THE ANGLICAN SCHOOLS EXAMINATION

SIAYA
NAME…………………………………………….……. ADMISSION NO………..…………

SIGNATURE…………………DATE………………….. School....................................
March/April 2025

AGRICULTURE

PAPER 1

2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1.Write your name admission number and the name of your school in the spaces provided above

2. Sign and write the date of examination in the spaces provide above.

3. This paper consist of three sections A, B and C.

4. Answer all the questions in section A and B and any two questions in section C.

5.All answers should be written in the spaces provided.

6. All answers must be written in English.

7.This paper consist of 11 printed pages.

8. Candidates must check to ascertain that all the pages are printed as indicated and that no question is
missing.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY

SECTION QUESTIONS MAXIMUM SCORE Candidate's score

A 1-15 30

B 16 -19 20

C 20-22 40

Total score 90

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 SECTION A (30 Marks)

Answer all the questions in this section in the spaces provided.

1. State four factors that influence the scale of agricultural production (2 marks)

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2. State four effects of excessive nitrogenous fertiliser application on tomatoes. (2 marks)

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3. Give two reasons for carrying out each of the following operations in land preparation:

(a). Rolling (1 mark)

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(b). Leveling. (1 mark)

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4. List four methods of treating water for use on the farm. (2 marks)

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5. State four uses of labour utilisation analysis records (2 marks)

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6. Outline four activities that may be undertaken in organic farming. (2 marks)

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7. State four characteristics of a good site for a tomato nursery bed site. (2 marks)

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8. State four natural factors that may encourage soil erosion. ( 2 marks)

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9.(a) Define the term land reform. (1 mark)

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(b) State four benefits of a land registration certificate in farming. (2 marks)

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10. What is meant by each of the following in agroforestry. (3 marks)

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(a) Pollarding

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(b) Coppicing

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(c) Lopping.

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11. Give four reasons why green manure is not commonly used in farming. (2 marks)

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12. Give four reasons why early defoliation is discouraged in pasture utilisation. (2 marks)

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13. State four farming activities that may pollute water. (2 marks)

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14. Give four factors that influence the number of secondary cultivations in seedbed preparation. (2
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15. State four functions of Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K.). (2 marks)

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SECTION B (20 Marks)

16. The diagram below illustrate a tomato fruit infested by a field pest

(a) Identify the pest. (1 mark)

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(b) State two ways in which the pest is economically important. (2 marks)

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(c) State two cultural ways of controlling the pest. (2 marks)

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17.The diagram below illustrates a parasitic weed. Study the diagram carefully and answer the
questions that follow.

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(a) Identify the weed illustrated above. (1 mark)

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(b) Name two crops the weed illustrated above commonly attacks. (1 mark)

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(c) State one reason why the weed is referred to as a parasite weed. (1 mark)

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(d) State two methods for controlling the weed illustrated above. (2 marks)

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18. The diagram below shows an illustration of a crop field practice.

(a) Identify the field practice illustrated above. (I mark)

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(b) Name two crops which require the practice illustrated. (2 marks)

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(c) Give two reasons for carrying out the practice on one of the crops you have named in (b) above.
(2 marks)

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19. The diagram below illustrates an experiment on soil. Study it carefully and answer the questions that
follow.

(a) State the aim of the experiment. (1 mark)

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(b) If the volume of water illustrated in the measuring cylinders was observed after one hour, identify
the soil samples labelled A and B. (2 marks)

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(c) State two ways in which the soil structure of the soil sample labeled C above can be improved. (2
marks)

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SECTION C (40 Marks)

20. (a) Explain seven factors that should be considered when selecting seeds for planting.

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(7 marks)

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(b). Describe Blossom End Rot disease in tomatoes under each of the following sub-headings:

(i) symptoms. (1 mark)

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(ii) causes. (3 marks)

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(iii) control measures. (3 marks)

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(c). Explain six reasons for practising crop rotation. (6 marks)

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21. (a). Explain the different ways in which each of the following environmental factors influence crop
production

(i) Temperature. (5 marks)

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(ii) Wind. (4 marks)

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b). Explain five ways in which HIV/AIDS limits agricultural production. (5 marks)

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(c). State six reasons why a nursery is important in crop production. (6 marks)

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22.(a)(i). Describe the harvesting and marketing of bulb onions. (4 marks)

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ii) Explain four precautions that should be observed when harvesting cotton. (4 marks)

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(b). Describe the risks and uncertainties encountered by sugarcane farmers in Kenya. (8 marks)

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(c). Describe four methods used in water harvesting. (4 marks)

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 Marking scheme

No. Answer Marks

1. State four factors that influence the scale of agricultural production 2

✓Level of technology.

