Waec Model Questions Vol1 2020 Agricultural Science Question 1

Practice practical question 1 from the 2020 Waec Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination. This question covers Agricultural Ecology, Microclimate, Experimental design .

Waec Model Questions Vol1 2020 Agricultural Science Practical
Topics: Agricultural Ecology Microclimate Experimental design
Question 1 WAEC_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2020 • AGRICULTURAL_SCIENCE • practical

A researcher wants to investigate how different shade intensities affect the soil temperature in a maize field. Three identical 5 m × 5 m plots are each covered with a shade net that reduces sunlight by 30 %, 50 % and 70 % respectively. An uncovered plot will serve as the control. Soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm is to be recorded with a mercury thermometer at 09:00 h for five consecutive days.

Question Parts

( a )
State a complete step‑by‑step procedure for setting up the experiment and for recording the temperature data. Include how you would organise the data in a table.
( b )
The following temperatures (°C) were obtained: | Day | Control | 30 % shade | 50 % shade | 70 % shade | |-----|---------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | 1 | 28.4 | 26.9 | 25.5 | 24.2 | | 2 | 27.8 | 26.5 | 25.1 | 23.9 | | 3 | 28.1 | 26.7 | 25.3 | 24.0 | | 4 | 27.5 | 26.2 | 24.9 | 23.7 | | 5 | 28.0 | 26.8 | 25.4 | 24.1 | Calculate the mean temperature for each plot, identify which shade level gives the lowest average temperature, and determine the percentage reduction in mean temperature of that plot relative to the control.
( c )
Mention two possible sources of error in this experiment and suggest one way to minimise each.

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This is Waec Model Questions Vol1 2020 Agricultural Science Question 1. It is one of the practical questions from the 2020 Waec Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination.

The question covers Agricultural Ecology, Microclimate, Experimental design .

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