2019 JAMB AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Rice requires careful nursery practices due to its sensitive seedling stage. Nursery techniques help protect young rice plants from environmental stresses and ensure uniform, healthy growth before transplanting to the main field. Other cereal crops like maize and millet are typically direct-seeded.

Groundnuts typically take 4-5 months from planting to harvest. This period allows for full pod development and seed maturation. The maturity duration can vary slightly depending on the specific variety and growing conditions.

Oil palm requires slightly acidic to neutral soil conditions. The optimal pH range of 5.5-6.5 ensures proper nutrient availability and root development. Soils outside this range can limit nutrient uptake and negatively impact tree growth.

Yam tubers are best stored at 13°C to minimize sprouting and maintain quality. This temperature helps preserve the tuber’s nutritional value and prevents premature germination while preventing cold damage. Temperatures outside this range can accelerate spoilage or cause physiological changes.

These are specific cultivated varieties of oil palm. Each variety has distinct characteristics in terms of fruit size, oil content, and palm tree structure. These varieties are important in oil palm breeding and commercial palm oil production.

Cowpea is a leguminous crop used primarily for food and fodder, unlike the other options which are associated with oil production. It is an important protein source and nitrogen-fixing crop in agricultural systems.

Tenera is a specific variety of oil palm developed through hybridization. It is known for higher oil yield and is widely used in commercial palm oil production. Amelonado and Trinitario are varieties associated with cocoa, not oil palm.

Fertilizer should be applied before the knee-high stage to ensure optimal nutrient uptake during critical growth phases. This timing allows nutrients to be available during vegetative growth and early reproductive stages, supporting maximum crop yield and development.

Coffee plants thrive in slightly acidic soils with a pH range of 6.0-6.5. This pH range optimizes nutrient availability, particularly for essential micronutrients. Soils outside this range can negatively impact coffee plant growth and bean quality.

Phosphorus (P) is a highly immobile nutrient in plants. Once deposited in plant tissues, it cannot easily move to other parts of the plant. This immobility makes precise fertilization crucial for ensuring adequate phosphorus distribution throughout the plant.

Blast is a serious fungal disease affecting rice crops, caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae. It can significantly reduce crop yield by attacking leaves, stems, and grains. The disease thrives in humid conditions and can cause extensive damage to rice production.

A soil is considered alkaline when its pH is above 7.0. This indicates a high concentration of hydroxyl ions, which can affect nutrient availability and plant growth. Alkaline soils typically have reduced nutrient uptake and can limit crop productivity.

Rice is particularly known for its silicon requirement. Silicon helps strengthen plant cell walls, improves resistance to pathogens, and enhances overall plant structural integrity. It is especially crucial for grass family crops like rice to improve stress tolerance and disease resistance.

Phalaris minor is a significant weed associated with wheat cultivation. It is a problematic grass weed that competes with wheat for nutrients, water, and sunlight, potentially reducing crop yield and quality if not properly managed.

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops in sequence on the same land. This method helps maintain soil fertility, break pest and disease cycles, and optimize nutrient utilization. It is a key strategy in sustainable agricultural management to improve soil health and crop productivity.

Rinderpest is primarily transmitted through contact between infected and healthy animals. Close proximity allows direct spread of the viral disease, making it highly contagious among cattle herds. Proper isolation and vaccination are crucial for preventing its transmission.

Pox diseases in livestock are viral infections that affect the skin and mucous membranes. These viruses can cause characteristic lesions and significant health issues in animals. Different species have specific pox viruses that can lead to economic losses in livestock farming.

Calcium and phosphorus are critical minerals for egg shell formation in poultry. They work together to ensure proper shell thickness and strength. Deficiency in these minerals can lead to weak, thin-shelled eggs that are prone to breakage, reducing egg quality and economic value.

Iodine is crucial for producing thyrozine (thyroid hormone), which regulates metabolism, growth, and development in animals. Proper iodine intake ensures optimal thyroid function, affecting various physiological processes in livestock.

