WAEC Agricultural Science 2009 Past Questions

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The most important contribution of agriculture to mankind is the provision of

A.shelter
B.employment
C.foreign exchange
D.food

(a)(i) What is an agricultural system [2 marks] (ii) List five agricultural systems practised in West Africa. [5 mar]

(b) State four ways in which non-governmental organisations contribute to agricultural production. [4 mar

(c) Give one function of each of the following components of an incubator: (i) counter (ii) thermostat; (iii) hygrometer (iv) egg tray; (v) heater. [5 marks each]

An advantage of commercial agriculture is that it

A.requires small space
B.requires skilled labour
C.produces high returns
D.involves low capital

(a) Enumerate six factors that limit food production in West Africa. [6 marks]

(b) State three advantages and three disadvantages of solar energy as a source of farm power. [6 marks]

(c) List four tractor-coupled implements [4 marks]

Which of the following statements about communal land tenure system is true?

A.it gives the owner complete freedom on the land
B.the land can be used as collateral for agricultural loans
C.the land can be shared by the owner's children
D.mechanical agriculture can be profitably practised

(a) State four characteristics of clay. [4 marks]

(b) Mention four effects of drought on plant growth and development [4 marks]

(c) List two symptoms of phosphorus deficiency in crops. [2 marks]

(d) State three ways in which each of the following soil properties is important in crop production:(i) soil reaction; (ii) soil temperature. [6 marks]

Agricultural land use is negatively affected by

A.type of soil
B.climatic factors
C.increase in population
D.increase in soil micro-organisms

(a) List four soil conservation practices that can be used to control erosion on a gentle slope. [4 marks]

(b) Explain how each of the practices you have listed in 4(a) can be used to conserve the soil. [12 marks]

The practice of growth both food and forage crops simultaneously on the same piece of land is called

A.pastoral farming
B.ley farming
C.crop rotation
D.continuous cropping

(a) State four aims of crop improvement. [4 marks]

(b) Give four conditions necessary for seed germination. [4 marks]

(c) State the importance of conducting a germination test. [2 marks]

(d) Discuss briefly three problems associated with the use of poor quality planting materials. [6 marks]

The use of land for agricultural purpose involves the following except

A.livestock grazing
B.fish farming
C.road construction
D.crop production

(a) Discuss the production of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) under the following headings: (a) land preparation; [2 marks]

(b) climatic requirements; [3 marks]

(c) planting; [6 marks]

(d) one disease. [5 marks]

The natural grasslands of West Africa are generally located in the

A.rain forest
B.guinea savanna
C.mangroves
D.equatorial belts

(a) (i) Define the term brooder as used in poultry production. [2 marks]

(ii) List four characteristics of a good layer. [4 marks]

(b) State four reasons for providing suitable housing for livestock. [4 marks]

(c) Give the scientific names of three fish species commonly stocked in a pond. [3 marks]

(d) State three qualities of a good pasture plant. [3 marks]

The following processes in soil formation are caused by biotic factors except

A.bacterial decomposition of plants
B.soil mixing and turning by earthworms
C.burrowing of rodents
D.soil disintegration by dehydration

(a) (i) Define the term culling in poultry production. [2 marks]

(ii) Mention three benefits derived from culling [3 marks]

(b) State four ways of preventing diseases in a sheep flock. [4 marks]

(c) Discuss the practice of paddocking as a way of improving rangeland. [4 marks]

(d) State three fishery regulations. [3 marks]

Which of the following rocks is not formed from pre-existing rocks?

A.limestone
B.granite
C.shale
D.marble

(a) (i) What is an inventory record? [2 marks]

(ii) State the four steps involved in the process of taking inventory. [4 marks]

(iii) State two ways in which inventory record is important in farm business. [2 marks]

(b) Mention four objectives of agricultural extension. [4 marks]

(c) Explain the following agricultural extension teaching methods. (i) news bulletin; (ii) agricultural shows. [4 marks]

Chemical weathering is fastest in

A.cool weather
B.hot weather
C.high altitudes
D.low altitudes

(a) (i) Explain the term marketing channel. [2 marks]

(ii) Outline the marketing channels for cocoa. [4 marks]

(b) State three characteristics of land. [3 marks]

(c) List three agricultural extension programmes in West Africa. [3 marks]

(d) State four advantages of using demonstration as an extension teaching method. [4 marks]

It is not advisable to apply fresh farmyard manure because

A.its heat of decomposition may cause scorching of plants
B.some microorganisms in the manure may die
C.the manure may increase soil acidity
D.the manure may increase soil alkalinity

Magnesium deficiency in crops can be corrected by the application of

A.dolomite
B.limestone
C.quicklime
D.urea

The atmosphere gains carbon dioxide through the following ways except

A.burning of fuel such as coal and wood
B.respiration by plants and animals
C.photosynthesis in plants
D.death and decay of plants and animals

Controlled burning has the advantage of

A.increasing the number of soil organisms
B.inducing re-growth of pasture grasses
C.increasing the amount of nutrients in the soil
D.improving soil structure

Which of the following fertilizers should be applied for good plant growth after prolonged use of sulphate of ammonia on a neutral soil?

