Neco Model Questions Vol1 2017 Agricultural Science Question 6

Maize is harvested weighing \(10\,000\) kg with a moisture content of \(25\%\) (wet basis). The safe storage moisture is \(13\%\). At \(35\,^{\circ}\text{C}\) the moisture content falls by \(0.5\) percentage points per day with no other loss. At \(45\,^{\circ}\text{C}\) the moisture content falls by \(0.8\) percentage points per day but a volatilisation loss of \(2\%\) of the current weight occurs each day in addition to the water removed. The farmer dries the crop for three days at \(35\,^{\circ}\text{C}\) and then switches to \(45\,^{\circ}\text{C}\) until the moisture reaches the target. Determine (a) the total weight of maize after drying (to the nearest kilogram), (b) the total number of drying days, and (c) the percentage loss of the original dry‑matter (dry matter corresponds to the weight at \(0\%\) moisture).