Gce Model Questions Vol1 2021 Agricultural Science Question 5

Practice essay / theory question 5 from the 2021 Gce Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination. This question covers Soil fertility, Crop selection, Intercropping, Agricultural economics .

Gce Model Questions Vol1 2021 Agricultural Science Essay / Theory
Topics: Soil fertility Crop selection Intercropping Agricultural economics
Question 5 GCE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2021 • AGRICULTURAL_SCIENCE • essay

A farmer in northern Nigeria has 2 ha of land with sandy loam soil, pH 5.8, low organic matter, an average annual rainfall of 800 mm and a temperature range of 28–35°C. The farmer intends to grow maize as a cash crop and to intercrop it with cowpea to improve soil nitrogen. Answer the following:

Question Parts

( a )
Explain whether the given soil conditions are suitable or unsuitable for maize and for cowpea, citing the relevant soil properties.
( b )
Recommend a soil‑fertility management plan for the maize‑cowpea intercrop. Include (i) the amount of lime required to raise the pH to 6.5 (assume 1 t of CaCO₃ per ha raises pH by 0.2 units in sandy loam), (ii) the rate of organic amendment (apply 5 t/ha of well‑decomposed farmyard manure), and (iii) the nitrogen fertilizer rate needed for maize after accounting for the 30 kg N ha⁻¹ fixed by cowpea. Show all calculations.
( c )
Assuming expected yields of 4 t ha⁻¹ of maize and 1.5 t ha⁻¹ of cowpea, with market prices of ₦150,000 per tonne for maize and ₦120,000 per tonne for cowpea, calculate the gross income from the 2‑ha farm. Then estimate the total cost of the inputs recommended in part (b) (lime ₦10,000 per tonne, organic manure ₦5,000 per tonne, nitrogen fertilizer ₦30,000 per tonne). Finally, compute the net profit.

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About This Question

This is Gce Model Questions Vol1 2021 Agricultural Science Question 5. It is one of the essay questions from the 2021 Gce Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination.

The question covers Soil fertility, Crop selection, Intercropping, Agricultural economics .

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