2013 JAMB AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Population growth drives agricultural expansion as more people require increased food production. This necessitates developing more agricultural land, improving crop yields, and implementing advanced farming techniques to meet growing nutritional demands.

The rainforest zone of Nigeria is characterized by high rainfall and suitable conditions for root crops and some grains. Maize, cocoyam, and cassava thrive in this region due to its moisture-rich environment and fertile soil conditions.

Gonads are reproductive organs responsible for producing gametes and hormones. In male animals, these are testes, while in females, they are ovaries. These organs play a crucial role in sexual reproduction and hormone production.

Irrigation and fertilizer are essential inputs for crop growth. Irrigation provides necessary water, while fertilizers supply critical nutrients, promoting plant development, improving soil fertility, and ensuring optimal crop health and productivity.

Mixed farming involves simultaneously cultivating crops and raising livestock on the same farm. This approach diversifies agricultural production, improves resource utilization, and provides multiple income streams for farmers.

Soil classification depends on the proportion of mineral matter, which determines texture and composition. Different mineral matter percentages influence soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and overall agricultural productivity.

Basalt is a common igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of volcanic lava. These rocks are created through the solidification of molten material from volcanic eruptions, typically comprising dark-colored minerals like pyroxene and plagioclase.

Run-off water is the most destructive erosion agent, causing significant soil displacement. Water movement across land surfaces can remove topsoil, create gullies, and dramatically alter landscape morphology, especially in areas with steep slopes or limited vegetation.

Continuous cropping involves repeatedly growing the same crop in the same field without rotation. This practice depletes specific soil nutrients, reduces organic matter, increases pest vulnerability, and gradually diminishes soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

Minimum tillage is most appropriate for maize cultivation. This method involves minimal soil disturbance, preserves soil structure, reduces erosion, maintains moisture, and helps conserve soil organic matter while preparing the land for maize planting.

Root nodules are specialized structures on legume roots that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These symbiotic structures allow plants to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by the plant, enhancing soil fertility and providing crucial nutrients for plant growth.

Root nodules are primarily associated with nitrogen fixation. These specialized structures host symbiotic bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a process crucial for leguminous plants’ nutrition and soil fertility improvement.

Self-pollination occurs when pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same plant. This process ensures genetic consistency and is common in many self-fertilizing plant species, helping maintain pure breeding lines.

Stem, root, and leaf are commonly used in vegetative propagation. These plant parts can develop new roots or shoots, allowing farmers to create genetically identical offspring without using seeds, which is particularly useful for preserving desirable plant characteristics.

Drilling is the most appropriate planting method for mechanized, mono-cropped farms. This technique involves planting seeds in continuous rows at uniform depths and distances, facilitating efficient machinery use, consistent crop growth, and simplified farm management.

Sandy loam soil provides the ideal growing conditions for jute and kenaf. This soil type offers excellent drainage, good aeration, and sufficient nutrient retention, supporting these fiber crops’ optimal growth and development.

Soilage refers to fresh, green forage crops that are cut and immediately fed to livestock. This method ensures high nutritional value, prevents waste, and provides a controlled feeding approach for animals, particularly in intensive farming systems.

Floriculture is the branch of horticulture focused on cultivating flowers and ornamental plants. This field encompasses flower production, breeding, marketing, and landscape design, playing a significant role in both agricultural and aesthetic industries.

Weeds can help control erosion by stabilizing soil with their root systems. They prevent soil displacement, reduce water runoff velocity, and protect the land’s surface, demonstrating that not all plant growth is detrimental to agricultural ecosystems.

Bemisia nigerensis, a type of whitefly, is responsible for transmitting cassava mosaic disease. This insect vector spreads the viral infection between plants, causing significant crop damage and reducing cassava yield in affected regions.

Leaf miners are destructive pests that tunnel through plant leaves, causing significant damage to sweet potato foliage. Their larvae create intricate mines within leaf tissues, disrupting photosynthesis and weakening the plant’s overall health.

Nutrient recycling is the primary mechanism sustaining soil fertility in forest ecosystems. Decomposing organic matter, fallen leaves, and constant biological activity ensure continuous nutrient replenishment, maintaining the soil’s rich and productive nature.

The Mendelian law of segregation describes genetic inheritance patterns where recessive traits hidden in the first generation (F1) reappear in the second generation (F2) at a specific ratio. This principle is fundamental to understanding genetic inheritance and trait expression.

Yankasa sheep are widely distributed across Nigeria, known for their adaptability to various climatic conditions. This breed is prevalent in northern Nigeria and is valued for its meat production and resilience in diverse agricultural environments.

A heifer is a young female cattle that has not yet given birth to a calf or reached full maturity. This term specifically describes female cattle before their first calving, representing a critical stage in cattle development and breeding.

Pigs are monogastric animals, possessing a single-chambered stomach characteristic of simple-stomached mammals. Unlike ruminants, they cannot digest cellulose efficiently and require a different nutritional approach in animal husbandry.

Treading is the specific term for mating in poultry. This process involves the rooster mounting the hen, facilitating fertilization and egg production in domestic bird breeding systems.

Secretions from the vulva are a key indicator of heat (estrus) in female farm animals. These mucous discharges signal the animal’s reproductive readiness and fertility, helping farmers identify optimal breeding periods.

Vitamin E is crucial in livestock nutrition as an anti-sterility vitamin. It plays a significant role in reproductive health, supporting fertility and preventing sterility in breeding animals by protecting cellular membranes.

Incubators typically maintain a relative humidity between 70-80%. This specific humidity range is critical for proper egg development, preventing excessive moisture loss and ensuring optimal conditions for embryonic growth.

Avian influenza is caused by a virus, making it a highly contagious and potentially devastating disease in poultry populations. These viral pathogens can rapidly spread and cause significant economic losses in the agricultural sector.

Stocking is the process of introducing specific plankton species into a pond ecosystem. This practice helps establish a balanced aquatic environment, supporting fish nutrition and overall pond productivity.

Pedigree selection involves choosing breeding animals based on the performance and characteristics of their ancestors. This method helps identify and propagate superior genetic traits across generations in livestock breeding.

Management is the most critical factor of production in crop farming. Effective management integrates land, labor, and capital, making strategic decisions that optimize agricultural productivity and resource utilization.

Point III represents the optimal stage to cease input addition. At this point, diminishing returns begin, where additional inputs yield progressively smaller increases in output, indicating the most economically efficient production point.

Elastic demand occurs when a price change brings about a proportionally greater change in the quantity of goods demanded. This economic concept demonstrates the sensitivity of consumer purchasing behavior to price fluctuations.

Farm labor is typically measured in hours or days of work. This quantitative approach allows farmers to track productivity, calculate wages, and manage workforce efficiency in agricultural operations.

Date of employment is a crucial piece of information in farm payroll records. This detail helps track worker tenure, calculate wages, and maintain comprehensive human resource documentation in agricultural enterprises.

Hoarding involves deliberately withholding goods from the market to create artificial scarcity. This practice can manipulate prices and supply, potentially affecting agricultural product availability and market dynamics.