WAEC Agricultural Science 2016 past questions and answers

Which of the following suggestions would solve transportation problems associated with agriculture?

1. A.Establishment of tractor hiring units
2. B.Efficient railway system
3. C.Establishment of car hire units
4. D.Provision of extension services

Which of the following statements is not correct about agriculture in most West African countries? It provides

1. A.employment.
2. B.fuel.
3. C.food.
4. D.income.

The document given to a farmer on acquiring a piece of land from government is called

1. A.certificate of purchase.
2. B.receipt of ownership.
3. C.certificate of occupancy.
4. D.receipt of lease.

The diagram below shows some parts of a plough.
The part labelled I in the diagram is the

1. A.hitch.
2. B.handle.
3. C.plough share.
4. D.mouldboard.

The diagram below shows some parts of a plough.
The part labelled II is the

1. A.wheel.
2. B.plough share.
3. C.handle.
4. D.mouldboard.

The diagram below shows some parts of a plough.
Which of the following functions is not associated with the part labelled I?

1. A.Inverting of furrow slice
2. B.Cutting through soil
3. C.Pulverizing of the slice in some ploughs
4. D.Enabling the plough to roll over obstacles

The diagram below shows some parts of a plough.
The function of the part labelled II is that it

1. A.makes vertical cuts.
2. B.makes horizontal cuts.
3. C.inverts the furrow slice.
4. D.removes mud that clings to the disc.

The surveying instrument used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles is called

1. A.theodolite.
2. B.Gunter's chain.
3. C.offset staff.
4. D.arrow.

Crop rotation is often used in maintaining soil fertility because

1. A.all crops grown, add nutrient to the soil.
2. B.some of the crops fix nitrogen in the soil.
3. C.crops grown are ploughed into the soil.
4. D.the crops are rotated on different farmlands.

Land is said to be a fixed asset in Agriculture. This means that

1. A.its features and topography are fixed.
2. B.soil nutrients and its vegetative cover can be replaced.
3. C.its size remains fixed over time.
4. D.its micro organic composition is constant over time.

The most limiting factor affecting land availability for agriculture in urban settlements is

1. A.soil type.
2. B.topography.
3. C.climate.
4. D.population pressure.

Rhizobium supplies nitrogen to leguminous plants by

1. A.incorporating urea into their bodies.
2. B.fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.
3. C.decomposing plant and animal remains.
4. D.decreasing the pH value of the soil.

An example of igneous rock is

1. A.granite.
2. B.limestone.
3. C.coal.
4. D.sandstone.

In chemical weathering of rocks, the equation Fe₂O₃ + 3H₂O → Fe₂O₃.3H₂O represents

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

Which of the following statements is a disadvantage of decaying organic matter in soils?

1. A.Bacterial and fungal growth is enhanced
2. B.Minerals in organic matter are released into the soil
3. C.Physical condition of soil is enhanced
4. D.Water-holding capacity of soil is improved

Lost soil nutrients can be replenished by the following methods except

1. A.organic manuring.
2. B.fertilizer application.
3. C.continuous grazing.
4. D.cover cropping.

In the carbon cycle, carbondioxide in the air may be replenished by

1. A.respiration.
2. B.transpiration.
3. C.lightning.
4. D.denitrification.

Irrigation can be described as the

1. A.reduction of soil water.
2. B.spraying of minerals on plants.
3. C.application of dissolved fertilizers to the soil.
4. D.application of water to the soil.

Which of the following conditions is a characteristic of a poorly drained soil?

1. A.Presence of a large number of termites
2. B.Presence of high amount of humus
3. C.Decrease in the activities of microorganisms
4. D.High soil fertility and productivity

The process of removing excess maize seedlings from a stand is known as

1. A.pruning.
2. B.supplying.
3. C.thinning.
4. D.weeding.

Study the diagram below.
The farm tool associated with the diagram above is the

1. A.knife.
2. B.secateurs.
3. C.shears.
4. D.cutlass.

Study the diagram below.
The crop associated with the diagram above is

1. A.Theobroma cacao.
2. B.Zingiber officinale.
3. C.Hevea brasiliensis.
4. D.Gossypium hirsutum.

Which of the following crops requires shade at the early stage of its growth?

1. A.Plantain
2. B.Banana
3. C.Cocoa
4. D.Sugarcane

Which of the following plants is not a leguminous forage?

1. A.Centrosema pubescens
2. B.Panicum maximum
3. C.Stylosanthes gracilis
4. D.Calopogonium mucunoides

The process of crossing two pure lines of plants of the same species is called

1. A.selection.
2. B.genotype improvement.
3. C.hybridization.
4. D.inbreeding.

Pure lines of crops are produced through continuous

1. A.selection.
2. B.hybridization.
3. C.cross breeding.
4. D.inbreeding.

Quarantine regulations are established so as to

1. A.allow the importation of diseased plant and animal materials.
2. B.prevent the introduction of foreign diseases into a country.
3. C.assist farmers to grow foreign crops.
4. D.facilitate the rapid spread of foreign diseases.