✓Land availability.

✓Capital availability.

✓Skilled labour availability

2. State four effects of excessive nitrogenous fertiliser application on tomatoes. 2

✓Prolonged maturity

✓Cracking of fruits before maturity

✓Blossom end rot

✓Too much vegatative growth

3. Give two reasons for carrying out each of the following operations in land 2
preparation:

(a) rolling (1 mark)

✓Increases seed soil contact

✓Compacts soil/seeds to protect it against agents of erosion

(b)leveling (1 mark)

✓Ensures uniform depth of planting/uniform germination/uniform fertilizer application

✓Ensures uniform water level in paddy rice fields

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 ✓To remove depressions which collect water leading to rotting of seeds.

4. List four methods of treating water for use on the farm. 2

✓Chemical treatment/softening/Chlorination

✓Filtration

✓Boiling

✓Aeration

✓Sedimentation/decantation

✓Storage for 36 minutes to kill bilharzia worms

5. State four uses of labour utilisation analysis records 2

✓To determine labour allocation

✓To determine labour requirements

✓To settle land disputes

✓To determine peak labour demand periods

✓To determine labour cost

6. Outline four activities that may be undertaken in organic farming. 2

✓Using organic mulching materials

✓Application of organic manure /organic fertilizers.

✓Crop rotation

✓Use of medicinal plant products to control diseases and parasites.

7. ✓Rearing of livestock on natural feedstuffs without use of chemical additives. 2

✓Physical/cultural pests/weed/parasite and disease control.

8. Natural factors that may encourage soil erosion. 2

✓Lack of ground cover

✓Steep slopes

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 ✓Light/sandy soils

✓Shallow soils

✓High rainfall intensity on bare grounds

✓Frequent cultivation/over cultivation

✓Overstocking

✓Burning/deforestation

✓Ploughing up and down the slope

✓Cultivation of river banks

✓Cultivating the soil when too dry destroys structure making it easy to erode

✓Long slope increases volume

✓High rainfall amount

9. (a) What is meant by the term land tenure reform? 1

✓It's any organized action designed to improve land use and ownership

(b). Importance of land registration certificate 2

✓Used to secure credit facilities for land development

✓Land disputes are minimised

✓Encourage farmer to carry out long term investment on the land

✓Enables owner to lease the farm and thus get extra income

✓Provide security of ownership

10. What is meant by each of the following in agroforestry 2

(a) Pollarding - cutting back the crown and the top branches of a tree;

(b) Coppicing - cutting down trees about half a meter from the ground;

(c) Lopping - cutting one or more branches from the stem

11. Give four reasons why green manure is not commonly used in farming. 2

✓Manure crop may exhaust soil moisture at the expense of the main crop

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 ✓Nutrients are used by micro-organisms to decompose the green manure

✓Green manure crops are food crops

✓Decomposition takes long

12. Give four reasons why early defoliation is discouraged in pasture utilisation. 2

✓High moisture content

✓Low dry matter content

✓Low crude protein yield

✓Low digestible nutrients

✓Leads to gradual weakening of the pasture stand

13. State four farming activities that may pollute water 2

✓Application of excess agrochemicals

✓Poor cultivation practices

✓Over grazing

✓Watering animals directly in water sources

✓Washing agricultural machines in water sources

14. Give four factors that influence the number of secondary cultivations in seedbed 2
preparation

✓Type of crop to be established

✓Size of the seed/planting materials

✓Moisture content of the soil

✓Type of soil

✓Conditions of land after primary cultivation.

✓Amount of organic matter on the surface.

✓Vulnerability to soil erosion

15. State four functions of Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K.) 2

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 ✓Holding competitive agricultural shows/competitive trade fairs and exhibitions of
livestock, crop and farm produce

✓Encouraging breeding and importation of pure breeds and improvement of

✓Encouraging and assisting in official milk recording scheme.

