete the table below. (3mk)
   
   

   Description	Cattle	Pig	Poultry
   Young one from weaning/ hatching first parturition	Calf
   Young female before parturition			Pullet
   Mature male for breeding Boar		Boar

9. State three main sources of water for use in the farm. (1 ½ mk)
   • Surface
   • Rain
   • Underground
10.  
    1. What is drainage. (1mk)
       • Removal of excess water from water logged land.
    2. Explain the importance of drainage in agricultural production. (3mk)
       • Aerate the soil
       • To increase soil temperature.
       • To increase microbial activity
       • To remove toxic substance
       • To increase soil volume 
       • Enable farmers to get more land for agriculture.
11. State four ways in which soil loses its fertility. (4mk)
    • Leaching 
    • Continuous cropping
    • Change in soil PH
    • Soil erosion
    • Denitrification
    • Poor drainage
12.  
    1. By use of arrows indicate on the diagram how the following materials should be transferred. (1mk)
    2. Give a reason for turning the material in the heap regularly. (1mk)
       • Ensure mixing of the heap 
       • Ensure complete decomposition.
    3. Give a reason for sprinkling water on the heap. (1mk)
       • To initiate decomposition
       • To regulate temperature
13. Give reason why farmers keep livestock. (4mk)
    • Source of food
    • Source of income
    • Recreation 
    • Animal power
    • Raw materials for industries 
    • Cultural uses
14. The diagram dhows a practice used in crop production.
    1. Identify the method. ( ½ mk)
       • Ridging
    2. Give three reasons for carrying out the practice. (3mk)
       • Conservation of soil and water
       • Increase tuber expansion
       • Improves drainage
       • Easy harvesting of tubers
15. Describe any three characteristics of dairy breed. (3mk)
    • Wedge shape 
    • Big stomach
    • Big and well developed udder
    • Well developed hind quarters
    • Log thick neck
    • Long thin leg
    • Lean bodies
    • Straight top line
16. Name any two dual purpose sheep breeds. (3mk)
    • Romney marsh
    • Corrriadale
    • Hampshire down
17. Study the document below and answer the questions that follow.
    

    Date	Disease symptoms	Animal affected	Drug used	Cost of treatment	remarks

    1. Identify the document. (1mk)
       • Health records
    2. State any four importance of keeping farm records. (2mk)
       • To know if the farm is making profit
       • Budgeting and planning 
       • Produce labour information
       • Helping insurance claims
       • Sharing profits
       • History of the farm.
18. How does cultural and religious belief influence agriculture? (2mk)
    • Influences the type of livestock
    • Affects what products to consume
19. State three aspects of rainfall that influences the growth of crops. (3mks)
    • Amount of rainfall
    • Rainfall intensity
    • Rainfall distribution
    • Rainfall reliability
20. Outline four reasons why a farmer should prepare land before planting. (4mks)
    • Kill weeds
    • Kill pest
    • Increase water penetration
    • To make subsequent operation easy 
    • Aerate the soil
21. An experiment was carried out to investigate a certain process.
    1. State the aim of the experiment. (1mk)
       • To investigate drainage and water holding capacity.
    2. Identify the soil type A, B,C. (3mks)
       • A – Sandy soil
       • B – Clay soil
       • C – Loam soil