2022 JAMB AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Germination requires specific conditions for a seed to sprout and develop into a seedling. Most conditions support growth, but zero temperature prevents germination. Seeds need viable seeds, adequate moisture, and optimum temperature to successfully germinate.

Dibbling is a precise planting method where seeds are individually placed in small holes created by a stick or knife. This technique allows for precise seed placement and helps ensure proper seed-to-soil contact, which is crucial for germination.

Germination is the crucial biological process where a dormant seed begins active growth when environmental conditions are suitable. This involves the seed absorbing water, activating enzymes, and the embryo starting to develop and emerge from the seed coat.

Emergence is the agricultural term describing when a seedling first breaks through the soil surface. This marks the transition from seed to young plant, indicating successful germination and the start of the plant’s above-ground growth phase.

Seedlings are the young plants that develop from seeds after germination. They represent the early stage of plant growth, characterized by initial leaf development and root establishment before becoming mature plants.

Planting operations involve careful planning of space, time, and depth to ensure optimal crop growth. Planting weed is not a standard consideration in agricultural practices, making it the incorrect option among the listed choices.

Planting depth is a critical factor in seed germination and crop establishment. It determines the seed’s access to moisture, temperature, and nutrients, which directly impact the seed’s ability to sprout and develop into a healthy plant.

A nursery is a controlled environment for seedling production, allowing farmers to provide optimal conditions for young plants before transplanting. This method helps protect delicate seedlings and ensures stronger, more uniform plant growth before field transfer.

Post-planting operations include activities like thinning, supplying, and mulching to maintain crop health and optimize growth. Ridging, while an important agricultural practice, is typically a pre-planting or planting operation, not a post-planting activity.

Thinning is the process of removing excess seedlings to reduce competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight. This practice ensures remaining plants have sufficient space and resources to grow healthily and develop to their full potential.

Irrigation is the systematic process of supplying water to crops through artificial means when natural rainfall is insufficient. This agricultural technique ensures consistent moisture for crop growth, especially in areas with irregular precipitation or during dry seasons.

Cribs are specialized storage structures designed specifically for grain storage. They provide ventilation and protection from moisture and pests, making them an ideal method for preserving harvested grains like corn and other cereal crops.

Nursery cultivation allows seedlings to develop in a controlled environment with optimal conditions. This method ensures that young plants receive adequate protection, nutrition, and care before being transplanted to the main field, helping to establish stronger, more resilient crops.

Weeding is a crucial agricultural practice that involves removing unwanted plants (weeds) from cultivated areas. Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight, potentially reducing crop yield and overall farm productivity.

Subsistence agriculture is characterized by small-scale farming primarily for family consumption. Contrary to the option, requiring a large area of land is not typical of subsistence farming, which usually involves small plots with limited resources and labor.

Rice processing involves several steps including threshing, winnowing, and parboiling. Fermentation is not a standard process in typical rice processing techniques, making it the unique option in this list of rice preparation methods.

Ploughing is the initial soil preparation method that involves turning and breaking up the soil to prepare it for planting. It is the first and most fundamental tillage operation, helping to create a suitable seedbed by breaking compacted soil and incorporating organic matter.

Climatic factors typically involve dynamic environmental elements like air, sunlight, and rainfall that impact living organisms. Rocks are a geological feature and not a climatic factor, making them the exception in this list of organism-affecting environmental elements.

Polygastric animals have multiple stomach chambers for efficient digestion of plant material. Pigs are monogastric animals with a single-chambered stomach, distinguishing them from ruminants like cattle, deer, and sheep which have complex digestive systems.

Autecology focuses on studying individual organisms and their specific interactions with their environment. This branch of ecology examines how a single species adapts, survives, and responds to various environmental conditions and challenges.

Soil profile is a vertical cross-section of soil that reveals different horizontal layers (horizons) with distinct characteristics. It helps scientists and farmers understand soil composition, formation, and potential agricultural suitability.

The A-Horizon, or topsoil, is the uppermost layer of soil rich in organic matter and biological activity. This layer is crucial for plant growth, containing most of the nutrients and supporting root development and microbial life.

The B-Horizon, or subsoil, is the layer beneath the topsoil. It typically contains less organic matter but more minerals and clay, and plays a crucial role in water retention and root penetration for deeper plant growth.

Malnutrition describes a condition where an animal’s diet lacks essential nutrients in sufficient quantities. This can lead to various health problems, reduced productivity, and impaired growth in livestock.

Ration refers to the total amount of feed provided to an animal over a specific period. It represents the complete daily dietary intake designed to meet the animal’s nutritional requirements for maintenance, growth, or production.

Maintenance ration provides exactly the nutrients required to sustain an animal’s basic metabolic functions. It prevents weight loss or gain, ensuring the animal maintains its current body condition with minimal nutritional excess.

Production ration provides nutrients beyond basic maintenance to support specific productive activities like milk production, weight gain, or egg laying. It’s tailored to meet the additional nutritional demands of livestock during productive phases.

Carbohydrates are the primary energy-providing nutrients in animal diets. They are efficiently metabolized to produce heat and fuel various bodily functions, distinguishing them from proteins, minerals, and fats which have additional physiological roles.

Nutritional deficiency occurs when an animal’s diet lacks essential nutrients, leading to specific health problems. This condition can result from insufficient intake or imbalanced nutrition, potentially causing various physiological and metabolic disorders.

Fish preservation involves techniques to maintain quality and prevent spoilage. Processing is actually a key aspect of preservation, making it the exception in this list of prevention strategies. Other methods aim to prevent injury, spoilage, and destruction.

A tractor is a versatile agricultural machine designed for multiple farming operations. It can pull implements, power machinery, and perform various tasks essential in modern agricultural practices, making it a crucial piece of farm equipment.

Different types of planters are designed for specific agricultural needs. A ridger planter is not a standard planter type, distinguishing it from broadcast, row crop, and grain drill planters used in various farming contexts.

Harvesters are specialized machines for collecting crops. A plough is a tillage implement used for soil preparation, not a harvesting machine, making it distinct from mowers, forage harvesters, and combine harvesters.

Sprayers are agricultural tools used for applying liquids like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Planting seeds is not a function of a sprayer, distinguishing it from other listed uses such as weed control, pest management, and disinfectant application.

Tractor-coupled implements are attachments designed to be connected and operated by a tractor. An incubator is a standalone device for hatching eggs, not a farm implement that can be directly coupled to a tractor, unlike harrows, ridgers, and ploughs.

Agricultural extension is a systematic approach to providing farmers with knowledge, skills, and innovative agricultural techniques. It serves as a bridge between agricultural research institutions and farming communities, helping to improve agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.

Agricultural extension aims to educate farmers, improve rural living standards, and identify market channels. Abandoning rural area development is contrary to the core objectives of agricultural extension, which focuses on community empowerment and agricultural progress.

Agricultural extension principles typically emphasize building audience confidence, continuous program evaluation, and maintaining flexibility. Reducing audience confidence is contrary to effective extension strategies, which aim to build trust and facilitate knowledge transfer.

Mass media method is an effective approach in agricultural extension to disseminate information widely and quickly. It helps reach a large audience, creating awareness about new agricultural techniques, technologies, and innovations across diverse communities.

Agricultural extension programs typically include initiatives like agro-service centers, Operation Feed the Nation, and Green Revolution. Red Revolution is not a standard agricultural extension program, making it the exception in this list of recognized agricultural development initiatives.