WAEC Agricultural Science 1998 past questions and answers

Customary land tenure system in Nigeria encourages

1. A.ownership of large farmlands
2. B.fragmentation of lands
3. C.shifting cultivation
4. D.commercial farming
5. E.free hold to any land.

Wastage of agricultural products during harvesting period is due mainly to inadequate

1. A.transport facilities
2. B.storage and processing facilities
3. C.agricultural education and extension
4. D.implementation of government policies on agriculture
5. E.agricultural financing.

The provision of farm inputs to farmers by the government can best be described as

1. A.loan
2. B.capital
3. C.credit
4. D.subsidy
5. E.gift.

Which of the following uses of land should be given more attention in Nigeria for self sufficiency in food production?

1. A.Construction of roads
2. B.Building of research centres
3. C.Establishment of wildlife
4. D.Establishment of agriculture and forestry
5. E.Construction of fish ponds.

High fertility, good topography, good drainage and good soil texture and structure are characteristics of a land meant for

1. A.wildlife
2. B.forestry
3. C.pastoral farming
4. D.fish farming
5. E.agriculture.

The effects of high environmental temperature on dairy cows include the following except

1. A.fever
2. B.high feed intake
3. C.high water intake
4. D.low milk production
5. E.restlessness.

Which of the following does not fit into the agricultural use of land?

1. A.Mining
2. B.Forest establishment
3. C.Crop production
4. D.Animal production
5. E.Fish production.

Gneiss is a metamorphic rock formed from

1. A.sandstone
2. B.slate
3. C.shale
4. D.clay
5. E.granite.

The components of soil include the following except

1. A.living organisms
2. B.moisture
3. C.mineral matter
4. D.humus
5. E.light.

Which of the following is an organic manure?

1. A.Lime
2. B.Basic slag
3. C.Ammonium nitrate
4. D.Super phosphate
5. E.Compost.

Which of the following is not a property of clay soil? It

1. A.is heavy
2. B.has low capillarity
3. C.contains little pore spaces
4. D.hardens and cakes when dry
5. E.has high plasticity.

The particle size of silt is

1. A.above 2 mm
2. B.0.2 mm -2 mm
3. C.0.02 mm -0.2 mm
4. D.0.002 mm -0.02 mm
5. E.below 0.002 mm.

If the percentage of nitrogen in ammonium sulphate fertilizer is 20%, calculate the amount of nitrogen in 500 kg of the fertilizer

1. A.20 kg
2. B.40 kg
3. C.50 kg
4. D.100 kg
5. E.250 kg.

Fruit formation in plants may be delayed by excessive availability of

1. A.nitrogen
2. B.phosphorus
3. C.carbon
4. D.sulphur
5. E.molybdenum.

The system of irrigation whereby water is introduced as a sheet over farmland is referred to as

1. A.shadoof
2. B.channel
3. C.flooding
4. D.underground
5. E.drip.

The major advantage of drainage in agriculture is

1. A.promoting growth of micro-organisms
2. B.supplying adequate nutrient to the soil
3. C.removing excess water from the soil
4. D.aiding decomposition of materials in the soil
5. E.making aeration of the soil very difficult.

Which of the following groups of farm equipment use electricity as their source of power?

1. A.Milking machine, incubator and refrigerator
2. B.Incubator, sprayer, refrigerator, and water pump
3. C.Planter, milking machine and sprayer
4. D.Sprayer, incubator and harvester
5. E.Harvester, milking machine, planter and incubator.

Combine harvester is usually used for harvesting

1. A.pepper
2. B.rice
3. C.tomato
4. D.rubber
5. E.groundnut

One hectare of a school farm equals

1. A.1000 cm²
2. B.1000 m²
3. C.10,000 cm²
4. D.10,000m²
5. E.100,000m²

In a farm lay-out the best site for a fish pond is

1. A.a steep slope
2. B.an undulating land
3. C.a flat land
4. D.a gently sloping valley
5. E.a hill top.

Which of these groups of crops require nursery for their successful cultivation?

1. A.Rice, maize, pepper and okro
2. B.Cassava, guinea corn, tomato and cowpea
3. C.Tomato, orange, soya bean and rice
4. D.Cocoa, orange, tomato and oil palm
5. E.Yam, mango, cassava and pineapple.

