WAEC Agricultural Science 2024 past questions and answers

Which of the following land tenure systems allows a farmer to cultivate a piece of land in one growing season at a fee?

1. A.Freehold
2. B.Communal
3. C.Rent
4. D.Leasehold

Agriculture could be made attractive to young people in West Africa through the

1. A.fabrication of simple farm tools in a locality.
2. B.provision of basic amenities in rural areas.
3. C.cultivation of locally available seeds.
4. D.provision of compost to farmers.

Which of the following agricultural programmes was mainly established to provide agricultural extension services?

1. A.Green Revolution.
2. B.Operation Feed the Nation.
3. C.River Basin Development Authority
4. D.Agricultural Development Project

The following tools are used in nursery operations except

1. A.secateurs.
2. B.sickle.
3. C.shears.
4. D.dibber.

A major difference between disc harrow and disc plough is that

1. A.disc plough has more discs than disc harrow.
2. B.discs in disc plough are spaced far apart than in disc harrow.
3. C.disc plough has two pairs of gangs while disc harrow has one pair of gangs.
4. D.disc plough has smaller discs than disc harrow.

The diagram below illustrates a source of farm power.
An advantage of using the power generated from the illustrated diagram is that it

1. A.could be stored for future use.
2. B.is easy to control.
3. C.could be used for all farm operations.
4. D.is available everywhere.

The diagram below illustrates a source of farm power.
The power generated from the illustrated diagram could be converted to

1. A.solar energy.
2. B.electrical energy.
3. C.hydro power.
4. D.animal power.

Gunter's chain is used for

1. A.determining depth of soil moisture.
2. B.measuring slope of farmland.
3. C.measuring distances.
4. D.restraining bulls.

The chemical composition of soil is influenced by its

1. A.pH.
2. B.structure.
3. C.parent material.
4. D.living organisms.

The ash produced after burning crop residues would

1. A.decrease soil acidity.
2. B.increase soil acidity.
3. C.decrease alkalinity.
4. D.render the pH unchanged.

A soil sample that contains predominantly mineral matter that is smaller than 0.002 mm in size is

1. A.gravel.
2. B.sand.
3. C.clay.
4. D.loam.

The diagram below illustrates a bag of compound fertilizer.
The least nutrient in the illustrated bag of fertilizer is

1. A.potassium.
2. B.sulphur.
3. C.phosphorus.
4. D.nitrogen.

The plant nutrient which is responsible for the green colour of leaves is

1. A.boron.
2. B.magnesium.
3. C.calcium.
4. D.Potassium.

In order to check erosion on a sloping land, farmers are advised to make

1. A.ridges across the slope.
2. B.furrows across the contours.
3. C.ridges along the slope.
4. D.ditches along water channels.

The diagram below illustrates the root system of a crop.
An example of a crop with the illustrated root system is

1. A.rice.
2. B.tomato.
3. C.oil palm.
4. D.soya bean.

The diagram below illustrates the root system of a crop.
A bacterium that could be found in the part labelled I is

1. A.Nitrosomonas.
2. B.Nitrobacter.
3. C.Azotobacter.
4. D.Rhizobium.

The diagram below illustrates the root system of a crop.
Which of the following fertilizers would not be required by a crop with the illustrated root system?

1. A.Potassium sulphate
2. B.Ammonium nitrate
3. C.Rock phosphate
4. D.Magnesium sulphate

An important limitation in the use of sprinkler irrigation system is that

1. A.soluble fertilizers and herbicides cannot be applied with irrigation water.
2. B.it cannot be used on farmlands with high evapo-transpiration rates.
3. C.it requires the use of large volume of water.
4. D.high wind velocity could prevent uniform distribution of irrigation water.

Which of the following characteristics is not associated with monocotyledonous crops?

1. A.Fibrous root system
2. B.Parallel venation of leaf
3. C.Leaves are net-veined
4. D.Presence of one-seed leaf

A crop that could be grown to serve as shade in a young cocoa plantation is

1. A.maize
2. B.cowpea.
3. C.cassava.
4. D.banana.

Molasses is a major by-product obtained from the processing of

1. A.pineapple.
2. B.cassava.
3. C.sugarcane.
4. D.sorghum.

The diagram below illustrates a storage structure for crops.
Which of the following crops are best preserved in the illustrated storage structure?