✓Organizing the running of Young Farmers Clubs.

✓Organizing the National Ploughing Contest.

✓Publishing the Kenya Stud Book.

✓Publishing the monthly journal; “The Kenya Farmer”.

✓Awarding bursaries for local and overseas studies/tours for its members.

SECTION B (20 MARKS)

16. The diagram below illustrate a tomato fruit infested by a field pest

(a) Identify the pest. (1 mark)

✓American-bollworms

(b) State two ways in which the pest is economically important. (2 mark)

✓Reduces the quality of produce by boring holes on fruits

✓Increase the cost of production by purchase of pesticide

(c) State two cultural ways of controlling the pest. (2 mark)

✓Early planting

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 ✓Field hygiene/Removal and destruction of affected crop residues

✓Plant Mexican marigold in the field

✓Destruction of alternate host

✓Close season

✓Crop rotation

✓Intercropping

17. The diagram below illustrates a parasitic weed. Study the diagram carefully and
answer the questions that follow.

(a) Identify the weed illustrated above. (1 mark)

✓Striga hermontheca/ Witch weed

(b)Name two crops the weed illustrated above commonly attacks. (1 mark)

✓Maize/Sorghum/Finger millet/Sugarcane/Barley

(c) State one reason why the weed is referred to as a parasite weed. (1 mark)

✓Depends entirely on cultivated crops

(d) State two methods for controlling the weed illustrated above. (2 marks)

✓Mulching

✓Cover cropping

✓Crop rotation

✓Timely planting

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 ✓Proper spacing

✓Clean seedbed

✓Intercropping with legumes

18. The diagram below shows an illustration of a crop field practice.

(a) Identify the field practice illustrated above. (I mark)

✓Earthing up

(b) Name two crops which require the practice illustrated. (2 marks)

✓Groundnuts

✓Potatoes

✓Irish potatoes

✓Sweet Potatoes

✓Maize

(c) Give two reasons for carrying out the practice on one of the crops you have
named in (b) above. (2 marks)

✓To improve tuber formation in Irish/sweet potato

✓To encourage/improve seed formation in groundnuts

✓To improve drainage and provide support in tobacco

✓To provide support/prevent lodging in cereal crops like maize

✓To prevent greening in root/ tuber crops

19. The diagram below illustrates an experiment on soil. Study it carefully and answer 1
the questions that follow.

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(a) State the aim of the experiment. (1 mark)

✓ To compare porosity/drainage and infiltration/ water holding capacity of different

(b) If the volume of water illustrated in the measuring cylinders was observed after
one hour, identify the soil samples labelled A and B. (2 marks)

✓A - Sandy soil

✓B - Loamy soil

(c) State two ways in which the soil structure of the soil sample labeled C above can
be improved. (2 marks)

✓Adding organic matter/manure

✓Liming

✓Sub soiling

✓Draining away excess water

SECTION C ( 40 Marks)

20 (a). Explain seven factors that should be considered when selecting seeds for planting.
(7 marks)

✓Adaptability ;should be adapted to local ecological conditions

✓Physical deformities/damages ;should be free from physical deformities/damages

✓Viability/ germination percentage ; should have high viability/ high germination

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✓Should be from high yielding mother plant

✓Health; should be healthy/free from pests and diseases

✓Purity; should be clean/free from impurities/high purity

✓Maturity; should be of correct maturity stage

✓Age/storage period; seeds stored for long periods have low viability/germination
percentage hence should not be selected

✓Size of seeds; seeds should be of correct size

(b). Describe Blossom End Rot disease in tomatoes under each of the following sub-
headings:

(i) symptoms (1 mark)

✓Blossom end appears rotten, water soaked; dry

(ii) causes (3 marks)

✓Too much nitrogen in early growth stages

✓Irregular or infrequent watering

✓Calcium deficiency

(iii) control measures. (3 marks)

✓Regular watering

✓Top dressing the crop with the right amount of nitrogen

✓Application of calcium compound fertilizers in the soil

(c). Reasons for practising crop rotation

✓Maximizes utilisation of nutrients

✓Control soil borne pests and disease build up

✓Improvement of soil structure

✓Control soil erosion

✓Controls weeds that are specific to certain crops e.g. striga on cereals .

