GCE Agricultural Science 1990 past questions and answers

Subsistence farming can be appropriately described as planting of crops and rearing of livestock

1. A.for the benefit of the whole country
2. B.as export for earning foreign exchange
3. C.for the benefit of the community only
4. D.for the benefit of the farmer and his family
5. E.as raw materials for agro-based industries.

Which of the following is not the role of government in agricultural production?

1. A.Provision of loans and credits
2. B.Building of storage facilities
3. C.Establishment of efficient marketing outlets
4. D.Provision of subsidies
5. E.Provision of labour.

In encouraging farmers to produce more of a particular crop, the Nigerian government has helped farmers in marketing that crop through the establishment of

1. A.rural schools of agriculture
2. B.markets for the sale of crops
3. C.marketing boards
4. D.rural extension offices
5. E.universities of agriculture.

Which of the following factors affecting land availability and use is a socio-economic factor?

1. A.Population pressure
2. B.Soil type
3. C.Topography
4. D.Farming systems
5. E.Climate.

A crop not requiring more than 750 mm annual rainfall is most suitable for cultivation in

1. A.swampy forest
2. B.sahel savanna
3. C.rain forest
4. D.sudan savanna
5. E.guinea savanna.

The major factors influencing the physical or mechanical breakdown of rocks into finer particles include the following except

1. A.man
2. B.animal
3. C.wind
4. D.water
5. E.solution.

The equation KAlSi₃O₈ + H₂O → HAlSi₃O₈ + K⁺ + OH⁻ represents the process of chemical weathering called

1. A.hydrolysis
2. B.solution
3. C.carbonation
4. D.oxidation
5. E.hydration.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using organic manure on the soil?

1. A.Spreading of pests and diseases
2. B.Reducing the rate of evaporation from soil surfaces
3. C.Improving the nitrogen content of soil
4. D.Increasing the humus content of soil
5. E.Preventing erosion and leaching

By which of the following ways is the agricultural production in Nigeria affected by topography?

1. A.Lowering of crop quality
2. B.Determining the manure requirement of a farm
3. C.Lowering the level of production
4. D.Increasing the pest incidence on crops
5. E.Influencing the area of land actually available for agriculture.

Which of the following will not contribute to soil formation in Nigeria?

1. A.Carbonation
2. B.Oxidation
3. C.Temperature
4. D.Hydrolysis
5. E.Glaciation.

The type of soil formed is affected by the following factors except

1. A.farming systems
2. B.climate
3. C.vegetation
4. D.topography
5. E.parent material.

Which of the following is the function of Nitrosomonas in the nitrogen cycle?

1. A.Ammonification
2. B.Volatilization
3. C.Nitrification
4. D.Denitrification
5. E.Nitrogen fixation.

Which of the following farm practices does not have a very harmful effect on the soil?

1. A.Crop rotation
2. B.Land clearing
3. C.Overgrazing
4. D.Flooding.
5. E.Bush burning.

Soil can be drained by the use of the following except

1. A.sprinklers
2. B.channels
3. C.gutters
4. D.ditches
5. E.porous pipes.

What are give and take lines often used for in farm surveying?

1. A.Levelling measurements of farms
2. B.Chain measurements of farmlands
3. C.Measuring diversions or obstructions in a farmland
4. D.Measuring turning points during surveying
5. E.Measuring farms with irregular boundaries.

Which of the following is not a limitation of farm mechanization?

1. A.Technical know-how
2. B.Capital
3. C.Small holdings
4. D.Lack of spare parts
5. E.Labour.

Incubators are used to supply heat to

1. A.day-old chicks
2. B.sick fowls in cold weather
3. C.cockerels to increase their libido
4. D.poultry attendants for protection against cold
5. E.fertilized eggs for chick development.

Root knot of tomato is caused by a

1. A.Fungus
2. B.bacterium
3. C.virus
4. D.Protozoan
5. E.nematode

If the seed rate for guinea corn is 5.6 kg per hectare, what will be the amount of seeds required for planting 35 acre farm?

