GCE Agricultural Science 1989 past questions and answers

Peasant farmers sell almost all their produce immediately after harvesting because

1. A.stored produce would be lost to pests
2. B.there are inadequate storage facilities
3. C.stored produce lose their quality
4. D.the produce are perishable
5. E.the prices offered for stored produce are low.

The commonest method of land tenure in Nigeria is

1. A.lease
2. B.inheritance
3. C.outright purchase
4. D.pledge
5. E.state allocation.

Which of the following constitutes a direct monetary cash assistance from government to farmers?

1. A.Agricultural development programmes
2. B.Extension service
3. C.Supply of inputs
4. D.loans
5. E.Tractor hiring service.

The cross-section of a segment of soil showing the horizons or layers is known as the soil

1. A.structure
2. B.texture
3. C.section
4. D.depth
5. E.profile.

The factor that does not influence land use is

1. A.topography
2. B.population pressure
3. C.population graph
4. D.forest establishment
5. E.soil type

Which of the following environmental factors is likely to have the greatest influence on crop production in Nigeria?

1. A.Temperature
2. B.Vegetation
3. C.Air movement
4. D.Moisture
5. E.Pressure.

The process whereby rocks are broken down into small particles through both physical and chemical factors is known as

1. A.rock hydration
2. B.rock degradation
3. C.oxidation
4. D.erosion
5. E.weathering

The parent material of a soil is formed from the disintegration of

1. A.sand
2. B.gravel
3. C.silt
4. D.rock
5. E.organic matter.

Nitrogen is made available to plants in the form of nitrates through the process of

1. A.deamination and nitrification
2. B.ammonification and denitrification
3. C.deamination and ammonification
4. D.nitrification and denitrification
5. E.nitrification and ammonification.

Which of the following is not an effect of burning on the soil?

1. A.Increasing the organic matter in the soil
2. B.Increasing the soil nutrients
3. C.Increasing the acidity of the soil
4. D.Exposing the soil to erosion
5. E.Sterilization of the soil.

The functions of soil micro-organisms include the following except

1. A.decomposition of dead plant and animal remains
2. B.recycling of nutrient
3. C.causing plant or animal diseases
4. D.living as parasites on crop plants
5. E.filtration of soil water for plant use.

Slate is derived from

1. A.schist
2. B.sandstone
3. C.shale
4. D.gneiss.
5. E.quartzite

The following are advantages of the sprinkler method of irrigation except

1. A.rate of application of irrigation water can be controlled
2. B.portable nature of many sprinkler systems make them suitable for use
3. C.the sprinkler systems can be made automatic
4. D.method can be used where topography affects harrowing of land
5. E.method may be difficult for local farmers to use.

Rhizobium supplies nitrogen to leguminous plants by

1. A.changing some mineral salts to sulphate of ammonia
2. B.incorporating urea into its body
3. C.fixing atmospheric nitrogen
4. D.decomposing plant remains
5. E.Increasing the pH value of the soil.

The advantage of providing drainage ditches in farms is that it

1. A.requires periodic clearing
2. B.is inconvenient for farm mechanization
3. C.is labour intensive
4. D.is unsuitable for draining basement of farm buildings
5. E.is easily adopted by small scale farmers.

Which of the following sources of farm power cannot be effectively used for processing agricultural products?

1. A.Animals
2. B.Electricity
3. C.Sun
4. D.Machines
5. E.Wind.

The instrument used to measure the relative humidity is

1. A.thermometer
2. B.anemometer
3. C.hygrometer
4. D.hydrometer
5. E.rain gauge

The most important limitation of agricultural mechanization is

1. A.small holdings
2. B.lack of technical know-how
3. C.poor marketing system
4. D.inadequate storage facilities
5. E.pest attack.

The best tool(s) a farmer should use to measure out a large farm accurately include(s) the

1. A.garden line and measuring tape
2. B.measuring tape and ranging poles
3. C.measuring tape only
4. D.garden line only
5. E.ranging poles and garden line.

The distance between two successive yam mounds should be about

1. A.0.10 m
2. B.1.00 m
3. C.10.00 m
4. D.100.00 m
5. E.1000.00 m.

The desirable characteristics of forage crops include the following except

1. A.palatability
2. B.dependability
3. C.high yield
4. D.resistance to trampling
5. E.poor reproductive ability.

The growing of both forest and agricultural crops on the same piece of land is termed

1. A.mixed cropping
2. B.mixed farming
3. C.forestry
4. D.taungya system
5. E.poor reproductive ability.

Which of the following is not an effect on man of the various preventive and control measures of diseases and pests of crops?

