KCSE 2018 Agriculture Paper 1 with Marking Scheme

QUESTIONS

SECTION A (30 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. Name four categories of livestock farming.(2 marks)
2. State four farming practices that ensure minimum tillage.(2 marks)
3. State four factors that determine the choice of water pipes used on the farm.(2 marks)
4. Name two sources of underground water.(1 mark)
5. Give four reasons why green manure is not commonly used in farming(2 marks)
6.                        
   1. Name two types of inventory records kept on the farm.(1 mark)
   2. State two uses of inventory records on a farm.(1 mark)
7.                        
   1. Name three vegetative planting materials used for propagating pineapples. (1¹/₂ marks)
   2. State three qualities or certified seeds.(1¹/₂ marks)
8. State four advantages of using polythene sleeves to propagate stem cuttings.(2 marks)
9. State four disadvantages of concession land tenure system.(2 marks)
10. Name four insect pests of beans in the field.(2 marks)
11.                            
    1. Name three legume pastures grown in high altitude areas.(1¹/₂ marks)
    2. State four management practices undertaken to improve natural pastures.(2 marks)
12.                        
    1. Name two subsidiary books of the journal.(1 mark)
    2. State four item details contained in a sales receipt.(2 marks)
13. State four roles of Young Farmers Clubs in Kenya(2 marks)
14.                      
    1. What is meant by the term agroforestry?(2 mark)
    2. Name two agroforestry practices.(1 mark)

SECTION B (20 marks)
Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

15. The diagram below shows a section of a plant from which the planting material illustrated was obtained.
    
    
    1. Identify the planting material illustrated.(1 mark)
    2. Give two reasons why only the middle part of the plant was used to prepare the planting material.(2 marks)
    3. Apart from using the middle part of the plant, explain two precautions that should be observed when preparing the illustrated planting material.(2 marks)
16. An experiment was carried out to investigate soil constituents as described below:
    Step I - An empty evaporating dish was weighed and its mass was 10 gms.
    Step II - Fresh garden soil was put on the evaporating dish and weighed. The mass was 40 gms.
    Step III - The evaporating dish containing fresh soil was put in an oven and heated at a temperature of 105°C for 30 minutes, cooled and then weighed. The mass was 35 gms.
    Step IV - The dish containing soil was then strongly heated on a Bunsen burner for two hours while stirring. It was then cooled and weighed. The new mass was 32 gms.
    1. Give a reason why the soil was heated
       1. at 105°C(1 mark)
       2. strongly for two hours(1 mark)
    2. Calculate the percentage content of the soil constituents investigated in the experiment.(3 marks)
17. The diagram below illustrates a nursery practice.
    
    
    1. Name the practice(1 mark)
    2. Give a reason why the tool labelled E is important in the practice illustrated.(1 mark)
    3. What is the appropriate stage of growth for carrying out the illustrated practice in agroforestry?(1 mark)
    4. Explain two activities that ensure that the illustrated practice is carried out successfully.(2 marks)
18. In a maize production enterprise carried out over a period of eight years, a farmer used one hectare of land each time and applied different quantities of DAP fertiliser. DAP fertiliser costs KSh 2 500 per 50kg bag and the harvested maize is sold at KSh 3 000 per 90kg bag. The quantities of DAP fertiliser applied and maize harvested are as shown in this table below.
    

    DAP fertiliser input in 50kg bags	Maize yield in 90 kg bags	Total revenue KSh	Total cost KSh	Marginal revenue KSh	Marginal cost KSh
    0	15.0	45 000	0	0	0
    1	35.6
    2	52.0
    3	68.5
    4	71.0
    5	71.5
    6	71.5
    7	68.5

    1. Complete the table by determining the values of total revenue, total cost, marginal revenue and margina cost.(2 marks)
    2. From the information in your table, how can the fammer determine the level of production at which profit is maximum?(1 mark)
    3. At the production level that yielded maximum profit, what was the value of each of the following?
       1. DAP fertiliser input(1 mark)
       2. Marginal revenue(1 mark)

SECTION C (40 marks)
Answer any two questions from this section in the spoces provided after question 21.

