SOIL FERTILITY II (IN ORGANIC FERTILIZERS)
1. four advantages of applying lime in clay soil
Lower soil acidity
Increase calcium content
Hastens decomposition of organic matter
Improve soil structure/ improve drainage
Facilitates availability and absorption of nitrogen and phosphorous
Improve legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation
Increase multiplication of micro- organisms
2. a) i) Sulphur- SO₄²⁻,SO₂
ii) Nitrogen-NO₃⁻,NH₄
iii) Carbon-CO₂
iv) Magnesium-mg²⁺
b) three effects of nitrogen to plants (1 1/2mks)
delayed maturity
excessive succulence
excessive vegetative growth
weak stems
lodging
3. a) The quality of sulphate ammonia fertilizer the farmer will need for 10
hectares (1mk)
100kg SA supplies 21kg N
1ha requires 150kg SA
10ha requires (150x10) kg SA
= 1500kg SA in 10ha
b) The number of 50kg bags of fertilizer he will purchase
(1mk)
50kg fill 1 bag
1500 1 x 1500=30bags (1)
50
4. two disadvantages of using farm yard manure
- It’s bulky hence difficult to apply by one laborer.
- It may spread weeds.
- It may spread diseases.
- It releases nutrients slowly.
5. four factors which influence the stage at which the crops are harvested.
- Purpose of the crop / maturity.
- Moisture content.
- Concentration of certain chemicals.
- Water condition.
- Market demand.
6. a) - Calcium Ammonium Nitrate CAN.
b)- Knee high
- 30 – 45 cm height.
c) Calculate the amount of K2O contained in 400 kg of a compound fertilizer
25 : 10 : 5.
5 kg of K2O is in 100 kg of 25 : 10: 5
∴ 400 kg of compound fertilizer
400 x 5 = 20 kg of K2O
100
7. Two pieces of information that soil sample should have before being taken to
the laboratory
for testing are:-
- Name of the farmer
- Address of the farmer
- The type of test to be carried out
- Date of sampling
8. A compound fertilizer bag has the labels 20-20-10. What do the figures stand
for
- 20 – 20% Nitrogen (N)
- 20 – 20% Phosphorous Pentoxide (P2O5)
- 0- 0% Potassium Oxide (K2O)
9. Four functions of sulphur in crops are:-
Amino acids/protein synthesis
Formulating enzymes and hormones
Increase oil content and hormones
Needed for formation of chlorophyll
Needed in carbohydrate metabolism
10. - Improves soil PH hence microbial activities
- Allows wide production of different crop varieties
- Improves soil aeration
- Improves drainage
Improves soil structure
11. -Liming
use of alkaline fertilizer (2 ½ = 1mk)
12. a) -Type of crop
-Fertilizer characters
-Type of soil
-Environmental condition (½
x3=1 ½ mks)
b) - Avoid unique sites e.g. compost, along fence
- Remove all vegetation parts
- Mix the samples thoroughly
Make as many samples as possible
13. three functions of nitrogen in crops
(1 1//2mks)
Protein synthesis/formation
Forms part of chlorophyll molecule
Encourages vegetative growth
Regulate availability of phosphorus and potassium in plant
Increase to size of grains and protein content increases
14. Fertilizer ratio is the proportion of various nutrients in a fertilizer grade is the
percentage of
nutrients in a fertilizer;
(b)- Nitrogen
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sulphur
15. (a) Diagonal/transverse method; (1x1=1mk)
(b) – Avoid contamination/use sterilized container;
- Avoid sampling soil from unusual sites e,g ant hills
- Avoid mixing top soil with sub-soil; (3x1=3mks)
(c) – To determine the nutrient status of te soil;
- To determine the soil PH/type of fertilizer to add to the soil/lime to add to the
soil;
- To determine the type of crop to grow;
- May help in diagnosing low crop yield/mineral deficiency;
16. Area – 10x20 =200m² (1mk)
100,000m² require 80kgs of 20-20-10
200m² will require
200 x 80
10,000
═ 1.6kgs (1mk)
17. a) A compound of fertilizer has a fertilizer grade of 25:10:5.calculate the a
mount
of phosphorus fore sent in 400kg of this fertilizer
N:P:K
25:10:5
If 10kg P2O5√1 = 100kg NPK
? = 400kg NPK√1
= 400 x 10
100
= 40kg P2O5√1 (3 steps x 1=3mks)
b) i) - zigzag method
ii) xx –traverse/diagonal
iii) State three importance of carrying out soil sampling and testing
determine the type of crop to grow
determine the type of fertilizer to be used
determine type of nutrients in the soil (3x1=3mks)
18. (a) Lacks one of the major fertilizer NPK elements
(b) – The soils could be very acidic
- Too much rainfall.
19. (a) Random/zigzag soil sampling
(b) – old manure heaps
- Ant hills
-Dead furors
-Fence lines
-Cattle bomas
(c) - Clear vegetation
- Mark points using pegs
Collect top soil and sap soil n different paper bag.
- Dry the soil and mix thoroughly
- Sent dispatch to laboratory for fasting