The most effective method of controlling viral diseases in crops is by

1. A.spraying with Bordeaux mixture.
2. B.removing and burning affected crops.
3. C.practising crop rotation.
4. D.planting at recommended spacing.

Which of the following insects transmits swollen shoot virus of Cocoa?

1. A.Stem borer
2. B.Mealybug
3. C.White fly
4. D.Capsid

The use of parasites and predators to control weeds is referred to as

1. A.biological control.
2. B.chemical control.
3. C.cultural control.
4. D.mechanical control.

Forest resources can be managed by the following measures except

1. A.taungya farming.
2. B.selective exploitation.
3. C.promoting deforestation.
4. D.preventing bush burning.

The continuous removal of forest trees without replacement is known as

1. A.afforestation.
2. B.taungya farming.
3. C.deforestation.
4. D.selective exploitation.

A farm animal which possesses a pair of caeca is

1. A.pig.
2. B.fowl.
3. C.sheep.
4. D.cattle.

Oestrogen in female animals is not responsible for

1. A.development of secondary sexual characteristics.
2. B.onset of heat period.
3. C.milk let-down after parturition.
4. D.development of udder.

A beef cow gained 75 kg over a period of two months and two-days. What is its average weight gain?

1. A.0.83 kg
2. B.1.21 kg
3. C.1.28 kg
4. D.2.25 kg

A disadvantage of natural incubation is that

1. A.the eggs cannot be candled.
2. B.the chicks are less healthy.
3. C.the brooding hens sometimes abandon the eggs.
4. D.it takes a longer time for eggs to hatch.

Ruminants fed on dried grasses are given feed supplements to

1. A.increase water intake.
2. B.provide bulk to feed.
3. C.reduce microbial activity.
4. D.provide deficient nutrients.

Which of the following animal diseases is not associated with malnutrition?

1. A.Aspergillosis
2. B.Acidosis
3. C.Milk fever
4. D.Rickets

The botanical name of Northern gamba grass is

1. A.Cynodon dactylon.
2. B.Panicum maximum.
3. C.Pennisetum purpureum.
4. D.Andropogon gayanus.

The cut and carry system of feeding livestock is termed

1. A.rotational grazing.
2. B.zero grazing.
3. C.mixed grazing.
4. D.controlled grazing.

The cattle disease which is likely to be most common in the forest belt of West Africa is

1. A.foot and mouth.
2. B.trypanosomiasis.
3. C.anthrax.
4. D.tuberculosis.

Ecto-parasites can be controlled by

1. A.administering antibodies to host.
2. B.administering antibiotics to host.
3. C.dipping of host.
4. D.deworming of host.

Cropping in fish farming is the act of

1. A.stocking fish.
2. B.processing fish.
3. C.harvesting fish.
4. D.feeding fish.

Determine the price elasticity of demand if the price of yam tuber rises by 10% (0.1) and the quantity demanded falls by 5% (0.05).

1. A.0.5
2. B.0.4
3. C.0.3
4. D.0.1

Most farm businesses fail because of

1. A.death of the manager.
2. B.lack of capital.
3. C.labour problems.
4. D.poor management.

Which of the following activities is not a marketing function?

1. A.Buying of agricultural commodities
2. B.Planting of crops
3. C.Transporting of farm produce
4. D.Storage of farm produce

Risks on commercial farms could result from

1. A.price stability.
2. B.crop failure.
3. C.insurance.
4. D.diversification.

An agricultural extension officer should be able to

1. A.create new jobs for farmers.
2. B.raise funds for farmers.
3. C.cultivate a large farm.
4. D.guide and educate farmers.

(a) In a tabular form, five differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture.
(b) Suggest two possible solutions to each of the following problems of agricultural development in West Africa: (i) inadequate land; (ii) inadequate finance; (iii) incidence of diseases.
(c) What is agricultural ecology?
(d) State five sources of pollution of agricultural lands and fish ponds.

(a) What is farm surveying?
(b) State four disadvantages of electrical power.
(c) Give four reasons why farm machines should be maintained.
(d) Define the term land as used in agriculture.
(e) Explain briefly how each of the following factors affects land availability for agriculture: (i) population pressure; (ii) mining (iii) topography.

(a) Explain the term staking in yam cultivation.
(b) Describe the nursery practices in cocoa cultivation.
(c) State five reasons for parboiling paddy rice.
(d) State three advantages and two disadvantages of taungya farming.

(a) Explain briefly three systems of mating in livestock management.
(b) Draw and label the digestive tract of a hen.
(c) Give five reasons why ornamental plants are important.

(a) What is agricultural insurance?
(b) Explain briefly the following types of insurance policies for agricultural production: (i) specific enterprise insurance; (ii) fire disaster insurance; (iii) life assurance.
(c) Discuss the process of egg formation in a hen.

(a) Mention three print and three electronic media used in disseminating agricultural extension messages.
(b) State four advantages of group method of agricultural extension.
(c) Explain the term assembling as a marketing function.
(d) State one symptom and two control measures of each of the following crop diseases: (i) maize streak; (ii) groundnut rosette.