Soil And Water Conservation

Question 1

What is soil conservation?

Answer 1

This is the protection,preservation and careful management ofsoil in order to maintain its fertility and nutrients

Question 2

Give two reasons why soil and water be conserved?

Answer 2

a. They are basic resources on which living things depend.

b. They sustain the economy through agricultural development.

c. They help maintain the quality of soil and water for future generations of crops and animals.

Question 3

List 5 ways by which soil moisture and nutrients may be lost./ ways in which soil loses its fertility

Answer 3

a. Through transpiration
b. Evaporation
c. Bush burning
d. Leaching
e. Erosion
f. Overgrazing
g. Excessive irrigation
h. Overcropping
i. Crop removal
j. Continuous cropping
k. Denitrifcation

Question 4

Mention and explain 5 methods of conserving/ maintaining soil and its fertility./ measures to control soil erosion

Answer 4

a. Cover cropping- The growing of certain crops usually broad leguminous crops to cover the soil. Their roots help to hold the soil particles together and their leaves prevent rainfall from directly hitting the surface of the soil. Eg includes: grasses, sweet potato and crotalaria

b. Terracing- The practice of creating stepped terraces(flat, horizontal areas where crops are cultivated) on sloped/ contours of a land.

c. Contour Ploughing- The practice of following the contours of the land when ploughing.

d. Strip cropping- This is when broad strips of crops such as maize and beans are cultivated along the contours of the slope. These alternate with narrow strips of cover crops such as sweet potatoes and grass.

e. Soil conditioning- This involves the use of soil stabilizers such as lime and organic materials to improve the structure of the soil and enhance its water holding capacity.

f. Avoid overgrazing- Animals should not be allowed to over crop the vegetation in an area of land.

g. Mulching- this refers to the covering of the soil surface with materials such as leaves, straw, grass cuttings, and sawdust. This prevents excessive heating by the sun and reduces evaporation and water erosion.

h. Reafforestation - This is the replanting of trees along slopes of hills and mountains which have undergone erosion or tree felling.

i. Bush fallowing- In bush fallowing, after crops have been planted, the land is left without being cultivated for some number of years so as to restore soil fertility.

j. Crop rotation- This is a practice whereby a farmer grows different crops in succession on the same plot of land in a sequence.

h. Green manuring. This is the addition of organic materials to the soil by growing leguminous crops and plowing them into the soil.

i. Erection of barriers. Blocks and barriers can be built at intervals in gullies to reduce the speed of running water. Tall trees can be planted in sandy areas to serve as windbreaks, which retard wind velocity.

j. Addition of lime(calcium hydroxide) to correct acidic soil.

k. Practice irrigation to supplement insufficient rainfall. Water dissolves nutrients and makes them available to plants.

Question 5

Give four importance mulching.

Answer 5

a. it’s keeps the soil cool.
b. It keeps the soil moist or prevents loss of water.
c. Improve soil structure.
d. Increases organic matter content of the soil or adds nutrients to the soil.
e. Increases water infiltration into soil.
f. Control soil pH.
g. Prevent soil erosion.

Question 6

List three advantages of crop rotation.

Answer 6

a. Manuring and fallowing in crop rotation maintain soil fertility.
b. The leguminous crops add nitrogen to the soil.
c. Weeds, pests and diseases are controlled due to the rotation.
d. Plants nutrients are uniformly used due to their different roots.
e. Control soil erosion.

Question 7

Give three ways by which cover cropping maintains soil fertility.

Answer 7

a. Conserves soil moisture by reducing evaporation from soil. b. Prevents soil erosion.
c. Controls weeds by covering and killing weeds, thus eliminating nutrients uptake by weeds.
d. Fixing nitrogen into the soil.
e. Being a good source of soil organic matter
f. Regulating soil temperature to facilitate activities of soil microbes which are soil microorganisms.

Question 8

List 3 importance of green Manuring.

Answer 8

a. Supplies nitrogen to the soil.
b. Checks erosion.
c. Increases crop yield as their fertility has been increased.
d. Binds loose soil together and prevents leaching.
e. Forms humus and helps to retain moisture in the soil.
f. Provides good environment for soil living organisms.

Question 9

Give three reasons for the importance of soil moisture in the cultivation of crops.

Answer 9

a. Cools plants during transpiration.
b. Used in seed germination.
c. Absorbed and used by plants in photosynthesis.
d. Dissolves soil nutrients so that they can be absorbed and used by plants.
e. Maintains plant turgidity and shape..

Question 10

What is leaching?

Answer 10

This is the process by which soil nutrients are washed down into the deeper layer of the earth crust.

