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Question 1 Report
. (a) Give eight characteristics of agricultural systems in West Africa. (b) Explain four ways in which land tenure systems affect agricultural production in your country.
(a) Eight characteristics of agricultural systems in West Africa:
(Other features: use of local/unimproved crop varieties and livestock breeds, and poor storage, processing and marketing facilities.)
(b) Four ways land tenure systems affect agricultural production:
Answer Details
(a) Eight characteristics of agricultural systems in West Africa:
(Other features: use of local/unimproved crop varieties and livestock breeds, and poor storage, processing and marketing facilities.)
(b) Four ways land tenure systems affect agricultural production:
Question 2 Report
(a) Explain the following terms as used in crop production: (i) floriculture; (ii) taungya farming; (iii) ley farming. (b) State eight uses of ornamental plants to man. (c) Mention four fibre crops grown in your country.
(a) Explanation of terms:
(b) Eight uses of ornamental plants to man:
(c) Four fibre crops grown in the country:
Answer Details
(a) Explanation of terms:
(b) Eight uses of ornamental plants to man:
(c) Four fibre crops grown in the country:
Question 3 Report
(a)(i) Explain the law of diminishing returns. (ii) State how the law of diminishing returns affect agricultural production.
(b) Discuss how each of the following factors affect the supply of agricultural produce: (i) price (ii) technology (iii) weather (iv) subsidy (v) government policy.
(a)(i) Law of diminishing returns: The law states that as successive (equal) units of a variable input are added to a fixed quantity of other inputs, the extra (marginal) output obtained from each additional unit of the variable input first rises, but after a certain point begins to fall, provided technology is held constant.
(a)(ii) How it affects agricultural production: It guides the farmer on how much of an input (such as fertilizer, labour or seed) to apply. Adding more of an input raises total yield only up to the point of diminishing returns; beyond that point each extra unit adds less to output, and eventually total output may fall, so the farmer wastes money. The most profitable level of production is therefore where the value of the extra output just equals the cost of the extra input, and the farmer should not go on adding inputs beyond this optimum.
(b) How each factor affects the supply of agricultural produce:
Answer Details
(a)(i) Law of diminishing returns: The law states that as successive (equal) units of a variable input are added to a fixed quantity of other inputs, the extra (marginal) output obtained from each additional unit of the variable input first rises, but after a certain point begins to fall, provided technology is held constant.
(a)(ii) How it affects agricultural production: It guides the farmer on how much of an input (such as fertilizer, labour or seed) to apply. Adding more of an input raises total yield only up to the point of diminishing returns; beyond that point each extra unit adds less to output, and eventually total output may fall, so the farmer wastes money. The most profitable level of production is therefore where the value of the extra output just equals the cost of the extra input, and the farmer should not go on adding inputs beyond this optimum.
(b) How each factor affects the supply of agricultural produce:
Question 4 Report
Discuss the effects of temperature on: (a) brooding of chicks; (b) reproduction in livestock; (c) milk production; (d) egg production.
Temperature is an important climatic (environmental) factor that strongly affects livestock performance. Its effects on the following are discussed.
(a) Brooding of chicks: Young chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature, so warmth must be supplied artificially during brooding. The correct temperature (about 35 degrees Celsius in the first week, reduced gradually) keeps the chicks comfortable, active and evenly spread under the brooder, and promotes good growth. If it is too cold the chicks huddle together and may be smothered or die of chilling; if it is too hot they pant, move away from the heat source, eat less and grow poorly.
(b) Reproduction in livestock: Moderate temperatures favour normal reproduction, but very high temperature (heat stress) reduces fertility. In males it lowers the quantity and quality of sperm produced, and in females it interferes with the oestrus cycle, weakens the signs of heat and can cause early embryo death and abortion. Very low temperatures also depress reproductive activity.
(c) Milk production: Dairy animals give the most milk within a comfortable (thermo-neutral) temperature range. Under high temperature the animals feel heat stress, eat less feed and use energy to keep cool, so milk yield and the butterfat content fall. Very cold weather also lowers yield because more feed energy is diverted to keeping the body warm.
(d) Egg production: Laying birds produce best at moderate temperatures. When temperature is very high the birds pant, drink more water, eat less and lay fewer eggs with thinner shells and smaller size. Very low temperature increases the feed needed for body warmth and can also reduce the rate of lay.
Answer Details
Temperature is an important climatic (environmental) factor that strongly affects livestock performance. Its effects on the following are discussed.
