CSEC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2013 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers

State TWO factors that may affect food security in the Caribbean.

Belair Hotel Chain requires high quality eggs that are safe to consume. Suggest TWO good agricultural practices that farmers should follow to supply eggs to the hotel.

A farmer wants to harvest a 25-hectare plot of corn (Zea mays). He cannot harvest manually by himself.

State TWO possible ways to overcome this problem.

Figure 1 is a graph showing the effect of adding various quantities of fertilizer to a crop of corn.

Figure 1. Effect of adding various quantities of fertilizer to a crop of corn

Describe the effect of fertilizer on yield of corn, during Stages I and II of the production cycle.

Figures 2a and 2b represent the soil profile of two different soils. Study the soil profiles and answer the questions which follow.

Identify the layers labelled A and B.

A B

Which of the two soils, X or Y, is likely to be more fertile? Give ONE reason for your answer.

More fertile soil Reason

State TWO pieces of protective clothing to be worn when using a knapsack sprayer.

Figure 3 is a graph showing rainfall from December to June for a Caribbean country in which Farmer Joe plants sweet peppers.

Figure 3. Rainfall from December to June

Farmer Joe observes wilting throughout his field of sweet peppers. In which month is this MOST likely to occur?

Suggest ONE way in which wilting affects the yield of the crop.

Figure 4 is a drawing showing a technique used in rearing cows.

Figure 4. Technique used in rearing cows

Identify the technique shown in Figure 4.

Describe this technique.

Suggest TWO reasons why this technique is highly recommended.

What is meant by the term 'balanced ration'?

A farmer has two rations, one containing 16% crude protein and the other, 20% crude protein. Suggest which crude protein level is MOST likely present in a starter ration. Give ONE reason for your answer.

Crude protein level: Reason:

SECTION II Answer ALL questions in this section. Write your answers in the spaces provided in this booklet.

The rising price of wheat on the world market has led to increases in the price of flour in a Caribbean island. The government has decided to substitute 20% of wheat flour with cassava flour.

State THREE subsidies or incentives that the government could provide to farmers to encourage the expansion of cassava production.

Farmer Mary has prepared a complete budget for producing sweet potato on 10 hectares of land. She decides to purchase a tractor to assist in the clearing of land, instead of using a hired tractor service which costs $110 per hectare.

Table 1 shows Mary's projections for the tractor.

What type of budget should Mary do for the change in her plans, that is, to buy a tractor instead of hiring a tractor?

Identify TWO fixed costs and TWO variable costs in Table 1.

Fixed costs Variable costs

Calculate the annual depreciation on the tractor, using the following formula:

$\frac{\text{Cost of tractor} - \text{net disposable value of tractor}}{5} = \text{Depreciation}$

Mary also decides that she will rent her tractor at a cost of $100 per hectare to the other farmers in her district, who farm on a total of 50 hectares. Calculate the additional income that Mary will gain from renting the tractor to the other farmers. (Show your working.)

Calculate net change in profit or loss, using the following formula:

Net change in profit/loss = Additional Income - Additional Costs calculated in (iv) (shown in Table 1)

CSEC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2013 Questions

Question 1 (4 marks)

Question 2 (4 marks)

Figure 1. Effect of adding various quantities of fertilizer to a crop of corn

Question 3

Question 4 (4 marks)

Figure 3. Rainfall from December to June

Question 5 (4 marks)

Figure 4. Technique used in rearing cows

Question 6 (4 marks)

Question 7 (12 marks)