1. A.Groundnut pods
2. B.Yam tubers
3. C.Maize cobs
4. D.Cocoa beans

The diagram below illustrates a storage structure for crops.
The function of the part labelled I is to

1. A.promote adequate ventilation.
2. B.prevent infestation by insects.
3. C.protect from excessive rainfall.
4. D.prevent attack by rodents.

The diagram below illustrates a storage structure for crops.
Which of the following environmental conditions would cause spoilage of crops stored in the illustrated structure?

1. A.High temperature and low relative humidity.
2. B.Low temperature and high relative humidity.
3. C.High rainfall and high wind velocity.
4. D.Low rainfall and low wind velocity.

The correct sequence of land preparation for the cultivation of yam is

1. A.clearing → stumping → ploughing → harrowing → ridging.
2. B.ploughing → clearing → harrowing → ridging → stumping.
3. C.clearing → harrowing → ploughing → stumping → ridging.
4. D.ploughing → stumping → clearing → ridging → harrowing.

Tenera is a cultivated variety of oil palm with a

1. A.thin mesocarp, thick endocarp and a large kernel.
2. B.thick mesocarp, thin endocarp and a moderate sized kernel.
3. C.thick mesocarp, absence of endocarp and a small kernel.
4. D.thin mesocarp, thin endocarp and a moderate sized kernel.

A farmer produced 25 tonnes of cocoa. If 16 bags of cocoa weigh one tonne and the cocoa was later sold at N350.00 per kilogramme. (1 tonne = 1,000 kg)
Determine the income realized by the farmer.

1. A.N140,000.00
2. B.N400,000.00
3. C.N5,600,000.00
4. D.N8,750,000.00

A farmer produced 25 tonnes of cocoa. If 16 bags of cocoa weigh one tonne and the cocoa was later sold at N350.00 per kilogramme. (1 tonne = 1,000 kg)
Calculate the cost of one bag of cocoa.

1. A.N62.50
2. B.N5,600.00
3. C.N8,750.00
4. D.N21,875.00

A disadvantage of selection as a method of crop improvement is that it

1. A.ensures the picking of crops with undesirable traits.
2. B.requires expertise when carrying it out.
3. C.increases the spread of diseases.
4. D.increases the susceptibility of crops to pests.

Natural regeneration of forests may lead to

1. A.destruction of existing forest trees.
2. B.disruption of ecological balance.
3. C.lack of uniformity in growth of trees.
4. D.desert encroachment in arid regions.

The diagram below illustrates the damage on a leaf caused by an insect pest of crops.
The damage to the illustrated leaf is most likely caused by

1. A.whitefly.
2. B.beetle.
3. C.grasshopper.
4. D.mealybug.

The diagram below illustrates the damage on a leaf caused by an insect pest of crops.
The biological process that would mostly be affected in the leaf is

1. A.transpiration.
2. B.respiration.
3. C.irritability.
4. D.photosynthesis.

The yield of oil palm could be reduced by infestation of

1. A.caterpillar.
2. B.myrid.
3. C.army worm.
4. D.cotton stainer.

Breeds of sheep common in West Africa include

1. A.Sahel and Kano Brown.
2. B.Ouda and Yankasa.
3. C.Sokoto Red and Angora.
4. D.Nubian and Kano Brown.

Low relative humidity in livestock pens would

1. A.predispose animals to diseases.
2. B.encourage mouldiness of feed.
3. C.decrease water intake.
4. D.increase water intake.

A poultry farmer collects 100 trays of eggs per day on his farm. If the market price of a tray of eggs is N900, determine the income realized from the sale of eggs in a week.

