Cover Page
Project Title: Improving Avocado Seedling Production Through Wedge Grafting
Name of Student: Prince Chumba
Index Number: [Insert Index Number]
School Name: [Insert School Name]
Year of Examination: KCSE 2025
Subject and Paper: Agriculture Paper 3 – 443/3
2. Table of Contents
Cover Page ..................................................... i
Table of Contents ............................................. ii
Acknowledgement ........................................... iii
Project Introduction ......................................... 1
Objectives ......................................................... 2
Description of Project Site ................................ 3
Materials, Tools, and Inputs Used ..................... 4
Wedge Grafting Procedure ................................ 5
Implementation Timeline ................................... 7
Estimated Budget ............................................ 8
Observations from the Field ............................. 9
Summary of Results ......................................... 10
Interpretation of Results ................................ 11
Constraints Faced ............................................. 13
Proposed Solutions ......................................... 14
Final Conclusion ............................................... 15
Recommendations ........................................... 16
References ......................................................... 17
3. Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my Agriculture teacher for his detailed instruction and motivation throughout this
project. I am also grateful to my school for allowing me to use the demonstration garden and providing
access to necessary tools. Lastly, I recognize the encouragement and feedback of fellow students who
contributed positively to this practical assignment.
4. Project Introduction
Avocado is a highly valued crop due to its nutritious fruit and growing commercial demand. However,
raising avocado from seed is slow and unreliable, often leading to inconsistent fruit quality. To improve
uniformity and productivity, grafting is widely used by farmers.
This project explored the wedge grafting technique—a method where a selected scion is joined to a
rootstock to form a composite plant. The objective was to test this method under local conditions,
observe the process, and assess the outcomes practically.
5. Objectives
To propagate avocado seedlings through wedge grafting.
To gain practical knowledge in vegetative plant propagation.
To assess success rates of grafted seedlings in school conditions.
To identify common challenges in avocado grafting.
To recommend improvements based on the project’s findings.
6. Description of Project Site
The grafting project was conducted at the school farm in a section set aside for practicals.
Site Conditions:
Soil: Light, fertile loam with moderate moisture retention.
Drainage: Good natural slope, preventing water stagnation.
Sunlight: Received morning sun and partial afternoon shade.
Accessibility: Located near water and tool storage.
Safety: Within a fenced area to keep off disturbances.
7. Materials, Tools, and Inputs Used
Item Quantity Use
Avocado rootstocks 10 Base plants for grafting
Mature scions 10 Cuttings from mature fruiting trees
Grafting knife 1 For making accurate cuts
Polythene strips 1 roll To bind the graft joint tightly
Marker and tags - For labeling grafted plants
Shade cloth/grass - To protect the union from direct sunlight
Watering can 1 For post-grafting irrigation
8. Wedge Grafting Procedure
The wedge grafting process was carefully followed in the steps below:
Scion Collection: Healthy scions were taken from a mature avocado tree early in the morning.
Shaping the Scion: The base of each scion was trimmed into a tapered wedge.
Preparing the Rootstock: The rootstock was cut horizontally and a vertical slit made in its center.
Joining the Parts: The scion was inserted into the slit, ensuring good contact between cambium layers.
Securing the Union: The joined section was tightly bound with polythene to prevent drying.
Labelling: Each grafted plant was tagged for tracking and observation.
Shading and Watering: Grafts were shaded and watered daily to maintain a moist healing environment.
9. Implementation Timeline
Date Activity
28th May 2025 Collection of materials and scions
29th May 2025 Grafting process conducted
30th May–14th June 2025 Daily watering and monitoring
15th June 2025 First bud emergence observed
22nd June 2025 Graft success recorded and report prepared
10. Estimated Budget
Item Quantity Unit Cost (Ksh) Total Cost (Ksh)
Seedlings 10 50 500
Scions 10 25 250
Grafting knife 1 280 280
Polythene strips 1 roll 100 100
Labels & marker - 70 70
Shade cover - 150 150
Water (estimate) - 50 50
Total - - 1,400
11. Observations from the Field
Within 10–14 days, most grafts showed swelling near the union point.
Buds on scions began opening after about two weeks.
Unsuccessful grafts showed drying and discoloration of scions.
Callus tissue development was visible on healing grafts.
Properly shaded grafts remained green and firm.
12. Summary of Results
Out of the 10 avocado seedlings grafted:
Successful grafts: 8
Unsuccessful grafts: 2
Calculated Success Rate:
10
×
100
80
10
×100=
80%
13. Interpretation of Results
The 80% success rate obtained from this exercise shows that wedge grafting is a dependable and
effective method for avocado propagation. The key success factors included:
Using fresh, healthy scions.
Accurate alignment of vascular cambium layers.
Consistent watering and protection from heat stress.
The failed grafts likely resulted from improper sealing or poor cambium alignment, which prevented the
formation of a strong graft union.
14. Constraints Faced
One graft loosened due to a poorly tied strip.
Two scions wilted due to late binding after shaping.
Afternoon heat stressed some grafts before shading was installed.
Limited tools led to delays in processing multiple seedlings quickly.
15. Proposed Solutions
Always ensure the graft is bound immediately after insertion.
Assign roles to speed up simultaneous scion preparation and grafting.
Set up temporary shading before the grafting begins.
Store scions in a moist cloth or cool place during the procedure.
16. Final Conclusion
This avocado grafting project served as a practical demonstration of how scientific techniques can
improve crop propagation. The wedge grafting method produced consistent and promising results, with
80% of grafted plants surviving.
The project helped sharpen agricultural skills such as precision cutting, observation, record keeping, and
critical analysis—all of which are useful in both school and future farming ventures.
17. Recommendations
Increase the number of grafted plants to improve data accuracy.
Introduce additional training on other grafting techniques.
Use grafting clips or natural adhesives for stronger support.
Monitor long-term growth and compare with seed-grown trees.
18. References
Agriculture Form Two Student’s Book – KLB
Golden Tips KCSE Agriculture – Kenya Literature Bureau
Gateway Agriculture – Macmillan Kenya
Teacher Demonstrations and Class Notes
Avocado Propagation Guidelines – Ministry of Agriculture
