All 50 questions from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Agricultural Science 2023 Objective paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.
Advertisement
The storage structure usually installed by the government for bulk storage of grains in West Africa is A.
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed (known as silage).
Rural-urban migration of farm labour could be prevented by A.
Establishing agro-based industries is one of the ways of preventing rural-urban migration.
The farming system generally recommended for farm settlement scheme is A.
Mixed farming refers to the cultivation of crops alongside the rearing of animals.
The part of a disc plough to which discs are connected is A.
It is the standard that connects the disc bearing and the beam/frame.
A combing harvester is mainly used for harvesting A.
A combine harvester is used mainly for harvesting grain crops -- wheat, oats, rice, sorghum, millet, barley etc. (The diagrams below illustrate different sources of farm power. Study them and answer questions 6, 7 and 8.)
Which of the illustrated sources of farm power is the cheapest?
Human power is the most common and cheapest source of power.
The machinery illustrated in diagram III could be used to power I. planters II. dryers III. Sprayers
Tractor-mounted implements include planters, sprayers, harrow, plough, spreader, combine harvester etc.
Which of the illustrated sources of farm power decreases in efficiency due to constant use? A. I and II only B. I and III only C. II and III only D. I, II and III
Due to wear and tear and lack of adequate maintenance, mechanical power can decrease in efficiency over time. Human power and the use of farm animals can also decrease in efficiency over time due to constant use, attributed to fatigue, injury, health issues and ageing.
High relative humidity in a brooder house could lead to A.
High humidity decreases poultry heat loss (from the lungs). This makes birds more prone to heat stress; it also causes build up of pests and diseases.
Day-neutral crops are crops that produce flowers regardless of A.
A day-neutral plant is a plant that produces flowers, regardless of the length of the period of light it is exposed to. Tomatoes, corn and cucumbers are good examples of day-neutral plants.
Which of the following tools are used in soil analysis? I. pH meter II. Sieve III. Hygrometer
pH meter and sieve are useful in soil analysis. The hygrometer is used for measuring relative humidity.
If 200 ml of water was poured on a soil sample in a beaker and 25% of the water drained through the soil, determine the amount of water retained in the soil.
Total volume of water poured = 200ml. % drained = 25%. Volume of water drained = 25/100 x 200ml = 50ml. Volume of water retained = 200ml-50ml = 150ml.
Soil structure is described as the A.
Soil structure refers to how particles are grouped together into aggregate.
A beneficial effect of bush burning is that it A.
Bush burning has a tendency to encourage rapid regeneration of grasses. (The diagram below illustrates a method of compost making. Study it and answer questions 15, 16 and 17.)
The method of compost making illustrated in the diagram is A.
The diagram illustrates the pit method of compost making.
The part labelled I is used for A.
It is used for turning the compost materials. Turning and mixing from time to time will help speed up the decomposition process.
A material that could be used as starter in the method of compost making illustrated is A.
Materials for making compost include straw, hay, fallen leaves etc; blood can be used as a starter/activator.
The bacterium which is responsible for conversion of ammonium compounds to nitrites in the nitrogen cycle is A.
Nitrosomonas converts ammonium compounds to nitrites, Nitrobacter converts nitrites to nitrates.
Which of the following statements about underground drainage is true? A.
Drainage tiles are a network or system of underground pipes that siphon away excess water from the soil.
Monocotyledonous crops are characterized by A.
Monocots show parallel venation while dicots show branched venation. Monocots have fibrous roots while dicots have tap roots.
Maceration is carried out in the processing of A.
In the processing of oil palm, maceration is done to separate the oil-bearing mesocarp from the palm kernels.
If the seed rate for the cultivation of cowpea is 25 kg per hectare, determine the quantity of cowpea seeds required to cultivate a farmland measuring 100 m by 500 m.
1 hectare = 10,000 sq.m. Size of farmland = 100m x 500m = 50,000 sq.m. Since 25kg is required per hectare, mass required for 50,000 sq.m = (25kg/10,000 sq.m) x 50,000 sq.m = 125 kg.
Cotton seeds often require a nursery stage before being transplanted into the field. The purpose of a nursery is to provide a controlled environment where the seeds can germinate and develop into healthy seedlings before being transferred to the main field for further growth.
Cotton seeds require a nursery stage before being transplanted into the field. The purpose of a nursery is to provide a controlled environment where the seeds can germinate and develop into healthy seedlings before being transferred to the main field for further growth. (The diagram below illustrates a farm operation. Study it and answer questions 24 and 25.)
The illustrated farm operation is known as A.
Winnowing is the process of separating the lighter chaff or husks from the heavier grains or seeds by allowing them to be carried away by the wind or through the use of air currents.
Examples of crops which require the illustrated farm operation are A.
Grains such as wheat, barley, rice and millet are crops in which winnowing method is used.