1. A.N630,000.00
2. B.N90,000.00
3. C.N9,000.00
4. D.N6,300.00

Pail feeding is commonly practiced in the management of

1. A.pigs.
2. B.poultry.
3. C.cattle.
4. D.rabbits.

The diagram below illustrates a management practice in poultry production.
The management practice illustrated in the diagram is

1. A.incubation.
2. B.hatching.
3. C.brooding.
4. D.candling

The diagram below illustrates a management practice in poultry production.
Climatic factors that should be monitored during the management practice illustrated are
I. temperature
II. daylength
III. relative humidity

1. A.I and II only.
2. B.I and III only.
3. C.II and III only
4. D.I, II and III.

The diagram below illustrates a management practice in poultry production.
The illustrated management practice is usually carried out in chicks from day old to

1. A.2 weeks.
2. B.4 weeks.
3. C.6 weeks.
4. D.8 weeks

The meat from a tender calf is

1. A.beef.
2. B.mutton.
3. C.veal.
4. D.chevon.

Which of the following groups of diseases of farm animals are caused by bacteria?

1. A.Rinderpest, swine fever and trypanosomiasis
2. B.Coccidiosis, Newcastle and typhoid
3. C.Fowl pox, mastitis and Gumboro
4. D.Brucellosis, anthrax and tuberculosis

If an animal is likely to succumb to the effects of a pathogen, the animal is said to be

1. A.tolerant.
2. B.resistant.
3. C.susceptible.
4. D.immune.

Which of the following changes would cause the demand curve to shift to the right?

1. A.A reduction in the size of population.
2. B.An increase in income of the consumers.
3. C.Availability of close substitutes
4. D.A decrease in price of goods

The function of a farm manager is to

1. A.make agricultural policies for the government.
2. B.allocate available resources on the farm effectively.
3. C.execute agricultural extension programmes.
4. D.stabilize the prices of farm produce.

Farm gate price is mostly enjoyed by

1. A.wholesalers
2. B.producers.
3. C.consumers.
4. D.retailers.

(a) Mention three ways each by which the following agricultural programmes and institute have contributed to agricultural development in West Africa. (i) Cooperative farming. (ii) farm settlement scheme. (iii) agricultural research institute.
(b) Name one tractor-mounted implement each that could perform a similar function as the following farm tools. (i) Dibber. (ii) Hoe. (iii) Sickle. (iv) Wheelbarrow. (v) Watering can.
(c) State two: (i) advantages of using the mouldboard plough. (ii) disadvantages of using the mouldboard plough.

(a) With the aid of a pH scale, explain the term soil pH.
(b)(i) What are cover crops? (ii) Mention five advantages of planting cover crops on the farm.
(c) Complete the table below: give the botanical name of each weed: wild marigold; spear grass; stubborn grass; pig weed; carpet grass.

(a) Give one function each of the following bacteria in the nitrogen cycle: (i) Rhizobium. (ii) Nitrosomonas. (iii) Pseudomonas. (iv) Nitrobacter.
(b) A farmer discovered that aphids have invaded a cowpea farm. (i) State three effects of aphids on the cowpea plants. (ii) Mention four cultural ways by which the farmer could control aphids on the cowpea farm.
(c)(i) Explain the term forestry. (ii) Name five products that could be obtained from forests.

(a) A farmer intends to cultivate sorghum on a farmland measuring 300 m by 150 m at a seed rate of 60 kg per hectare. If sorghum requires NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer at the rate of 20 kg per hectare, calculate the: (i) area of farmland in hectares. (ii) quantity of sorghum seeds required for planting. (iii) quantity of fertilizer required.
(b)(i) State two differences between budding and grafting in vegetative propagation. (ii) Mention four crops that could be propagated by budding.
(c) Name two groups of farm animals each that should be fed with: (i) production ration; (ii) maintenance ration.

(a) Give two reasons each for carrying out the following management practices in fish ponds. (i) removal of excessive vegetation. (ii) removal of silt. (iii) supplementary feeding. (iv) fertilizer application.
(b) Mention five conditions that could necessitate culling of farm animals.
(c) State five effects of excess nitrogen in the soil on crops.

(a) What is agricultural insurance?
(b) Define each of the following terms in agricultural insurance: (i) insurance policy. (ii) insurance premium.
(c) An agricultural extension agent organized a meeting with the groundnut farmers in a village in order to introduce a disease resistant variety of groundnut to them. (i) State four advantages of the agricultural extension method employed by the extension agent. (ii) Mention three other ways by which the information could be disseminated to the group of farmers.
(d) Enumerate five operations involved in the processing of rice after harvesting.