Question 11

What is soil erosion?

Answer 11

This is the washing away or removal of the topsoil by agents of erosion.

Question 12

Give examples of agents of erosion.

Answer 12

Humans, animals, wind, natural disasters, water

Question 13

List the types of soil erosion and explain them.

Answer 13

a. Splash erosion. This is also known as raindrop erosion. This occurs when the impact of raindrops on the surface of the soil causes the soil particles to be lifted and carried away from their normal positions.

b. Sheet erosion. This is the uniform removal of soil by water over a piece of land, especially over a gentle slope. It creates small channels after a very long time.

c. Rill erosion. This is the removal of soil by water through well-defined small channels. This occurs when light rains wash away the topsoil in such a way that narrow, shallow and WAVY channels are produced on the land.

d. Gully Erosion- This occurs when part of rainwater runs off over the land surface, removing soil particles along its way.

Question 14

Give four causes of soil erosion.

Answer 14

a. Deforestation.
b. Human activities.
c.Bad farming practices
d. Over grazing.
e. Lack of vegetative cover.
f. Human settlement.
g. Rainfall
h. Topography or slope of the land.
i. Bush burning.

Question 15

Give three examples of human practices that may cause erosion.

Answer 15

a. Stone quarrying
b.Sand winning
c. Road construction.
d. Soil removal for building purposes.
e. Deforestation.
f. Bush burning

Question 16

What is soil depletion?

Answer 16

This is the loss of nutrients from the soil.

Question 17

Give four factors which lead to the depletion of soil nutrients.

Answer 17

a. Erosion
b. over grazing
c. Poor farming methods
d. dumping of non-biodegradable waste on land
e. improper irrigation and drainage practices
f. surface mining and quarrying practices
g. deforestation
h. excessive use of fertilizer.

Question 18

What is manure?

Answer 18

Manure is any material added to the soil to increase the fertility of the soil.

Question 19

What is soil fertility?

Answer 19

This is the ability of the soil to provide or supply the right types of plant nutrients and water in their correct proportions under suitable conditions for plants to grow well.

Question 20

Mention the types of manure.

Answer 20

a. Organic manure. This refers to manure obtained from living things. They include plants and animal remains which are broken up to release nutrients to the soil. Another example is animal faeces.
b. Inorganic manure. These are manual obtained from rock and other non living materials. Example is fertilizer.

Question 21

Give five examples of farmyard manure.

Answer 21

a. Poultry manure
b. goat manure
c. sheep manure
d. pig manure
e. cattle manure
f. horse manure
g. fish manure
h. bone manure
i.slaughter manure.

Question 22

Give two importance of animal manure.

Answer 22

a. It contains all the required nutrients needed by plants.
b. It is produced from the farmland, so it is cheap.
c. It improves the soil structure.

Question 23

What is Farmyard manure?

Answer 23

This is the dropping of livestock mixed up with usually straw.

Question 24

Give three attributes of fertile soil.

Answer 24

a. Has adequate supply of nutrients
b. rich in organic manure
c. no harmful substances
d. Has high water holding ability. e. Has good aeration.
f. Has suitable pH.
g. Has suitable soil profile.

Question 25

List three disadvantages or effects of soil erosion.

Answer 25

a. The topsoil, which mostly contains the plant nutrients, are removed by erosion, causing low production of food crops.

b. The presence of gullies destroy farmland, making it difficult for mechanization.

c. Some plants are uprooted and washed away by severe soil erosion.

d. Farm structures like houses and shades are destroyed.

e. Causes famine as a result of crop failure.

f. Existing vegetation are destroyed by water runoff by erosion.

g. Reduces the income of farmers due to low production of crops.

Question 26

What is Green Manure?

Answer 26

This refers to rotten leaves and parts of plants such as legume and centrosema, which are ploughed into the soil before flowering.

Question 27

What is composting?

Answer 27

This is a term used for the application of decomposed heaps of plants and animal remains to the soil.

NOTE: Compost refers to the plants and animal remains that are heaped together and allowed to decay.

Question 28

Name four conditions necessary for composting.

Answer 28

Moisture
Aeration
Microorganisms
Temperature.

Question 29

State the steps in preparing compost.

Answer 29

First, collect grass, weeds and leaves of plants
2. Knock four sticks into the ground to make the corners of the heap.
3. Place bamboo or strong elephant grass in the area to be covered by the HEAP
4. Put the collection of materials to be used into the stack.
5. Sprinkle water on the heap to make its moist.
6. Turn over the heap three times at three weekly intervals.

Question 30

State three importance of compost.