(a) Brooding of chicks: Young chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature, so warmth must be supplied artificially during brooding. The correct temperature (about 35 degrees Celsius in the first week, reduced gradually) keeps the chicks comfortable, active and evenly spread under the brooder, and promotes good growth. If it is too cold the chicks huddle together and may be smothered or die of chilling; if it is too hot they pant, move away from the heat source, eat less and grow poorly.
(b) Reproduction in livestock: Moderate temperatures favour normal reproduction, but very high temperature (heat stress) reduces fertility. In males it lowers the quantity and quality of sperm produced, and in females it interferes with the oestrus cycle, weakens the signs of heat and can cause early embryo death and abortion. Very low temperatures also depress reproductive activity.
(c) Milk production: Dairy animals give the most milk within a comfortable (thermo-neutral) temperature range. Under high temperature the animals feel heat stress, eat less feed and use energy to keep cool, so milk yield and the butterfat content fall. Very cold weather also lowers yield because more feed energy is diverted to keeping the body warm.
(d) Egg production: Laying birds produce best at moderate temperatures. When temperature is very high the birds pant, drink more water, eat less and lay fewer eggs with thinner shells and smaller size. Very low temperature increases the feed needed for body warmth and can also reduce the rate of lay.
Question 5 Report
(a) State three ways by which nitrogen is added to soil in the Nitrogen cycle.
(b) List five ways by which nitrogen is lost from the soil.
(c) State the importance of the Nitrogen cycle.
(d) Explain three processes leading to the formation of nitrate from organic matter in the Nitrogen cycle.
(a) Three ways by which nitrogen is added to the soil:
(b) Five ways by which nitrogen is lost from the soil:
(c) Importance of the nitrogen cycle: It ensures a continuous natural supply and recycling of nitrogen, keeping the soil fertile so that plants can obtain the nitrates needed to make proteins for growth. It maintains a balance between the nitrogen used up by plants and micro-organisms and the nitrogen returned to the soil and atmosphere.
(d) Three processes leading to formation of nitrate from organic matter:
Answer Details
(a) Three ways by which nitrogen is added to the soil:
(b) Five ways by which nitrogen is lost from the soil:
(c) Importance of the nitrogen cycle: It ensures a continuous natural supply and recycling of nitrogen, keeping the soil fertile so that plants can obtain the nitrates needed to make proteins for growth. It maintains a balance between the nitrogen used up by plants and micro-organisms and the nitrogen returned to the soil and atmosphere.
(d) Three processes leading to formation of nitrate from organic matter:
Question 6 Report
(a) Define pasture.
(b) List three features of natural pastures.
(c) A piece of land to be used to establish a pasture of Stylosanthes gracilis was surveyed to be circular.
(i) If the radius of the land is 200m and the spacing of the pasture legume is lm by 50cm, what is the population of the legume at one seed per stand?
(ii) If the germination percentage is 75, calculate the expected plant population. (iii) Give two ways in which Stylosanthes gracilis is important in agricultural production.
(a) Pasture: A pasture is an area of land covered with grasses and legumes (herbage) which is used for grazing or feeding livestock.
(b) Three features of natural pastures:
(c) Calculations:
(i) Population of the legume at one seed per stand:
Area of the circular land, \( A = \pi r^{2} \), with \( r = 200\,\text{m} \) and \( \pi = 3.142 \):
\[ A = 3.142 \times (200)^{2} = 3.142 \times 40000 = 125680\ \text{m}^{2} \]
Spacing \( = 1\,\text{m} \times 50\,\text{cm} = 1\,\text{m} \times 0.5\,\text{m} = 0.5\ \text{m}^{2} \) per stand.
\[ \text{Population} = \dfrac{\text{Area}}{\text{Spacing}} = \dfrac{125680}{0.5} = 251360\ \text{stands} \]
At one seed per stand, the population of the legume \( = 251{,}360 \) plants.
(ii) Expected plant population at 75% germination:
\[ \text{Expected population} = \dfrac{75}{100} \times 251360 = 188520\ \text{plants} \]
(iii) Two ways Stylosanthes gracilis is important in agricultural production:
Answer Details
(a) Pasture: A pasture is an area of land covered with grasses and legumes (herbage) which is used for grazing or feeding livestock.
