General Crop Harvesting
12 Grade 10 Agriculture questions on General Crop Harvesting, with worked marking schemes. 12 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
6 marksA farmer in Bungoma stores maize in a crib while the grain is still damp. Suggest three problems that are likely to occur in the store, giving a reason for each.
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Any THREE problems: 1 mark for the problem and 1 mark for the linked reason (2 marks each). - Mould growth on the grain (1) because the high moisture and warmth favour fungal growth, and the maize may become contaminated with aflatoxin (1). - Heating and rotting of the grain (1) because damp grain continues to respire and generates heat within the heap (1). - Attack by storage pests such as weevils and the larger grain borer (1) because damp, soft grain is easier for the pests to bore into and multiply in (1). - Sprouting of the grain in store (1) because the moisture present is high enough for germination to begin (1). - Rejection by buyers or a lower price (1) because the moisture content is above the accepted market standard (1).
Question 2
1 markA learner harvests ripe tomatoes by pulling them sharply off the plant so that each fruit tears open at the stalk end. What is the most likely consequence during storage?
A. The fruits will ripen more evenly in the crate
B. The wounds will allow rot-causing organisms to enter the fruit
C. The fruits will gain weight by taking in water through the wound
D. The fruits will lose their red colour and turn green again
(1 mark)
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1 markSisal in Kibwezi is cut leaf by leaf over several years, while a field of beans is uprooted at one time. The harvesting of sisal is best described as:
A. Progressive harvesting
B. Physiological harvesting
C. Once-and-for-all harvesting
D. Mechanical harvesting
(1 mark)
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2 marksDistinguish between threshing and winnowing as used in the harvesting of cereals.
(2 marks)
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1 markCotton in Kitui is picked when the bolls have split open and the lint is fluffy and white. If picking is delayed for several weeks after this stage, the most likely loss is that the lint will:
A. Turn back into an unopened boll
B. Be stained and weakened by rain and dust
C. Gain extra fibre length from the plant
D. Become too heavy for the pickers to carry
(1 mark)
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4 marksState four signs a farmer may use to tell that a bean crop is ready for harvesting.
(4 marks)
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1 markWhich of the following crops is harvested by lifting the whole plant out of the soil rather than by cutting or picking a part of it?
A. Sugarcane
B. Sorghum
C. Groundnuts
D. Coffee
(1 mark)
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3 marksAccount for the increasing use of combine harvesters on large-scale wheat farms in Narok.
(3 marks)
Marking scheme
Any THREE, 1 mark each: - A large acreage is harvested within a short time, so the crop is gathered before the rains spoil it. - Cutting, threshing and cleaning are done in one operation, saving separate steps and handling. - Casual labour for manual harvesting is scarce and expensive on such large farms. - Field losses from shattering and careless handling are reduced by timely harvesting. - The grain is delivered already threshed and fairly clean, ready for drying or sale.
Question 9
4 marksOutline four precautions a learner should take while harvesting ripe mangoes so as to maintain their quality.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
Any FOUR, 1 mark each: - Pick by hand or with a picking pole rather than shaking or knocking the fruits down. - Leave a short stalk on each fruit so the skin is not torn at the stalk end. - Place the fruits gently in padded or lined crates instead of throwing or heaping them. - Avoid overfilling containers so that the lower fruits are not crushed. - Harvest in the cool of the morning or evening and keep the fruit in the shade. - Use clean hands and clean containers to avoid introducing rot organisms.
Question 10
1 markTea in Kericho is plucked by hand, taking two leaves and a bud, while wheat in Narok is harvested using a combine harvester. Which statement best accounts for this difference?
A. Tea requires selective picking of a particular plant part, while wheat ripens uniformly and is harvested once
B. Tea plants are too tall for machines to reach
C. Tea is harvested only once when the whole bush matures
D. Wheat is a cereal while tea is a beverage crop
(1 mark)
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1 markA farmer in Kirinyaga harvests French beans for the export market. The pods are picked while still young and tender, before the seeds swell inside. Which factor is the farmer using to decide the stage of harvesting?
A. The quality demanded by the market the crop is grown for
B. The moisture content of the seeds inside the pod
C. The number of days since the crop germinated
D. The height reached by the bean plants at flowering
(1 mark)
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3 marksExplain three reasons why harvesting a maize crop too early lowers the farmer's returns.
(3 marks)
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