The reduction of three seedlings of maize to two plants per stand is referred to as A.
Thinning is a term used to refer to the removal of some plants to make room for the growth of others.
Seedlings are best transplanted in the field A.
Seedlings are best transplanted in the field early in the morning and late in the evening (this protects them from direct sun).
Which of the following combinations of NPK fertilizer is recommended for the cultivation of yam and cassava? A.
The recommended fertilizer for the cultivation of yam and cassava is NPK 20:10:10 (per the WAEC key, answer A).
Post-planting operations in cocoa plantation include I. rogueing II. stumping III. mulching
Thinning, caping, fertilizer application, weeding and staking are some of other post planting operations.
Examples of cover crops are A.
Centrosema pubescens is grown as a cover crop because it naturally suppresses weeds and is very resistant to drought. Mucuna is also a very good cover crop.
Which of the following products is not a primary forest product? A.
Primary forest products are those materials obtained directly from the forest e.g. timber, fuelwood (i.e. firewood) and mushroom.
A major reason for encouraging afforestation in arid regions of West Africa is to A.
Afforestation serves as wind breaker in that the trees in the forest act as a barrier and block the wind.
Ornamental plants are primarily cultivated to A.
Ornamental plants are primarily cultivated to beautify the environment.
Cotton stainer is an insect pest of A.
Cotton stainer is a significant pest of okro. These insects may feed for several days on okra plants, leaving black spots on the dry pods.
The number of teats in the udder of a cow is A.
The udder of a cow has four quarters, with each quarter having a teat. (The diagram below illustrates a reproductive process in a farm animal. Study it and answer questions 36, 37 and 38.)
The reproductive process illustrated by the diagram is A.
Gestation is simply the process in which babies grow inside their mother's body before they are born.
The parts which protect the foetus from mechanical injury are labelled A.
I (amniotic fluid) and II (amnion) protect the foetus from mechanical injury.
The foetus obtains dissolved oxygen and nutrients from the dam through the parts labelled A.
The foetus obtains dissolved oxygen and nutrients from the dam (mother animal) through the placenta (labelled III) here. The umbilical cord (labelled IV) connects the placenta to the foetus.
Assuming a sow was serviced on May 1 and conceived the same day, the expected date of parturition is A.
The gestation period of a sow is 115 days. Thus, if a sow is serviced on May 1 and conceived the same day, the expected date of parturition is August 24.
In a poultry farm, 2,000 birds were laying an average of 1,680 eggs per day. What is the percentage of birds that did not lay eggs? A.
Generally, birds lay one egg per day. So, if 1,680 eggs are obtained per day and there are 2,000 birds, it means 1,680 birds are laying while the rest are not. Number of birds not laying = 2,000-1,680=320. % not laying = 320/2000 x100% = 16%.
If an egg tray contains 30 eggs, how many trays of eggs would be collected in one week?
Number of eggs collected per day = 1,680. In one week, we have 1,680x7=11,760. Since an egg tray contains 30 eggs, number of trays collected = 11,670/30 = 392 (per the worked key).
Steaming up ration should be fed to A.
Steaming up refers to the practice of giving extra and highly nutritious diet to a pregnant animal for a few weeks before parturition to stimulate milk synthesis and secretion.
Which of the following pairs of livestock diseases could be contracted through inhalation? A.
Anthrax and tuberculosis can be contracted through inhalation.
Which of the following farm enterprise could best be combined with fish farming for mutual benefits? I. Vegetable production II. Beekeeping III. Poultry production
Vegetable production and poultry production can efficiently be combined with fish farming for mutual benefits. This is known as integrated fish farming.
A pest of honeybee is A.
Birds are notable pests of honeybee. Some species of birds such as starlings, magpies and crows are known to raid beehives and steal honey and bees. (Study the table below and use it to answer questions 46 and 47: Cost Price #20,000, Useful life 5 Years, Salvage value #1,000, Annual Depreciation #15,000, Total Depreciation Y; Cost Price #60,000, Useful life 10 Years, Salvage value #18,000, Annual Depreciation #4,200/annum, Total Depreciation Z.)
The useful life represented by Y in the illustrated table is A.
Since the annual depreciation is #1,000/annum, the number of years to have a total depreciation of #15,000 is 15.
The total depreciation represented by Z in the illustrated table is A.
Total depreciation = Annual depreciation x Useful life (years) = #4,200x10 = #42,000.
Grading of farm produce is important because it A.
Grading of farm produce is the process of categorizing and classifying agricultural products based on their quality. Grading provides a basis for price determination.
The risk of production in agricultural business is borne by the A.
The risk of production in agricultural business is borne by the farm owner.
In order to backup extension messages, an extension agent should A.
In order to back up extension messages, an extension agent should assist farmers in locating sources of farm inputs.
Advertisement
…and/or go further with premium services and No Ads.