19.                          
    1. Explain six farming practices that destroy soil structure.(6 marks)
    2.                    
       1. State four functions of calcium in plant growth.(4 marks)
       2. State four disadvantages of using inorganic fertilisers in crop production.(4 marks)
    3. Describe six categories of pesticides based on mode of action.(6 marks)
20.                        
    1. Explain six cultural methods of soil and water conservation.(6 marks)
    2. Explain four environmental factors that influence effectiveness of herbicides.(8 marks)
    3. Describe six post-harvest practices for dry beans.(6 marks)
21.                    
    1.                          
       1. Describe the harvesting and marketing of bulb onions.(6 marks)
       2. State the precautions that should be observed when harvesting cotton.(4 marks)
    2. Explain five problems associated with agricultural credit.(5 marks)
    3. Explain five principles that govern the formation and functioning of farmer's co-operatives.(5 marks)

MARKING SCHEME

1.                      
   • Pasturalism;
   • Fish farming:
   • Apiculture;
   • Poultry rearing:
2.                  
   • Application of herbicides:
   • Mulching;
   • Timing cultivation;
   • Restricted cultivation to planting areas:
   • Cover cropping:
   • Uprooting/slashing:
3.                      
   • Strength of the pipes;
   • Amount of water to be conveyed;
   • Cost of the pipe;
   • Diameter/size of the pipe;
   • Durability:
   • Colour of the pipes;
4.                    
   • Springs;
   • Wells;
   • Boreholes;
5.                      
   • Manure crop may exhaust soil moisture at the expense of the main crop;
   • Nutrients are used by micro-organisms to decompose the green manure;
   • Green manure crops and food crops;
   • Decomposition takes long;
6.                              
   1.                        
      • Permanent goods inventory;
      • Consumable goods inventory
   2.                            
      • Determine the goods to acquire and replace;
      • Detect theft and loses on the farm;
      • Show assets owned by the farm;
7.                          
   1.                    
      • Suckers;
      • Crowns;
      • Slips;
   2.                          
      • High germination percentage;
      • Free from pests and diseases;
      • Suitable to the ecological conditions;
      • Free from physical damage;
      • True to type:
      • Clean;
8.                          
   • Minimize root damage during transplanting;
   • Easy to transport seedlings;
   • Seedlings establish faster;
   • Easy to control soil borne pests and diseases;
   • Allows transplanting to occur when conditions are suitable;
   • Easy to trim roots awaiting transplanting:
9.                    
   • Company may engage in monopolistic practices
   • In case of inefficiency, heavy losses occur;
   • Proceeds may only benefit the mother country of the company;
   • Poor management leads to labour and social problems;
10.                      
    • Bean aphids;
    • Bean bruchid;
    • American bollworm;
    • Bean fly:
    • Golden ring moth;
    • Bean thrips;
11.                
    1.                      
       • Lucerne;
       • Silver leaf desmodium;
       • Green leaf desmodium;
       • Stylo,
       • Kenya White Clover,
       • Purple vetch
    2.                      
       • Weed control;
       • Topping;
       • Over sowing with leguminous pastures:
       • Fertilizer application;
       • Irrigation;
       • Pest control;
12.                  
    1.                      
       • Purchase book;
       • Sales book;
    2.                          
       • Item description:
       • Cost per each item;
       • Quantity purchased;
       • Amount paid for each item;
       • Discount allowed;
13.                          
    • Participating in exhibitions at ASK shows!
    • Undertaking agricultural projects at school level;
    • Participating in YFC annual rallies;
    • Participating in national tree planting activities;
    • Involvement in exchange programmes;
    • Participations in national ploughing contests:
    • Involvement in workshops/seminars related to agriculture;
14.              
    1.                          
       • Practices of growing trees/shrubs together with crops/fodder crops and keeping livestock on the same piece of land;
    2.                    
       • Alley cropping:
       • Multi-sluring cropping,
       • Wood lots;
15.                
    1.                   
       • Stem cutting;
    2.                              
       • Top parts tend to rot when planted;
       • Bottom takes long to root;
    3.                                
       • Place it in water until it is planted to prevent dehydration.
       • Each cutting should have a leaf and a bud for photosynthesis and establishment respectively;
       • Use a sharp knife or blade to prevent breaking of the cutting:
       • Make slanting cuts to prevent accumulation of moisture;
16.                  
    1.                                                     
       1. Get rid of soil moisture;(1 mark) 
       2. Destroy soil organic matter,(1 mark)
    2. Water - Fresh soil - 40gms - 10gms
       = 30gms;
       - Dry soil - 35gms - 10gms
       = 25gms
       - Water = 30 - 25
       = 5gms
       % of water = 5 x 100 = 16.6667%;
                          30
       Organic matter - 25 - 22
       = 3gms
       % of organic matter =  3 x100
                                        30
       = 10%; (3 marks)
17.                          
    1. Transplanting:(1 mark)
    2. It ensures a seedling is lifted with a ball of soil around the roots;(1 mark)
    3. After 6 - 12 months;(1 mark) 
    4.                          
       • Watering before lifting the seedling:
       • Planting at the same depth it was in the nursery;
       • Shading:
       • Watering:
       • Mulching;
       • Protection;
18.                                  
    1.                                    
       