1. A.75.1
2. B.78.4
3. C.568.2
4. D.784.5
5. E.960.3

The most common weed of pastures in Nigeria is

1. A.spear grass
2. B.goat weed
3. C.water leaf
4. D.tridax
5. E.sida.

The following are forestry crops except

1. A.Tectona grandis
2. B.Gmelina arborea
3. C.Anarcadium
4. D.Pinus eliotis
5. E.Chlorophora excelsa.

The pest designated as a national pest by the Nigerian Agricultural Advisory Council is

1. A.Variegated grasshopper
2. B.Thrips
3. C.Capsid
4. D.Cricket.
5. E.Weevil.

Which of the following groups comprises only oil crops?

1. A.Groundnut, jute and cotton
2. B.Melon, coconut and sisal hemp
3. C.Coconut, cotton and sunflower
4. D.Sunflower, rubber and jute
5. E.Oil palm, sunflower and jute.

The mosaic symptom commonly associated with viral diseases of crops can be best observed on

1. A.roots
2. B.stem
3. C.leaves
4. D.fruits
5. E.flowers

Study the diagram (a cross between homozygous tall pea and homozygous dwarf pea, rows labelled I, II and III). The diagram explains the Mendel's law of

1. A.segregation
2. B.independent assortment
3. C.chromosomal mutation
4. D.homozygosity
5. E.heterozygosity.

Study the diagram (a cross between homozygous tall pea and homozygous dwarf pea, rows labelled I, II and III). The component labelled II are the

1. A.gametes
2. B.parents
3. C.f 1 generation
4. D.zygotes
5. E.phenotypes.

Study the diagram (a cross between homozygous tall pea and homozygous dwarf pea, rows labelled I, II and III). Which of the following is not true of the progenies labelled III? They are

1. A.the first filial generation
2. B.all tall pea plants
3. C.produced by a monohybrid cross
4. D.of the same genotype
5. E.different phenotypes.

Study the diagram (a cross between homozygous tall pea and homozygous dwarf pea, rows labelled I, II and III). If the individual crops obtained in III are crossed, the phenotypic ratio of tall to dwarf progenies would be

1. A.3 : 1
2. B.1 : 2 :1
3. C.2 : 1
4. D.1 : 2
5. E.4 : 0

Pests of crops that feed by piercing and sucking plants include the following except

1. A.stem borers
2. B.aphids
3. C.cocoa mirids
4. D.cotton stainers
5. E.cassava mealy bugs.

Maize grows best on

1. A.sandy soil
2. B.sandy-clay soil
3. C.clayey-loam soil
4. D.loamy soil
5. E.silty-clay soil.

Soil may be exposed to erosion when a pasture is

1. A.undergrazed
2. B.overgrazed
3. C.paddocked
4. D.weeded
5. E.fenced.

Taungya farm involves the combination of

1. A.crop and animal husbandry
2. B.crop husbandry and forestry
3. C.forestry and animal husbandry
4. D.crop husbandry and fish farming
5. E.forestry and fish farming.

The destructive effects of variegated grasshoppers are conspicuously observed on

1. A.cassava and yam crops
2. B.cocoa and citrus crops
3. C.cowpea and maize crops
4. D.maize and cassava crops
5. E.citrus and weeds.

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder with parts labelled i–vii). The site of milk synthesis and milk secretion is labelled

1. A.I
2. B.II
3. C.IV
4. D.V
5. E.VII

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder with parts labelled i–vii). Milk is discharged by attaching milking machine to the part labelled

1. A.II
2. B.III
3. C.IV
4. D.VI
5. E.VII

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder with parts labelled i–vii). The ducts that arise from the alveoli are labelled

1. A.II
2. B.III
3. C.IV
4. D.V
5. E.VI

A castrated male fowl is known as

1. A.cock
2. B.capon
3. C.cockerel
4. D.hen
5. E.broiler

The type of feed which contains the essential nutrients in the right concentrations and proportions is known as

1. A.growers mash
2. B.weaners diet
3. C.creep feed
4. D.concentrate
5. E.balance diet.

Which of the following is not a reason why planting a mixture of grass and legume on a pasture is economical to the farmer? The

1. A.mixture can harbour pests
2. B.mixture helps in preventing soil erosion
3. C.farmer will save on fertilizer
4. D.mixture provides a balanced feed for livestock
5. E.mixture increases the rate of production of livestock.

