CSEC Agricultural Science Paper 2 May/June 2016 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers

Define the term 'soil erosion'.

Name the type of soil erosion shown in Figure 2.

Suggest TWO soil management practices which can be used to prevent the type of soil erosion shown in Figure 2.

(i) Briefly explain what is meant by the term 'secondary tillage'. (ii) Name ONE implement used in secondary tillage.

An extension officer advises Farmer George that he should dress properly and check his knapsack sprayer before applying pesticides.

(i) Name ONE piece of protective clothing that helps to prevent contamination when spraying pesticides with a knapsack sprayer. (ii) Suggest ONE safety check which should be performed on the knapsack sprayer before it is used.

Identify the structures labelled X and Y in the two digestive systems shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Digestive systems

The temperature in a poultry pen can increase considerably in the dry season. Suggest TWO ways in which high temperatures may affect the behaviour of broiler birds.

Define the term 'dressing percentage'.

The dressing percentages of two goats are 50% and 60% respectively. Suggest TWO reasons for the difference between the two dressing percentages.

State ONE difference between a partial budget and a complete budget.

Identify THREE fixed costs and THREE variable costs in Table 2. <br/> (i) Fixed costs <br/> (ii) Variable costs

Fixed costs

Variable costs

Calculate the gross margin, using the information in Table 2. <br/> Show all calculations, including the formula.

Using the value for the gross margin calculated in (c), determine whether Farmer Lall's operations are profitable or not. Give a reason for your answer.

Farmer Anne receives complaints from her customers that her anthurium flowers are of a poor quality. The flowers are wilted, the stems are too short, have crushed ends, and are brown in colour.

Suggest THREE harvesting practices that may have resulted in the poor quality of the anthurium flowers.

Advise farmer Anne on THREE postharvest practices that may be carried out to improve the quality of the anthurium flowers.

A farmer decides to grow sweet peppers under shaded conditions using a 50% saran netting. Explain THREE ways in which the shaded conditions are likely to affect plant growth and development.

A farmer plants grasses and legumes to feed his cattle.

Identify ONE legume used to feed cattle.

State TWO characteristics of legumes.

Suggest ONE benefit of feeding cattle with grass legume.

Suggest ONE negative effect of feeding excess legumes to cattle.

Figure 4 shows a system of rotational grazing.

Figure 4. A system of rotational grazing

(i) Explain the principle of rotational grazing. (ii) Suggest THREE advantages of using rotational grazing. (iii) Suggest ONE challenge that farmers may experience with a rotational grazing system.

Explain the principle of rotational grazing.

Suggest THREE advantages of using rotational grazing.

Suggest ONE challenge that farmers may experience with a rotational grazing system.