Which of the following crops is propagated by suckers?

1. A.Pineapple
2. B.Citrus
3. C.Tobacco
4. D.Mango
5. E.Carrot.

If cassava is planted at a spacing of 1 m x 1 m, what will be the plant population on 1 hectare of land?

1. A.10,000
2. B.5,000
3. C.1,000
4. D.500
5. E.100.

Which of the following is obtained from rubber tree?

1. A.Fibre
2. B.Latex
3. C.Sisal
4. D.Silk
5. E.Gum.

What is the main difference between forage and fodder crops? Forage crops are

1. A.fresh while fodder crops are dry
2. B.grasses and legumes while fodder crops are legumes only
3. C.preserved forms of grasses and legumes
4. D.more nutritious than fodder crops
5. E.grazed while the fodder crops are fed.

Which of the following pasture grasses can be propagated mainly by roots and seeds?

1. A.Spear grass
2. B.Giant star grass
3. C.Bahama grass
4. D.Gamba grass
5. E.Guinea grass.

A stoloniferous grass which spreads rapidly and forms a good ground cover is

1. A.Andropogon gayanus
2. B.Andropogon tectorum
3. C.Cynodon plectostachyus
4. D.Panicum maximum
5. E.Pennisetum purpureum.

The act of clearing forests is termed

1. A.regeneration
2. B.afforestation
3. C.deforestation
4. D.silviculture
5. E.forest management.

A major raw material of the paper industry is

1. A.pulp
2. B.gum
3. C.latex
4. D.bark
5. E.dye.

The system of growing arable crops at the early stage of forest establishment is referred to as

1. A.selective exploitation
2. B.regeneration
3. C.afforestation
4. D.taungya system
5. E.forest regulation.

The physiological changes that show up during disease attack on crop plants are referred to as

1. A.signs
2. B.symptoms
3. C.necrosis
4. D.deformations
5. E.abnormalities.

The major pest of maize in Southern Nigeria is called

1. A.budworm
2. B.stem borer
3. C.leaf worm
4. D.aphid
5. E.mealy bug.

Which of the following insect pests of crops is usually controlled by fumigation?

1. A.Bean weevil
2. B.Capsid bug
3. C.Cotton stainer
4. D.Grasshopper
5. E.Yam beetle.

Gummosis is caused by a

1. A.fungus
2. B.virus
3. C.bacterium
4. D.nematode
5. E.protozoan.

Which of the following is not true about the aims of crop improvement? Production of

1. A.high yielding variety of cowpea
2. B.disease resistant varieties of citrus
3. C.thick pericarp and rich oil palm fruits
4. D.tall growing leafy varieties of maize
5. E.fast growing rice with early fruiting.

Which of the following is the correct function of the gizzard?

1. A.Food storage
2. B.Absorption of digested food
3. C.Grinding of food
4. D.Food softening
5. E.Stimulating enzymatic actions on food.

The correct sequence of the components of a goat's stomach is

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

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder, parts labelled I to VI). The part labelled I is the

1. A.alveolus
2. B.duct
3. C.gland cistern
4. D.teat cistern
5. E.streak canal

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder, parts labelled I to VI). The teat is labelled

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

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder, parts labelled I to VI). Milk is synthesised and secreted at the part labelled

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

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder, parts labelled I to VI). The organ is attached to the body of animal by the

1. A.nerves
2. B.bones
3. C.skin
4. D.ligaments
5. E.lumph glands.

Use the diagram (section of a cow's udder, parts labelled I to VI). Milk passes out of the alveoli to the gland cistern through the part labelled

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

Rabbits are kept in

1. A.hutches
2. B.cages
3. C.food boxes
4. D.pens
5. E.paddocks

A castrated male pig is called a

1. A.boar
2. B.barrow
3. C.gilt
4. D.sow
5. E.swine

Layers mash should contain a high percentage of

1. A.iron
2. B.calcium
3. C.iodine
4. D.fluorine
5. E.sulphur

Which of the following symptoms occurs when there is deficiency of iron and copper in livestock rations?

1. A.Rickets
2. B.Scaly skin
3. C.Reduced growth rate
4. D.Anaemia
5. E.Lameness.

The methods of rangeland management include the following except

1. A.overgrazing
2. B.good irrigation schedule
3. C.rotational grazing
4. D.fertilizer application
5. E.roguing of pastures.