The parts of the body affected by Newcastle disease of poultry are the

1. A.digestive and circulatory systems
2. B.reproductive and excretory tracts
3. C.nervous system and respiratory tract
4. D.air-sac and the comb
5. E.comb and the legs.

A fish pond is an enclosed body of water for

1. A.rearing fish for consumption
2. B.rearing aquatic organisms for feeding fish
3. C.storing fish and other organisms
4. D.keeping ornamental fish and aquatic plants
5. E.rearing fish and other aquatic mammals.

The breed of goat noted for its production of high quality Morocco leather is the

1. A.West African dwarf
2. B.Kano brown
3. C.Ouda
4. D.Bornu red
5. E.Sokoto red

Which of the following is not a source of minerals in animal nutrition?

1. A.Green pastures
2. B.Fish meal
3. C.Blood meal
4. D.Cereal
5. E.Palm oil.

The following are all leguminous forage crops except

1. A.Centrosema pubescens
2. B.Vigna sinensis
3. C.Stylosanthes gracilis
4. D.Panicum Maximum
5. E.Pueraria phaseoloides.

Which of the following livestock diseases is transmitted by ticks?

1. A.Red water
2. B.Coccidiosis
3. C.Aspergillosis
4. D.Trypanosomiasis
5. E.Brucellosis.

Dissolved oxygen in fish ponds is maintained at normal level in order to

1. A.accelerate decay of plant materials
2. B.prevent disease attacks
3. C.prevent acquatic plants from competing with fish
4. D.keep fish activities normal
5. E.improve the quality of fish.

Which of the following is not a quality for selecting livestock?

1. A.Feed consumption
2. B.Egg production
3. C.Mortality rate
4. D.Body weight
5. E.Litter size.

Investments with long life span in agricultural economics are otherwise known as

1. A.labour
2. B.entrepreneurship
3. C.savings deposit
4. D.profit
5. E.capital.

Under normal circumstances, the concept of consumer sovereignty in agriculture implies that

1. A.the consumer and not the farmer determines what to produce
2. B.both the farmer and the consumer determine what to produce
3. C.the consumer and not the farmer owns the means of production
4. D.the environmental factors determine what to produce
5. E.the farmers determine what to produce.

Agricultural credits given to farmers in form of cash are used by the farmer to

1. A.disseminate the latest technique in farming
2. B.implement new policies
3. C.investigate the cause of low agricultural production
4. D.make the total cash value of his crops greater than his expenses
5. E.pay for expenses in his farming business.

Farm records and account help the farmer to

1. A.manage his farm as a business
2. B.repair his tools and machinery
3. C.transport his crop to the market
4. D.be less dependent on farming for an income
5. E.adopt modern techniques of farming.

The disbanded produce marketing boards in Nigeria dealt with the following commodities except

1. A.oil palm
2. B.rubber
3. C.cocoa
4. D.groundnut
5. E.yam.

Discuss eight problems of agricultural development in Nigeria and suggest one possible solution to each of the problems.

(a)(i) What is farm surveying? (ii) Outline the importance of farm surveying.
(b) List and discuss four survey equipment commonly used in the farm.

(a) Mention two major elements of climate.
(b) Discuss six ways by which climate and vegetation influence soil formation.

(a) Explain the term soil structure and state its importance in agriculture.
(b) State four properties each of clay and sandy soil.

In a tabular form, discuss cocoa, yam and millet production under the following sub-headings:
(a) climatic requirement
(b) soil requirement
(c) cultural practices
(d) method of propagation

(a) State the laws of Mendel.
(b) Discuss three advantages and two disadvantages of (i) introduction (ii) selection in crop improvement.

(a) What is rangeland?
(b) Discuss seven practices of management and improvement of rangeland.

Explain how each of the following practices can bring about high fish yield from a fish pond:
(a) deweeding
(b) desilting
(c) supplementary feeding
(d) fertilization.

Enumerate eight functions of an extension agent in the life of a rural farmer.

(a) Explain the meaning of agricultural finance and agricultural credit.
(b) Name six sources of agricultural credit available to the small-scale farmer.
(c) Mention six problems associated with agricultural credit.