A.ammonium nitrate
B.lime
C.urea
D.single superphosphate

Which of the following statements indicate advantages of sub-surface irrigation? I. Low operation cost once established II. Does not disturb the movement of implements III. Permits efficient use of water IV. easily floods the field

A.I,II and III only
B.II,III and IV only
C.I,II and IV only
D.I,II,III and IV

The removal of excess water from the sub-soil is known as

A.irrigation
B.drainage
C.evaporations
D.dehydration

The best source of farm power for agricultural production is

A.human power
B.animal power
C.mechanical power
D.solar power

The greatest disadvantage of using a bulldozer in land clearing is that it

A.removes the fertile top soil along with the vegetation
B.makes the soil lose its texture
C.allows the fast growth of weeds after clearing
D.increases the incidence of pests

Mechanization is difficult to practice where the

A.land is fragmented
B.farmer is wealthy
C.farm holding is large
D.soil fertility is low

Which of the following equipment is not used in farm surveying?

A.Gunter's chain
B.measuring tape
C.ranging pole
D.pick axe

Farm surveying is important because it determines

A.soil fertility
B.size of farmland
C.yield of crops
D.types of implement to use

Bush fallowing is necessitated by

A.population increase
B.reduction in soil fertility
C.cost consideration
D.rural-urban migration

A well fermented and dried coffee seed is said to be

A.parched
B.graded
C.winnowed
D.threshed

A bag of fertilizer had a ratio of 0:10:0 written on it. This means that the fertilizer contains

A.0 kg of nitrogen, 10 kg of potash and 0 kg of phosphate
B.0 kg of phosphate, 10 kg of nitrogen and 0 kg of potash
C.0 kg of nitrogen, 10 kg of phosphate and 0 kg of potash
D.0 kg of potash, 10 kg of phosphate and 0 kg of nitrogen

In crop rotation, deep-rooted crops should follow shallow-rooted crops because deep-rooted crops

A.are resistant to diseases
B.are early-maturing
C.feed from different soil layers
D.attract different kinds of pests

If a crop is planted at a spacing of 100cm x 50cm. Calculate the plant population required for an hectare of farm land.

A.200
B.2,000
C.5,000
D.20,000

The term hermetic storage of grains means keeping grains in

A.air-tight containers
B.jute bags
C.silos
D.rhumbus

A disadvantage of vegetatively propagated crops is that they

A.do not mature on time
B.are less resistant to diseases
C.do not withstand harsh conditions
D.lodge very readily

Which of the following statements about mulches is true? They

A.include paper and plolythene sheets
B.encourage weed growth
C.facilitates hardpan formation
D.decrease soil biotic population

Which of the following crops is bet harvested using a combine harvester?

A.maize
B.groundnut
C.cassava
D.cotton

Which of the following crops produces latex?

A.mango
B.citrus
C.rubber
D.sisal

What will be the following effect of establishing a grass with centrosema spp. in a pasture? The

A.grass will be suppressed
B.total yield of herbage will decrease
C.pests of centrosema will destroy the grass
D.forage yield will be high

Which of the following is not an economic importance of forests? They serve as source of

A.medical plants
B.game animals
C.edible wild fruits
D.domestic animals

The twisting, wrinkling and mottling of leaves are symptoms of

A.nematode attack
B.viral diseases
C.water deprivation
D.fungal attack

An example of biological control of pests is

A.using lady bird beetles to feed on cytoplasm
B.early planting of maize
C.harvesting maize when properly dried
D.soaking bean seeds in bordeaux mixture

Edible seeds with sticky covering and hooks are most likely to be dispersed by

A.wind
B.water
C.animal
D.explosion

Hereditary characteristics are passed from parents to offspring through the

A.cytoplasm
B.placenta
C.gene
D.umbilical cord

Embryonic membranes do not include

A.uterus
B.chorion
C.allantois
D.amnion

The digestion of plant fibre is non-ruminant herbivores takes place in the

A.mouth and retum
B.caecum and colon
C.oesophagus and duodenum
D.stomach and rectum