Tupping is the specific term used for mating in sheep. It refers to the process of breeding rams (male sheep) with ewes (female sheep) during the reproductive season. This term is unique to sheep breeding practices in animal husbandry.

Fertilizers in fishponds primarily provide nutrients for plankton growth. Plankton forms the base of the aquatic food chain, supporting fish nutrition and increasing overall pond productivity. This practice enhances natural fish feed and improves the pond’s ecosystem.

Land race is not a specific rabbit breed. New Zealand White, Chinchilla, and Californian White are recognized rabbit breeds used in commercial and domestic rabbit farming. Land race typically refers to a local variety of livestock or crop adapted to specific environmental conditions.

Ureter is not part of the reproductive system in a hen. It is part of the excretory system responsible for urine transportation. The reproductive system includes parts like ovary, funnel, and isthmus, which are crucial for egg production and reproduction.

A good silage should be free of moulds. Mould growth indicates improper fermentation and can lead to spoilage, reducing nutritional value and potentially causing health risks to livestock. Proper silage-making techniques prevent mould development.

Animal power is the most unreliable farm power source. Animals can be inconsistent due to fatigue, health issues, or behavioral variations. Mechanical and electrical power sources typically provide more consistent and predictable energy for farm operations.

Ploughing is not the correct machinery for simultaneous seed sowing and fertilizer application. The question refers to a planter or drill, which is specifically designed to plant seeds and distribute fertilizer in a single pass, improving efficiency in crop establishment.

Plough is an implement or tool, not a power source. Farm power sources include wind, bulls, and tractors. A plough is a farming implement used for preparing soil, typically powered by one of these energy sources.

Datun is not a standard farm survey equipment. Cross staff, Abney level, and chain are typical instruments used in farm surveying and land measurement. Datun is not a recognized tool in agricultural surveying practices.

Engine oil requires daily checking in a tractor. Regular oil level and condition checks are crucial for maintaining tractor performance, preventing mechanical wear, and ensuring optimal engine function. This is a critical maintenance practice in farm machinery management.

Cultivating more varieties of crops is an effective strategy to address food shortage. Crop diversification increases food security, improves nutrition, reduces risk from crop failures, and enhances overall agricultural productivity and resilience.

Lack of good food is not an importance of agriculture; in fact, agriculture aims to prevent food shortage. The primary roles of agriculture include providing food, creating employment opportunities, and generating markets for industrial goods.

Subsistence agriculture typically requires both skilled and unskilled labour, contrary to the statement in option D. Traditional features include small-scale farming by peasant farmers, using family labour, and often having limited pest and disease control.

Freehold system is a legitimate land tenure system where an individual has complete ownership of land. It provides the landowner with full rights to use, sell, or transfer the land. Other options are either incorrect or fabricated land tenure descriptions.

Kidding is not a branch of agriculture. Forestry, fishery, and agricultural economics are recognized branches or sub-disciplines within agricultural science. Kidding is a term related to goat reproduction, not a distinct agricultural branch.

Agricultural produce demand is typically inelastic. This means that changes in price have a relatively small impact on the quantity demanded. People need food as a basic necessity, so demand remains relatively stable regardless of minor price fluctuations.

Money Lenders are the primary source of loans for rural farmers. Due to limited access to formal banking systems, rural farmers often rely on local moneylenders, despite potentially high interest rates. Formal institutions like government and merchant banks have limited rural outreach.

Family labour is the primary type of labour used by peasant farmers. This involves family members working together on their small agricultural holdings, reducing the need for paid labour and minimizing production costs.

Entrepreneurship is the factor of production rewarded with profit. Entrepreneurs take risks, combine other factors of production, and bear the uncertainty of business ventures, with profit being their primary economic reward.

Depreciation refers to the reduction in value of farm structures and equipment over time due to use, wear, and aging. It represents the gradual loss of economic value of agricultural assets throughout their useful life.

Soil texture refers to the distribution of different sizes of soil particles in a given sample. It describes the proportions of sand, silt, and clay, which significantly influence soil properties like water retention, drainage, and nutrient availability.