       DAP fertiliser input in 50kg bags	Maize yield in 90 kg bags	Total revenue KSh	Total cost KSh	Marginal revenue KSh	Marginal cost KSh
       0	15.0	45 000	0	0	0
       1	35.6	106 800	2500	61800	2500
       2	52.0	156 000	5000	49200	2500
       3	68.5	205 500	7500	49500	2500
       4	71.0	213 000	10000	7500	2500
       5	71.5	214 500	125000	1500	2500
       6	71.5	214 500	150000	0	2500
       7	68.5	205 500	175000	-9000	2500

       (2 mark)
    2.  At the stage where marginal revenue is equal or almost equal to marginal cost;(1 mark)
    3.                  
       1. 5 bags;(1 mark)
       2. KSh. 1500;(1 mark)
19.                          
    1.                                  
       • Use of heavy machinery creates hardpans;
       • Over cultivation which over pulverizes soil;
       • Cultivating very wet soil using heavy
       • Machinery creates hardpans;
       • Deforestation destroys soil cover,
       • Overstocking destroys soil cover;
       • Burning cracks the soil and destroys soil cover;
       • Continuous cropping over pulverizes soil;
    2.                            
       1.                            
          • Elongation of apical meristems;
          • Protein synthesis; 
          • Formation of middle lamellae .
          • Cell division;
          • Strengthens plant cell walls;
       2.                                
          • Easily leached;
          • Some have scotching effects;
          • Some are corrosive to users;
          • Some inhibit soil microbial activities; 
          • Some change/alter soil pH;
    3.                            
       • Stomach poisons which impair the digestive system of the pest;
       • Systematic poisons which spread to the entire body of the pest and impair it;
       • Contact poisons destroy the parts of the pest which come into contact with the pesticide;
       • Suffocants deprive the pest of air, - Anti-feedants impair the feeding mechanisms of the pest;
       • Repellants make the pest to avoid the plant;
20.                  
    1.                              
       • Grass strips/filter strips; These are narrow uncultivated strips along the contour left between cultivated strips.
       • Cover cropping; The establishment of a crop that spreads out over the surface of the soil to provide it with a cover.
       • Contour farming; Carrying out all land operations along the contour. 
       • Mulching; Covering of the soil with either organic or synthetic materials.
       • Crop rotation that involves the use of cover crops 
       • Correct spacing to ensure adequate soil cover 
       • Inter-cropping ensures the soil is adequately covered
       • Ridging/furrowing to prevent surface runoffs and accumulate water
       • Controlled grazing; Proper stocking rate, rotational grazing to ensure soil cover is not depleted.
       • Strip cropping; Growing crops which give little ground cover in alternate strips with crops such as beans which have a good ground cover.
       • Afforestation - growing of trees where non-existed.
       • Re-afforestation - growing of trees where they have been cut down.
       • Agroforestry - land use that involves the growing of trees in combination with crops and pastures on the same piece of land.
         6 x 1
    2.                    
       • Wind which deflects herbicides to unwanted areas;
       • Rain which may wash away the herbicide from the weeds;
       • Soil should be moist soak the herbicides to have prolonged effects on weeds;
       • Light should of high intensity to optimize the uptake of the herbicide;
       • Temperature should be optimum to ensure that the weeds are physiologically active;
         (4 x 1 factor)
         (4 x 1 explanation)
    3.                      
       • Threshing to seed seeds from pods;
       • Drying to reduce the moisture content of the seeds;
       • Cleaning to separate seeds from husks;
       • Sorting to separate the different qualities;
       • Grading to fix prices/value to the different qualities to facilitate marketing:
       • Dusting to protect the crop from storage pests;
       • Packaging in different units e.g. bags, packets, to facilitate storage and marketing:
21.        
    1.                                    
       1.                                
          • Harvested after 4 - 5 months/when leaks start to dry;
          • Bent the tops of the neck;
          • Dig up the bulbs;
          • Put the bulbs under shade to dry:
          • Turn the bulbs to ensure uniform drying;
          • Grade the bulbs according to size:
          • Put bulbs in slatted boxes;
          • Marketed in net bags;
       2.                        
          • Avoid mixing cotton with foreign matter; 
          • Do not pick when wet; 
          • Do not use sisal bags;
          • Pick balls that are fully open;
          • Use separate bags for the grades AR (Safi) and BR (Fifi);
    2.                                  
       • Lack of collaterals;
       • Diversion of loans to other uses;
       • High interest rates;
       • Assets used as collaterals may be auctioned for non-repayment;
       • Lack of knowledge/skills to manage finances;
       • Lack of proper record keeping;
    3.                                  
       • Open membership;
       • Equal rights;
       • Principle of share limit;
       • Interest on shares;
       • Withdrawal from membership:
       • Loyalty: Education;
       • Co-operative principle;
       • Non-profit motive;