Theme 1.1: General Agriculture #3

Question 1

Solution to effects of rainfall

Answer 1

• Practice irrigation
• Practice mulching
• Plant crops that can survive in low rainfall

Question 2

Factors of rainfall to be considered

Answer 2

1. Distribution of rainfall:
   It entails how rainfall spread throughout the growing season of the crops
   Plants need good distribution of rainfall to grow well
2. Effectiveness of rainfall:
   How effective rainfall is in terms of the amount of water available to plant during the growing season
3. Reliability of rainfall:
   When we know how reliable the rainfall is it helps us to have a good idea on how much rainfall we should expect in a certain area
   This enables farmers to tell which types of crops are likely to be grown in a specific area
4. Intensity of rainfall:
   It refers to the nature and duration of rainfall at a specific time and place.

Question 3

Effects of wind (Good & Bad)

Answer 3

Good effects:
~ Wind promotes pollination
~ Wind promotes seed dispersal
~ Wind promotes transpiration stream

Bad effects:
~ Strong wind increases transpiration and evaporation
~ Strong wind causes physical damage to plants
~ Strong wind spreads diseases.

Question 4

Solution to effects of wind

Answer 4

• Mulch the soil surface
• Plant windbreakers

Question 5

Describe the water cycle & the significance of ground water

Answer 5

1. Water evaporates from the river, dam and ocean. (evaporation)
2. Plant lose water through the process of respiration. (respiration)
3. This water moves into the atmosphere as water vapor. (transpiration)
4. Then condensation takes place to form clouds. (condensation)
5. Water falls to the ground as precipitation (rainfall, dew) (precipitation)
6. The water which falls on the ground drains/infiltrates into the soil. (run-off & drainage)
7. Some water run-off into the rivers, dams and the process starts again. (cycle repeats again)

Question 6

Significance of ground water

Answer 6

• This water is less likely to be polluted compared to surface water which makes it fit for consumption.
• For irrigation purposes.
• For fish farming.
• For construction.

Question 7

Soil moisture can be conserved by:

Answer 7

• Mulching:
  Is the practice of covering the soil surface with a layer of decomposing materials

Question 8

List the advantages of mulching:

Answer 8

• It keeps the soil cool and damp at all times.
• Prevent weed germination.
• Increase soil fertility
• Prevent soil erosion.

Question 9

List the disadvantages of mulching:

Answer 9

• It attracts pests.
• Encourages the spread of fungal diseases.

Question 10

Why mulch should never touch the stem of plants?

Answer 10

• Because it creates warm, wet and damp conditions which encourages the spread of fungal diseases.

Question 11

Define minimum tillage:

Answer 11

• Is the process of conserving soil moisture by not digging or ploughing unnecessarily.

Question 12

List the advantages of minimum tillage:

Answer 12

• Save labor
• Reduce evaporation

Question 13

List the disadvantages of minimum tillage:

Answer 13

• Poor drainage and aeration.
• Difficult for plant roots to punctuate the unloosened soil.