Answer 30

a. It serves as a source of plant food.
b. It promotes the activity of soil organisms such as earthworm and termite which improves the soil structure.
c. It prevents soil erosion as it improves soil structure.
d. It helps to conserve soil moisture.

Question 31

What is irrigation?

Answer 31

This is the regular addition of water in the right amount to crops In order to improve the yield.

Question 32

State the four types of irrigation.

Answer 32

a. Furrow irrigation- this involves the guiding of water from a reliable source, such as a river or lake along a furrow in between the crops.

b. Basin or flood irrigation-This involves the terracing and dividing of land into level basins using earth walls. The basins are then flooded by water from a main channel, often with siphon tubes.

c. Sprinkler irrigation. This involves the pumping of water into vertical pipes with sprinklers via pipes laid across the field.

d. Trickle or drip irrigation. This involves the laying of plastic hose pipes with small holes in them along the length of plant rows. These are then connected to a water supply and water drips out slowly by each plant.

Question 33

What is soil productivity?

Answer 33

This is the ability of the soil to produce specified crop plants under specified system of management, that is overall crop yielding capacity of a soil.

Question 34

State 3 attributes or characteristics or features of a productive soil.

Answer 34

It must be fertile.

The type of crop also determines the productivity of the soil.

A soil may be productive for equal which demands low fertility, and unproductive for crop which demands high fertility.

Question 35

What are plants or soil nutrients?

Answer 35

These are the chemical elements that are found in the soil and considered vital for the optimum growth and development of crops.

Question 36

State the two types of plant nutrients.

Answer 36

a. Macro nutrients or major nutrients

b. micronutrients or minor nutrients

Question 37

What are major nutrients?
Hints: NPK Met Carl and Sandy

Answer 37

These are nutrients needed in large quantities by plants and essential to the optimum growth. Examples are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sulfur.

Question 38

What are minor nutrients?

Answer 38

These are nutrients needed in very small quantities by plants. Example are iron, manganese, boron, copper, molybdenum etc.

Question 39

Give three sources of nitrogen.

Answer 39

1. Application of nitrogenous fertilizers such as ammonium sulfides.
2. symbiotic fixation of nitrogen in leguminous plants by bacteria.
3. Non symbiotic fixation of nitrogen by certain bacteria. Example Clostridium and Azotobacter.
4. Nitrogen released from air as it is washed by rain
5. Addition of organic matter.

Question 40

What are the functions of nitrogen in the soil?

Answer 40

A. It is responsible for protein synthesis,
B. it promotes the growth of green leaves.
C. It enables plants to grow rapidly.
D. It improves the quality of leafy crops such as cabbage and lettuce.
e. It is a constituent of living cell.

Question 41

Name the deficiency of nitrogen.

Answer 41

The plant becomes yellowish because there’s no chlorophyll in it.

The plants become stunted, that is, growth is reduced.

Question 42

List some sources of potassium.

Answer 42

a. Disintegration of rocks.
b. Organic matter
c. rich in wood ash
d. application of potassium fertilizers such as potassium chloride and sulphate of potash.

Question 43

List the functions of potassium 3.

Answer 43

a. It helps the uptake of nitrogen nitrates from the soil.

b. It helps plants to resist diseases.

c. It transfers carbohydrates to all parts of the plant.

d. Responsible for the formation of tuber crops like yams.

e. Improve the taste and quality of fruits.

f. Helps to strengthen straw and stock parts of cereals.

Question 44

List 2 deficiency of potassium.

Answer 44

Tips and margins of leaves become yellow
Premature shedding of leaves and birds
Stunted growth.
Absence of potassium causes lodging.

Question 45

List two sources of phosphorus.

Answer 45

1. disintegration of rocks.
2. Organic matter.

Question 46

List two sources of phosphorus.

Answer 46

Disintegration of rocks to release phosphate
Organic matter.

Question 47

List four functions of phosphorus.

Answer 47

Responsible for proper routes development

Speeds up ripening of fruits

Plants resist against diseases

Helps to strengthen straw and stock parts of cereals, which prevents lodging

Improves flowering and seed formation

Plants mature early.

Question 48

List 3 deficiency of phosphorus.

Answer 48

Plants show poor root development

Maturity is delayed

Margins of leaves become purplish

Slow development of buds, flowers, fruits and seeds

Weak stalks, especially maize.

Question 49

List two functions of calcium.

Answer 49

Improves the rigidity and support of plants

Strengthen cell wall of plants

Stimulates early root hair formation

Calcium hydroxide corrects soil acidity.

Improves the soil structure of clay soil.

