(a) ldentify specimens A, B, and C. Specimen A: Specimen B; Specimen C; %% (b) In a tabular form, compare three physical characteristics of specimens A and ...
Question 1 Report
(a) ldentify specimens A, B, and C.
| Specimen A: | Specimen B; | Specimen C; |
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(b) In a tabular form, compare three physical characteristics of specimens A and B.
(c) (i) Which of specimens A and B would you recommend for pond construction?
(ii) Give one reason for your answer in (c)(i).
(d) List two ways of improving specimen A for crop production.
(e) State two ways by which specimen C is of economic importance in agriculture.
Answer Details
(a) Identification of specimens
- Specimen A: Sandy soil.
- Specimen B: Clayey soil.
- Specimen C: Earthworm.
(b) Three physical characteristics of specimens A and B
| Physical characteristic | Specimen A (Sandy soil) | Specimen B (Clayey soil) |
|---|---|---|
| Texture / particle size | Coarse-grained and gritty; made of large particles | Fine-grained and smooth to the touch; made of very fine particles |
| Water relations | Low capillarity, high percolation rate and low water-holding capacity; easily leached | High capillarity, low percolation rate and high water-holding capacity; not easily leached |
| Behaviour when wet / workability | Not sticky when wet, low plasticity and cannot be moulded; well drained and aerated with large pore spaces; easy to work | Highly sticky when wet, high plasticity and can be moulded into any shape; poorly drained and poorly aerated with small pore spaces; heavy to work |
(c)(i) Specimen B (clayey soil) is recommended for pond construction.
(c)(ii) Clay has a very high water-holding capacity and does not lose water through percolation easily, so it makes the pond water-tight.
(d) Two ways of improving Specimen A (sandy soil) for crop production
- Mulching to reduce evaporation and conserve soil moisture.
- Planting cover crops or applying green manure to add organic matter and improve fertility. (Liming and fallowing are also acceptable.)
(e) Two ways Specimen C (earthworm) is of economic importance in agriculture
- By burrowing it loosens the soil and increases aeration, water infiltration and percolation, giving roots easy penetration.
- It drags plant remains into the soil and increases its organic matter content, thereby improving soil structure and fertility and raising crop yields.
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