AGRICULTURE PAPER 1 - KCSE 2019 STAREHE PRE MOCK EXAMINATION (WITH MARKING SCHEME)

SECTION A (30marks).
Answer all Questions in this section.

1. State two advantages of organic farming. (2mks)
2. Name two ways through which government policies influence agriculture positively. (2mks)
3. State two ways through which living organisms influence soil formation. (2mks)
4. State two reasons of rolling in millet production. (2mks)
5. List two advantages of using certified seeds in crop propagation. (2mks)
6. State three importance of drainage in production of crops. (3mks)
7. State two advantages of green manure.                         (2mks)
8. State three concepts of agricultural economics. (3mks)
9. Given that a maize plantation measures 40m x 30m, and the maize plants are planted at a spacing of 75m x 25 cm. Calculate the plant population in the piece of land. (2mks)

10. State two precautions observed when harvesting pyrethrum. (2mks)
11. State two causes of river-bank erosion. (2mks)
12. State two advantages of biological weed control methods. (2mks)
13. List two advantages of individual land ownership tenure. (2mks)
14. State two advantages of land consolidation. (2mks)

SECTION B (20 MARKS)
Answer all questions in B.

15. Study the diagram below and answer the questions that follow.
    
    
    1. Identify the crop pest shown above. (1mk)
    2. State two methods used to control the pest above. (2mks)
    3. Name three effects of the pest on tomato production. (3mks)
16. study the diagrams and answer the questions below
    
    
    1. Identify the diagrams above. (2mks)
    2. Name a crop that can be propagated using the method shown in A above.   (1mk)
    3. State two factors that would make a farmer choose method B for propagating crops instead of method A.     (2mks)
    4. State the reason why the part labelled X in A above should be cut in a slanting manner. (1mk)
    5. State one reason why the following practices should be done to the vegetative material labeled A.
       1. When planting leaves should not touch the soil.   (1mk)
       2. The materials should be placed in water until when they are planted. (1mk)
17. Study the diagrams and answer the questions that follow.  
            
    1. Identify the weeds labeled A, B and C above. (3mks)
    2. Name one reason that makes it hard to control each of the weeds named above. (3mks)

SECTION C (40 marks)
Answer only two questions in this section

18.  
    1. Explain six cultural methods used to control weeds in a farm. (12mks)
    2. Explain four factors to consider when selecting planting materials. (8mks)

19.  
    1. Explain five factors that influence soil erosion on an area.                                     (10mks)
    2. Describe five cultural methods a farmer can use to control crop pests. (10mks)

20.  
    1. Explain four methods that determine the number of times secondary cultivation should be done on a piece of land.            (8mks)
    2. Explain six reasons that would make a farmer carry out drainage on a piece of land. (12mks)

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A 30MKS

1. Advantages of organic farming
   - is environmentally friendly
   - products do not have inorganic chemical residues 2x1=2mks

2. Ways in which government policies influence Agriculture positively.
   - stepping up the control of diseases and parasites
   - subsiding the costs of growing of locally produced commodities
   - quality control etc.                 2x1=2mks

3. ways in which living organisms influence soil formation.
   - they bring about decomposition of organic matter in the soil into humus.
   - take part in soil aeration and make soil loose
   - some damage crops
   - others help in nitrogen fixation                 2x1=2mks

4. Reasons of rolling in millet production
   - prevent soil erosion (wind erosion)
   - to increase seed – soil contact. 2x1 = 2mks

5. Advantages of using certified seeds in crop propagation
   - have high germination potential
   - free from diseases and pest
   -give high yields                         2x1=2mks

6. Importance of drainage in production of crops.
   - increase soil aeration
   - increase soil volume
   - raise soil temperature
   - increase microbial activities
   -reduce soil erosion
   -Remove toxic substance.             3x1 = 3mks

7. Advantages of green manure
   - supplies organic matter to the soil
   -improves the activities of soil micro-organisms
   - reduce soil erosion by soil coverage
   - legumes used fixes nitrogen in the soil              2x1=2mks