1. A.Air pollution
2. B.Water poisoning
3. C.Food contamination
4. D.Poor health
5. E.Poor utilization.

The units of inheritance which determine the various characteristics of crops are called

1. A.chromosomes
2. B.nuclei
3. C.genes
4. D.cytoplasm
5. E.membranes.

Which of the following crops is a raw material for the production of chocolate?

1. A.Kolanut
2. B.Coffee
3. C.Banana
4. D.Cocoa
5. E.Avocado pear.

In the establishment of pastures, it is best to

1. A.plant only grasses
2. B.plant only legumes
3. C.plant a mixture of grasses and legumes
4. D.let the natural grasses grow
5. E.allow weeds to mix with the forage crops.

A forest established for watershed management will perform the following functions except

1. A.reducing water pollution
2. B.controlling fish population
3. C.controlling erosion
4. D.maintaining a steady stream flow
5. E.reducing evaporation.

The disease which most often attacks groundnut is called

1. A.rosette
2. B.mosaic
3. C.soft rot
4. D.powdery mildew
5. E.brown rot.

The process of meiosis in plants ensures the production of reproductive cells with

1. A.the same number of chromosomes like the parent plant
2. B.half the number of chromosomes of the parent plant
3. C.no chromosome unlike the parent plants
4. D.thrice the number of chromosomes of the parent plant
5. E.twice the number of chromosomes of the parent plant.

Why should a seed-producing farmer spray an insecticide on his crops only when the bees are not around?

1. A.The bees would sting him and he therefore avoids them
2. B.The farmer does not want to waste his chemicals
3. C.Bees are important for pollination of his crops
4. D.Bees produce honey for him in his farm
5. E.Bees are harmless insects.

The average seed rate for maize is 25 kg per hectare. Allowing for a seed wastage of 5 per cent, how many kilogram of seeds would be required in planting 10 hectares of farmland?

1. A.237.5
2. B.238.0
3. C.250.0
4. D.255.0
5. E.262.5.

Thrips cause serious mechanical damages to crops by their

1. A.feeding activities on flowers, leaves and fruits
2. B.laying eggs on plants
3. C.sucking of the sap of crops
4. D.burrowing activities causing damping off in crops
5. E.activities as vectors of bacterial diseases.

The expression of a gene in the phenotype irrespective of whether the cell is homozygous or heterozygous is known as

1. A.recessive
2. B.partial dominance
3. C.test-cross
4. D.segregation
5. E.dominance.

Vegetative propagation can be carried out through the following processes except

1. A.seedling
2. B.cutting
3. C.layering
4. D.grafting
5. E.budding.

Contact insecticides are used to control

1. A.pod borers of legumes
2. B.stem borers of cereal
3. C.leaf beetles of legumes
4. D.peel worm of legumes
5. E.bollworms of cotton.

The part of the ruminant stomach from which digestive juices are secreted is the

1. A.rumen
2. B.reticulum
3. C.omasum
4. D.paunch
5. E.abomasum.

At which of the following ages are gilts normally mated?

1. A.8 - 12 months
2. B.14 - 15 months
3. C.15 -20 months
4. D.21 -24 months
5. E.over 25 months.

Which of the following breeds of cattle is regarded as the best dairy breed in Nigeria?

1. A.Red Bororo
2. B.Keteku
3. C.Sokoto Gudali
4. D.Muturu
5. E.White Fulani.

The symptoms of vitamin deficiency diseases in livestock include the following except

1. A.scurvy
2. B.loss of appetite
3. C.poor blood clotting
4. D.improved fertility
5. E.rickets.

A protozoan disease of livestock not transmitted by a vector is

1. A.coccidiosis
2. B.babesiosis
3. C.trypanosomiasis
4. D.redwater
5. E.anaplasmosis.

The best method(s) of regulating fish capture is/are

1. A.gill netting and electro-fishing
2. B.quota and mesh-size control
3. C.beach seine method
4. D.active netting
5. E.passive netting.

Which of the following is not a factor of improvement in breeding cattle?

