Neco Model Questions Vol1 2023 Agricultural Science Question 8

Practice essay / theory question 8 from the 2023 Neco Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination. This question covers Plant Diseases .

Neco Model Questions Vol1 2023 Agricultural Science Essay / Theory
Topic: Plant Diseases
Question 8 NECO_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1 • 2023 • AGRICULTURAL_SCIENCE • essay

A farmer observes wilting and yellowing of leaves on 30% of cassava plants in a 2 ha field. Laboratory analysis identifies the causal agent as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Fusarium wilt). The pathogen produces spores that can survive in soil for up to 5 years. Disease spread follows the model: proportion infected in the next season = p + r × (current proportion infected), where p is the primary infection rate from soil inoculum (0.02) and r is the secondary spread rate (1.2).

Question Parts

( a )
Calculate the expected proportion of infected plants in the next cropping season.
( b )
Assuming the yield loss is 0.8 t/ha when 30% of plants are infected and loss scales linearly with proportion infected, estimate the expected yield loss per hectare for the next season.
( c )
Propose an integrated disease management plan comprising (i) a cultural practice, (ii) a chemical control, and (iii) a resistant variety, explaining the role of each component.

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About This Question

This is Neco Model Questions Vol1 2023 Agricultural Science Question 8. It is one of the essay questions from the 2023 Neco Model Questions Vol1 Agricultural Science examination.

The question covers Plant Diseases .

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