8. Concepts of agricultural economics.
   - preference and choice
   - scarcity
   -opportunity cost
9.  
   

10. Precautions observed when harvesting pyrethrum.
    - handle flowers carefully to avoid damage
    - do not pick wet flowers
    - use woven baskets to avoid premature fermentation of flowers. 2x1 =2mks

11. Causes of river bank erosion.
    - cultivation near the riverbanks
    - increase in water volume
    - materials carried by the water.               2x1 = 2mks

12. Advantages of biological weed control methods.
    - it saves labour
    - cheap compared to the other methods of weed control
    - does not pollute the environment         2x1 =2mks

13. Advantages of individual land ownership tenure.
    - creates the incentive to a farmer to conserve and improve land
    - farmer can use his/her tittle deed to obtain loans
    - owner has a freedom to do what he/she wants with the farm as long as it is legal 2x1 =2mks

14. advantages of land consolidation
    - there is proper supervision of land
    - it saves time and transport costs
    - one can draw a sound farm plan
    - good soil and water conservation measures are carried out
    - there is farm mechanization
    - there is construction of permanent structures by the farmer.
    
    SECTION B 20MKS
15.  
    1. American bollworm     1x1 = 1mk
    2. control method
       - spray the crop (tomatoes) with insecticides
       - crop rotation
       -early planting
       - field hygiene etc.           2x1 = 2mks
    3. Effects of pests on tomatoes production
       - lower the quality of the fruits
       - reduce the yields
       - increase cost of production
       - transmit diseases.                       3x1 = 3mks
16.  
    1. A-stem cutting /scion
       B- tip layering
    2. Crop that can be propagated using the above methods
       A – tea                                                                                   1x1= 1mk
    3. Factors that make a farmer choose method B for propagating crops instead of method A.
       - when cutting do not root easily.
       - when a large cutting material is required               2x1 = 2mks
    4. Reason why the part labeled X in A above should be cut slanting.
       -to avoid accumulation of water that may cause rotting of the cutting.   1x1 –mk
       -to avoid rotting
       -to avoid dehydration / drying 1x1 =1mk
17.  
    1. A - coach grass
       B – oxalis
       C – double thorn               3x1 =3mks
    2. A – presence of underground rhizomes
       B – presence of underground bulbs
       C - Irritating the workers/ piercing the working persons   3x1 = 3mks
       
       SECTION C 40MKS
18.  
    1. Cultural methods used to control weeds in a farm.
       • Mulching
       • Cover cropping
       • Crop rotation
       • Timely planting
       • Use of clean planting material
       • Proper spacing                                   mark any six explained
       • Clean seedbed
       • Flooding
       • Proper fertilizer placement           6x2 = 12mks
    2. Factors to consider when selecting planting materials
       • purity of the material
       • Germination percentage
       • Certified seeds
       • Suitability to the ecological conditions 4x2 = 8mks
19.  
    1. Factors that influence soil erosion on an area.
       • Soil type in an area
       • Soil depth in the area
       • Presence /absence of vegetation cover
       • Overstocking an area
       • The slope of the land
       • Intensity of rainfall in the area
       • Indiscriminate burning of vegetation
       • Deforestation
       • Ploughing up/down slope
       • Clean weeding                                  5 x2 = 10mks
    2. Cultural methods of controlling crop pests.
       -field hygiene
       -planting resistant crop varieties
       - crop rotation
       - trap cropping
       - proper tillage
       -Timely planting
       -Timely harvesting
       -Clean planting materials                 5 x 2 = 10mks
20.  
    1. factors influencing the number of doing secondary cultivation
       • size of planting material
       • slope of the land
       • soil moisture content
       • Condition of soil after primary cultivation           4x2 = 8mks
    2. Reasons of carrying out drainage
       • to improve aeration of the soil
       • to raise soil temperature
       • to reduce soil erosion
       • to remove toxic materials from the soil eg salts.
       • to improve microbial activities eg decomposition.
       • to increase the volume of the soil.   6 x2 =12mks