1. A.Fertility
2. B.Butter-fat percentage
3. C.Weaning weight
4. D.Feed efficiency
5. E.Back-fat thickness.

Which of the following is not a symptom of malnutrition in livestock?

1. A.Bloat
2. B.Night blindness
3. C.Milk fever
4. D.Infertility
5. E.Anaemia.

The act of giving birth in rabbits is known as

1. A.kidding
2. B.farrowing
3. C.kindling
4. D.calving
5. E.lambing.

The exotic breeds of rabbits found in Nigeria include the following except

1. A.New Zealand white
2. B.Chinchila
3. C.American Albino
4. D.Flemish Giant
5. E.Rhode Island Red.

Minerals such as contained in oyster shell help animals to

1. A.build up their body tissue
2. B.develop their bones and teeth
3. C.have balanced diet
4. D.develop immunity against deficiency diseases
5. E.increase their blood mineral content.

Some of the by-products of fish include the following except

1. A.fish meal
2. B.fish silage
3. C.glue
4. D.oil
5. E.leather.

The commonest ectoparasites of birds are

1. A.lice
2. B.fleas
3. C.ticks
4. D.mites
5. E.houseflies

The following factors should be considered when selecting a farm animal irrespective of the use management and cost except

1. A.heredity
2. B.age
3. C.health
4. D.fecundity
5. E.colour.

Which of the following is not a factor affecting fertility in farm animals?

1. A.Age
2. B.Ovulation rate
3. C.Number of ova fertilized
4. D.Number of offspring produced
5. E.Lactation rate.

Low fibre and high energy feeds are classified as

1. A.supplements
2. B.concentrates
3. C.roughages
4. D.additives
5. E.basal feeds.

Which of the following is not used for identification purpose in livestock?

1. A.Tattooing
2. B.Branding
3. C.Tagging
4. D.Notching
5. E.Shearing.

The factors that can predispose animals to diseases include the following except

1. A.poor housing
2. B.malnutrition
3. C.immunity
4. D.physical injuries
5. E.unfavourable weather.

The following are factors of agricultural production except

1. A.farmstead
2. B.land
3. C.labour
4. D.capital
5. E.management.

Use the graph to answer this question (DD is the demand of yam, SS is the supply of yam). Which of the following deduction is correct of the graph?

1. A.A change in price has a drastic effect on quantity demanded but does not affect quantity supplied
2. B.A change in price affects quantity demanded and supplied
3. C.A change in price does not affect quantity demanded but had drastic effect on supply
4. D.The quantity demanded or supplied does not change as prices change
5. E.The quantity demanded or supplied changes as price changes.

Which of the following is a day-to-day record of work on a farmer's farm?

1. A.Crop yield book
2. B.Labour diary
3. C.Farm inventory
4. D.Produce account
5. E.Profit and loss account.

Most farmers in Nigeria are hesitant in adopting new farming techniques because they

1. A.are poor and cannot afford to take risks
2. B.do not trust the extension worker
3. C.do not accept anything that comes from the government
4. D.are too old-fashioned to adopt new ideas
5. E.are afraid of the market instability

List and explain the four major systems of land tenure in Nigeria.

Write short notes on the following sources of farm power:
(a) Work animals
(b) Machine engines
(c) Water
(d) Sun.

(a) What is rock weathering?
(b) Enumerate three processes involved in rock weathering.
(c) List and discuss briefly the agents of two of these processes.

(a) Distinguish between irrigation and drainage.
(b) State and explain four systems of irrigation and two of drainage.

Describe briefly the economic importance and the control measures of the following:
(a) Stem borers of cereal
(b) Grain weevils of stored produce
(c) Cotton stainer
(d) Cassava mealy-bug

Write short notes on the following:
(a) Selective exploitation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Regeneration
(d) Afforestation

(a) Describe five factors required for establishing a fish pond.
(b) Enumerate six management practices for maintaining high fish yield.

Discuss rinderpest disease of livestock under the following sub-headings:
(a) Causal organism
(b) Transmission
(c) Symptoms
(d) Effects and economic importance
(e) Control

(a) What is meant by agricultural extension?
(b) Discuss briefly how the following can be used in disseminating new ideas and techniques to farmers in Nigeria:
(i) mass media
(ii) individual method
(iii) group method

(a) Define farm records and farm accounts.
(b) Give seven reasons for keeping such records.