Question

4(a) Discuss the cultivation of cotton under the following headings: (i) planting material (ii) spacing (iii) two varieties (iv) harvesting (v) two pests (vi) two uses.
(b) State five advantages of introducing a new variety of banana into an area.
(c) Mention four routine management practices that should be carried out by a farmer in rearing layers in the battery cage.

Accepted Answer

(a) Cultivation of cotton:
(i) Planting material: By seeds; By cuttings.
(ii) Spacing: 30cm x 90cm; 45cm x 90cm; 60cm x 100cm.
(iii) Two varieties (any two): Gossypium hirsutum; Gossypium barbadense; Gossypium arboreum; Gossypium herbaceum.
(iv) Harvesting: Handpicking of lint; Mechanical harvesting with a cotton harvester/cotton picker.
(v) Two pests (any two): Cotton stainer; Flea hopper; Thrip; Grasshopper; Bollworm.
(vi) Two uses (any two): Used in the textile industry for garment making; Cotton seed oil is used for cooking; Cotton seed cake is used in compounding livestock feeds; Cotton seed oil is used for margarine and soap making; Hulls are used for fertilizer and synthetic rubber.

(b) Advantages of introducing a new variety of banana (any five):
- May introduce variability not present in existing crops
- Produces new plant species
- Produces superior varieties
- Easy to perform
- Quick and economical
- The new crop adapts to the local environment
- May enhance productivity/increase yield of banana

(c) Routine management practices for layers in the battery cage (any four):
- Feeding
- Watering
- Deworming
- Isolation of sick birds
- Vaccination
- Culling of unproductive birds
- Debeaking
- Quarantine

WAEC Agricultural Science 2025 Theory — Question 4

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