Neco 2020 Agricultural Science Question 1

Practice practical question 1 from the 2020 Neco Agricultural Science examination. This question covers Agricultural Ecology .

Neco 2020 Agricultural Science Practical

Topic: Agricultural Ecology

Question 1 NECO • 2020 • AGRICULTURAL_SCIENCE • practical

A field experiment was set up to compare a monoculture of maize with an intercropping system of maize and cowpea. Two adjacent plots of equal size (20 m × 20 m) were prepared. Soil moisture (as % volume) and weed density (number of weeds per m²) were recorded weekly for four weeks. The data obtained are shown in the table below. | Week | Monocrop Soil Moisture (%) | Intercrop Soil Moisture (%) | Monocrop Weed Density (per m²) | Intercrop Weed Density (per m²) | |------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 1 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 9 | | 2 | 20 | 23 | 14 | 8 | | 3 | 19 | 22 | 13 | 7 | | 4 | 18 | 21 | 12 | 6 | Using the above information, answer the following questions:

( a )

Calculate the average soil moisture for the monocrop plot and for the intercropped plot over the four‑week period.

( b )

Determine the percentage reduction in average weed density in the intercropped plot compared with the monocrop plot.

( c )

Based on the results obtained, state which cropping system is more sustainable and give two reasons supporting your choice.

( d )

Mention two possible sources of error in this experiment and two precautions that could minimise them.

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This is Neco 2020 Agricultural Science Question 1. It is one of the practical questions from the 2020 Neco Agricultural Science examination.

The question covers Agricultural Ecology .

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