Question 50

List the deficiency of calcium.

Answer 50

Leaves have wriggled appearance

Young leaves remain folded due to malformation.

Question 51

Give three functions of magnesium.

Answer 51

An essential part of chlorophyll

Corrects Soil acidity

Acts as carriers of phosphorus in plants.

Essential for the formation of sugar

Promotes the growth of oil producing crops such as oil palm.

Question 52

Give two deficiency of magnesium.

Answer 52

Leaves of legumes become yellowish green. This is termed as chlorosis.

Leafy crops like tobacco become yellow due to less chlorophyll presented.

Chlorotic plants are stunted in growth.
Maize leaves become striped with yellow colour throughout the entire leaf.

Question 53

List three functions of sulphur.

Answer 53

Stimulate the formation of chlorophyll

Promotes nodule formation in legumes, sulphur therefore assist nitrogen fixation in legumes

Stimulation of seed production

Encourages rapid growth of plants

An essential part of plant protein.

Question 54

List the deficiency of sulfur.

Answer 54

Leaves are light green to yellow, which have thinner or lighter veins

Stunted growth with slender stalks.

Question 55

What are fertilizers?

Answer 55

Fertilizers are substances which are applied to the soil or to plants to supply nutrients needed for plants to grow.

Question 56

State that two types of fertilizers.

Answer 56

Organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Question 57

What is organic fertilizer? What’s another name for organic fertilizer?

Answer 57

An organic fertilizer is a fertilizer obtained from natural source such as plants and animals. Examples include compost, guano, green manure and farmyard manure.

Another name for organic fertilizer is organic manure.

Question 58

What is inorganic fertilizer? And give another name for it.

Answer 58

Inorganic fertilizer is fertilizer which is manufactured from inorganic materials and contain one or more major nutrients.

Inorganic fertilizers are also known as chemical or commercial fertilizers.

Question 59

Under inorganic fertilizer, what are the two main types of fertilizers?

Answer 59

Straight or simple or single fertilizers

Mixed or compound fertilizers.

Question 60

What is straight or simple or single fertilizer?

Answer 60

This is a fertilizer which contains one essential nutrient. Examples are sulphate of ammonia, ammonia, nitrate, superphosphate, muriate of potash and Sulfate of Potash, urea

Question 61

What is mixed or compound fertilizer?

Answer 61

This is a fertilizer which contains two or more macro nutrients in their relative percentages. Examples, NPK 15:15:15, which means that 15% of Nitrogen, 15% of Phosphorus and 15% of Potassium. Another example is NPK 20: 20: 20, which means 20% of Nitrogen, 20% of Phosphorus and 20% of potassium.

Question 62

Mention five methods of fertilizer application.

Answer 62

Broadcasting. This is the uniform spreading of the fertilizer all over the ground by hand or machine.

Placement. This involves the distribution of small amounts of fertilizers into holes on the ground close to each crop plant.

Drilling. In this method, the fertilizer is applied below the surface of the soil at the same time as seeds are being drilled into the soil.

Bringing this is the application of fertilizers in a circular way around a plant such that the fertilizer is equidistant from the plant.

Spraying. this is when the fertilizer is applied directly onto the foliage or the soil in the form of liquid.

Top dressing. This involves the uniform spraying of fertilizers on the surface of the soil after the crops begin to grow.

Side dressing. This involves the application of fertilizers at the base of crops, or on one side of or both sides of crops in rows.

Question 63

Give three effects of the misapplication of inorganic or chemical fertilizers.

Answer 63

Soil alkalinity.

Soil acidity

Soil mineral toxicity.

reduction in population and activities of useful soil microorganisms

Fixation and unavailability of some soil nutrients.

Pollution of water bodies

Destruction of soil structure

It affects the activities of soil living organisms because their fertilizers become toxic to them.

Question 64

Give four advantages of organic fertilizers over inorganic fertilizers.

Answer 64

It improves soil structure while inorganic fertilizers do not

It is relatively cheaper

Stabilizes soil temperature and soil pH

Supplies both macro and micronutrients.

Can serve as soil mulch

Remains longer in the soil to produce a long lasting effect

Nutrient composition is variable as compared to inorganic fertilizers which are fixed.

Question 65

Give three similarities between organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Answer 65

Improve crop yields

Provide plant nutrients

Improve soil fertility

Soil organisms are affected when they are applied.

Question 66

List 3 disadvantages of organic manure.

Answer 66

bulky and difficult to transport

Cannot be analyzed easily to determine their nutrient content

When not treated well, they may sometimes contain weed seeds and disease pathogens.