A miracidium is a larval stage of a

1. A.tapeworm
2. B.liver fluke
3. C.trypanosome
4. D.tick
5. E.roundworm

The foot and mouth disease of cattle is caused by a

1. A.virus
2. B.bacterium
3. C.fungus
4. D.nematode
5. E.protozoan.

Which of the following is most ideal when a cow dies due to anthrax disease?

1. A.Bury or burn the carcass of the dead animal immediately
2. B.Slaughter all other animals in the herd
3. C.Cull the close relations of the dead animal
4. D.Fumigate all pens
5. E.Perform a post mortem examination on the dead animal.

The depth of a fish pond depends on the

1. A.location
2. B.landscape
3. C.type of fish to be reared
4. D.age of fish
5. E.purpose of keeping the fish.

Cow dung is usually added to a fish pond in order to encourage the growth of

1. A.lichen and mosses
2. B.phytoplankton and zooplankton
3. C.celosia and amaranthus
4. D.shallot and lily
5. E.lettuce and cabbage.

The mating of different breeds of animals is known as

1. A.out breeding
2. B.cross-breeding
3. C.line-breeding
4. D.in-breeding
5. E.back-crossing

Which of the following types of labour is commonly used in peasant agriculture?

1. A.Skilled
2. B.Casual
3. C.Migratory
4. D.Family
5. E.Co-operative.

The quantity of food crop available for sale at the current market price over a period of time is known as

1. A.demand
2. B.joint supply
3. C.supply
4. D.competitive demand
5. E.surplus.

The source of farm credit which is interest-free is

1. A.a commercial bank
2. B.an agricultural and co-operative bank
3. C.a money lender
4. D.a co-operative society
5. E.self financing

A motorised sprayer was purchased at N2,000.00 and sold at N1,000.00 after 5 years. Calculate the annual depreciation of the sprayer.

1. A.N100.00
2. B.N200.00
3. C.N300.00
4. D.N400.00
5. E.N500.00

Which of the following gives the proper channel of agricultural marketing?

1. A.Producer → wholesaler → retailer → consumer
2. B.Producer → consumer → retailer → wholesaler
3. C.Producer → retailer → wholesaler → consumer
4. D.Producer → wholesaler → consumer → retailer
5. E.Producer → retailer → consumer → wholesaler.

The problems encountered by extension agents in the discharge of their duties include the following except

1. A.poor transportation
2. B.communication problem
3. C.inadequate extension tools
4. D.inadequate farm labour
5. E.farmer's low level of education.

(a) Discuss briefly four ways in which any three of the following government agricultural programmes have contributed to the agricultural development of Nigeria. (i) Agricultural Development Projects. (ii) Farm Settlement Scheme. (iii) Co-operative Farming. (iv) River Basin and Rural Development Authorities. (v) Agricultural Research Institutes.
(b) List four agro-based industries in Nigeria and state the raw materials used in each industry.

(a) Explain the term farm mechanisation.
(b) State seven advantages and seven disadvantages of farm mechanisation.

(a) Explain briefly four factors of soil formation.
(b) List four chemical processes in the weathering of rocks.

Write short notes on the following:
(a) bush burning.
(b) clean clearing.
(c) organic manuring.

Describe briefly the production of cocoa under the following headings:
(a) method of propagation.
(b) climatic and soil requirements.
(c) nursery requirement
(d) maturity period.
(e) method of harvesting.
(f) two major diseases and their control.

(a) State three effects of maize weevil on maize grains.
(b) Explain briefly five general control measures of insect pests of grains in storage.
(c) Name the vector for each of the following crop diseases: (i) groundnut rosette. (ii) maize streak. (iii) cassava mosaic.

(a) State seven reasons for good housing in poultry management.
(b) Describe briefly nine essential features of a poultry deep litter house.

(a) Explain the term ration.
(b) Name four classes of livestock feed and list two characteristics of each class.
(c) Distinguish between maintenance and production rations.

(a) List four marketing agents for agricultural products.
(b) Discuss briefly four importance of middlemen in agricultural marketing.
(c) Outline eight problems of agricultural marketing in Nigeria.

Explain briefly the following terms in farm management:
(a) farm valuation.
(b) cash analysis account
(c) profit and loss account.
(d) balance sheet.