(b) Three features of natural pastures:
(c) Calculations:
(i) Population of the legume at one seed per stand:
Area of the circular land, \( A = \pi r^{2} \), with \( r = 200\,\text{m} \) and \( \pi = 3.142 \):
\[ A = 3.142 \times (200)^{2} = 3.142 \times 40000 = 125680\ \text{m}^{2} \]
Spacing \( = 1\,\text{m} \times 50\,\text{cm} = 1\,\text{m} \times 0.5\,\text{m} = 0.5\ \text{m}^{2} \) per stand.
\[ \text{Population} = \dfrac{\text{Area}}{\text{Spacing}} = \dfrac{125680}{0.5} = 251360\ \text{stands} \]
At one seed per stand, the population of the legume \( = 251{,}360 \) plants.
(ii) Expected plant population at 75% germination:
\[ \text{Expected population} = \dfrac{75}{100} \times 251360 = 188520\ \text{plants} \]
(iii) Two ways Stylosanthes gracilis is important in agricultural production:
Question 7 Report
(a) Enumerate four economic importance of rocks: (i) to man; (ii) in agriculture. (b) State two characteristics of each of the following (1) igneous rock (ii) metamorphic rock. (c) Describe the mode of formation of sedimentary rocks.
(a) Economic importance of rocks:
(i) To man:
(ii) In agriculture:
(b) Two characteristics of each rock type:
(c) Mode of formation of sedimentary rocks: Sedimentary rocks are formed from the products of weathering and erosion of existing rocks. Rock fragments, sand, mud and the remains of plants and animals are carried by wind, water and ice and deposited in layers in low areas such as river beds, lakes and the sea. Over a long period these deposits (sediments) accumulate, the upper layers press down on the lower ones (compaction), and dissolved minerals cement the particles together (cementation). The compacted and cemented layers gradually harden into sedimentary rock. They are typically layered (stratified) and often contain fossils. Examples are sandstone, limestone and shale.
Answer Details
(a) Economic importance of rocks:
(i) To man:
(ii) In agriculture:
(b) Two characteristics of each rock type:
(c) Mode of formation of sedimentary rocks: Sedimentary rocks are formed from the products of weathering and erosion of existing rocks. Rock fragments, sand, mud and the remains of plants and animals are carried by wind, water and ice and deposited in layers in low areas such as river beds, lakes and the sea. Over a long period these deposits (sediments) accumulate, the upper layers press down on the lower ones (compaction), and dissolved minerals cement the particles together (cementation). The compacted and cemented layers gradually harden into sedimentary rock. They are typically layered (stratified) and often contain fossils. Examples are sandstone, limestone and shale.
Question 8 Report
(a) List the three main extension teaching methods. (b) For each method listed in 10(a), state three types. (c) Give four qualities of a good extension agent.
(a) Three main extension teaching methods:
(b) Three types under each method:
Individual method:
Group method:
Mass method:
(c) Four qualities of a good extension agent:
Answer Details
(a) Three main extension teaching methods:
(b) Three types under each method:
Individual method:
Group method:
Mass method:
(c) Four qualities of a good extension agent:
Question 9 Report
(a) Explain four of the following management practices in animal production: (i) steaming up; (ii) culling; (iii) candling; (iv) tattooing; (vi) creep feeding. (b) List five signs of heat in animals. (c) Mention three reasons for castrating farm animals
(a) Explanation of four management practices:
(Tattooing is the marking of an animal for identification by pricking a number or symbol into the skin or ear with ink.)
(b) Five signs of heat in animals:
(c) Three reasons for castrating farm animals:
Answer Details
(a) Explanation of four management practices:
(Tattooing is the marking of an animal for identification by pricking a number or symbol into the skin or ear with ink.)
(b) Five signs of heat in animals:
(c) Three reasons for castrating farm animals:
Question 10 Report
(a) Explain the following terms: (i) primary tillage implement; (ii) secondary tillage implement.
(b) (i) State three reasons why disc ploughs are better suited for soils in West Africa than the mouldboard ploughs. (ii) List six major parts of a disc plough.
(c) Give three reasons why secondary tillage is necessary before sowing of seeds. (d) State three precautions a farmer should take when spraying chemicals
(a) Explanation of terms:
(b)(i) Three reasons why disc ploughs are better suited to West African soils than mouldboard ploughs:
(b)(ii) Six major parts of a disc plough:
(c) Three reasons why secondary tillage is necessary before sowing:
(d) Three precautions when spraying chemicals:
Answer Details
(a) Explanation of terms:
(b)(i) Three reasons why disc ploughs are better suited to West African soils than mouldboard ploughs:
(b)(ii) Six major parts of a disc plough:
(c) Three reasons why secondary tillage is necessary before sowing:
(d) Three precautions when spraying chemicals:
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