(a) What is forest reserve? (2 marks) (b) State two advantages of taungya system of farming to each of the following: (i) farmers; (ii) foresters. (4 marks)...

(a) Forest reserve [2 marks]

A forest reserve is an area of forest land set aside and protected by law, mainly for the conservation and controlled production of forest resources, especially valuable tree species.

(b) Advantages of the taungya system of farming [4 marks]

(i) To farmers:

1. They obtain fertile land on which to grow food crops, often at little or no cost.
2. They obtain food, income and employment while the forest trees are still young.

(ii) To foresters:

1. Farmers weed and tend the young forest trees while cultivating their crops.
2. The cost of establishing and maintaining the forest plantation is reduced.

(c) Life cycle of yam beetle, Heteroligus metes [6 marks]

The yam beetle undergoes complete metamorphosis, as shown below.

1. The adult female beetle lays eggs in moist soil, usually under mulch, at the beginning of the yam-growing season.
2. The eggs hatch into larvae or grubs. The grubs feed mainly on decaying organic matter in the soil.
3. The larva moults through three larval stages and later changes into a pupa in the soil.
4. The pupa develops and moults into an adult beetle.
5. The adult beetle attacks yam tubers by boring into them and feeding on the tuber tissue. The female subsequently lays eggs and the cycle continues.

(d) Advantages of organic fertilizers over inorganic fertilizers [2 marks]

1. They add humus and improve soil structure and water-holding capacity.
2. They release nutrients gradually and are less likely to make the soil acidic.

(e) Varieties of oil palm [2 marks]

1. Dura
2. Tenera