✓Improves soil fertility when legumes are included

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21. (a). Explain the different ways in which each of the following environmental factors
influence crop production

(i)Temperature. (5 marks)

✓Affects the quality of certain crops e.g. pineapples, pyrethrum.

✓Influences rate of the physiological processes in crops.

✓Cause increase in incidences of diseases.

✓Low temperatures cause frost injury.

✓High temperatures increase rate of evapotranspiration hence wilting.

✓Influences distribution of crops.

(ii) Wind. (4 marks)

✓Increase the rate of evaporation/evapotranspiration/wilting.

✓Influences amount of rainfall in a given area.

✓Help in pollination of crops.

✓A cooling effect which influences rate of physiological processes.

✓May cause soil erosion.

✓ lodging of certain crops/destruction of crops/crop structures.

✓Spreading diseases/pests/weeds.

✓Wind helps in seed dispersal.

✓Wind is used in cleaning/winnowing grains.

(b). Ways in which HIV/AIDS limits agricultural production

✓Shortage of labour

✓Lack of motivation to invest in agriculture

✓Increased cost of living leading to low investment in agriculture/lack of resources for

✓Government and NGOs are spending a lot of time and resources controlling the
disease instead of investment in agriculture.

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 ✓Lack of market for agricultual produce.

(c). Reasons why a nursery is important in crop production.

✓Many seedlings can be produced in a small area

✓Facilitates timely routine management practices

✓Provides best conditions for growth of seedlings

✓Small seeds and delicate seedlings grow into healthy and vigorous seedlings to
facilitate transplanting

✓Reduced growth period in the field

✓Excess seedlings can be sold for income

✓Facilitate selection of healthy and vigorous/true to type seedlings for transplanting.

22. (a)(i).Describe the harvesting and marketing of bulb onions. (4 marks)

✓Harvested after 4 — 5 months/when leaves start to dry

✓Bend the tops at the neck

✓Dig up the bulbs

✓Put the bulbs under shade to dry

✓Turn the bulbs to ensure uniform drying

✓Grade the bulbs according to sizes

✓Put bulbs in slatted boxes

✓Marketed in net bags

(ii). Explain four precautions that should be observed when harvesting cotton. (4
marks)

✓Sisal bags/gunny bags should not be used to prevent mixing of lint and sisal fibres
which causes ginning problems.

✓Hands should be cleaned to avoid staining of the lint

✓Picking should be done when the lint is dry to prevent fibres from sticking together

✓Use clean containers for picking to avoid contamination

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✓Use different containers for AR(Safi) and BR (fifi) grades of cotton to ensure quality

✓Avoid picking leaves and twigs to avoid contamination

(b). Describe the risks and uncertainties encountered by sugarcane farmers in Kenya.
(8 marks)

✓Fluctuation of commodity prices.

✓Physical yield uncertainty where the farmer does not know how much to expect.

✓Ownership uncertainty;farmers lose produce through theft, fire, death or change in

✓Outbreak of pests and diseases which affect expected outcome.

✓Sickness and injury uncertainty;farmer affected and loses ability to work due to
sickness or injury.

✓Uncertainty about new production techniques; the farmer may not be certain as to
whether technology is as effective as the previous one.

✓Farmer investing in machinery which may become obsolete within a short time.

✓Natural catastrophes;things like floods, drought, earthquakes, storms and strong

(c). Describe four methods used in water harvesting. (4 marks)

✓use of dams;a barrier constructed across a river or a dry valley to collect and hold
large volumes of water to form a reservoir or a lake for storing water

✓Use of weirs;a barrier constructed across a river to raise the water level and still
allow water to flow over it and to facilitate pumping

✓Use of ponds; artificial pools of water which accumulate as a result of some

✓Roof catchment; catchment and storage of rain water harvested through roof tops
and directed to various reservoirs

✓Wells;holes artificially sunken into the ground below water table to enable water to
seep in for use

✓Rock catchment; harvesting rain water from big rocks. Concrete channels are
constructed at the base of the rocks to direct water into a reservoir

✓Micro catchments;micro-environments designed to conserve soil and water around

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growing crops like bananas

✓Retention ditches;these are terraces constructed with blocked ends to retain water.

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