Preparing Planting Site and Establishing a Crop

22 Grade 7 Agriculture questions on Preparing Planting Site and Establishing a Crop, with worked marking schemes. 22 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   During transplanting of vegetable seedlings, watering the nursery bed a few hours before uprooting helps to:

   A. Harden the seedlings

   B. Reduce root damage when lifting seedlings

   C. Increase the number of seedlings

   D. Kill pests in the soil

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

2. Question 2

   4 marks

   State four post-planting practices a farmer should carry out to ensure successful establishment of a newly sown crop.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any four: watering/irrigation to provide moisture for germination and growth; mulching to conserve moisture and control weeds; weeding to reduce competition; thinning where necessary; gapping/replanting where seeds failed to germinate; protecting seedlings from pests, diseases and birds; top dressing/manuring. 1 mark each, max 4.

3. Question 3

   1 mark

   Which method of crop establishment involves first raising seedlings in a nursery and later moving them to the main field?

   A. Transplanting

   B. Broadcasting

   C. Direct sowing

   D. Drilling

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

4. Question 4

   4 marks

   A farmer in Kisii wants to establish a crop of kales (sukuma wiki). Explain four operations he should carry out to prepare the planting site.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Any four, explained: clearing the land of bushes/weeds/trash (1); primary cultivation - digging/ploughing to loosen and turn the soil (1); secondary cultivation - breaking clods to a fine tilth and levelling (1); incorporating well-decomposed manure/compost to add nutrients (1); removing perennial weed roots/rogue stumps; marking out rows/beds at correct spacing (1). Max 4.

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   Scattering seeds evenly over a prepared seedbed by hand without making rows is called:

   A. Broadcasting

   B. Transplanting

   C. Row planting

   D. Drilling

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

6. Question 6

   1 mark

   A learner covers a newly planted seedbed with a thin layer of dry grass. The MAIN reason for this mulch is to:

   A. Attract birds to the bed

   B. Increase weed growth

   C. Add colour to the seedbed

   D. Conserve soil moisture and protect seeds

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

7. Question 7

   4 marks

   Distinguish between direct sowing and transplanting as methods of crop establishment, and give one example of a crop for each.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Direct sowing: planting seeds directly into the final planting site where the crop will grow to maturity (1); example - beans/maize/carrots (1). Transplanting: raising seedlings first in a nursery/seedbed then lifting and replanting them in the main field (1); example - tomato/cabbage/onion/kale (1). Max 4.

8. Question 8

   1 mark

   A farmer clears bushes, digs and turns the soil, then breaks large clods into a fine tilth before planting beans. This whole process is known as:

   A. Transplanting

   B. Land preparation

   C. Top dressing

   D. Thinning

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   A Grade 7 learner preparing a seedbed for vegetables breaks the soil into fine, small particles before sowing. Why is a fine tilth important for small seeds?

   A. It makes the seedbed look neat for marking

   B. It allows good seed-to-soil contact for even germination

   C. It prevents any water from reaching the seeds

   D. It stops the seeds from being planted too deep

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    What is the MAIN advantage of planting seeds in rows rather than broadcasting them?

    A. It uses more seeds

    B. It removes the need for spacing

    C. It prevents germination

    D. It makes weeding and other operations easier

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

11. Question 11

    6 marks

    Explain three factors a learner should consider when deciding the correct depth at which to plant a seed.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any three, explained (2 marks each): size of the seed - small seeds are planted shallow while large seeds are planted deeper; soil moisture - in dry soil seeds may be placed slightly deeper to reach moisture; soil type - heavy clay soils need shallower planting than light sandy soils because emergence is harder; type/germination habit of crop; general rule that depth is about two to three times the diameter of the seed. Max 6.

12. Question 12

    1 mark

    The process of removing excess seedlings so that the remaining plants have enough space, light and nutrients is called:

    A. Pricking out

    B. Top dressing

    C. Thinning

    D. Hardening off

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

13. Question 13

    4 marks

    A Grade 7 learner in Machakos is preparing a seedbed to transplant kale (sukuma wiki) seedlings.

    (a) State TWO conditions the learner should consider before transplanting the seedlings. (2 marks)

    (b) Give TWO reasons why transplanting is done in the evening or on a cloudy day. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) (any TWO, 1 mark each): - The seedlings should have reached the right stage/age (about 4-6 weeks old with 4-6 true leaves). - The soil/seedbed should be moist (watered before transplanting). - The site should be well prepared, firm and free of weeds. - Hardening off of seedlings should have been done. (b) (any TWO, 1 mark each): - To reduce loss of water through transpiration so seedlings do not wilt. - The cool conditions reduce heat stress, allowing seedlings to recover/establish before the hot sun. - It gives the seedlings time (overnight) to take up water and recover from transplanting shock.

14. Question 14

    1 mark

    A Grade 7 learner preparing a seedbed for planting vegetables breaks the soil into fine, small particles. The MAIN reason for producing a fine tilth is to:

    A. Make the soil heavier

    B. Allow good seed-to-soil contact for easy germination

    C. Prevent water from entering the soil

    D. Encourage weeds to grow faster

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

15. Question 15

    1 mark

    Which tool is MOST suitable for making planting holes at the correct spacing along a row?

    A. Watering can

    B. Dibber

    C. Rake

    D. Panga

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

16. Question 16

    1 mark

    Why is well-decomposed manure mixed into the soil during preparation of a planting site?

    A. To repel all insects

    B. To add nutrients and improve soil structure

    C. To increase soil acidity only

    D. To make the soil harder

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

17. Question 17

    1 mark

    Which of the following seeds is normally planted directly at the planting site rather than raised in a nursery first?

    A. Cabbage

    B. Onion

    C. Tomato

    D. Beans

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

18. Question 18

    3 marks

    After germination, a learner noticed that the bean seedlings in one section were too close together.

    (a) Name the practice she should carry out to correct this.

    (b) State two reasons for carrying out this practice.

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

19. Question 19

    1 mark

    A farmer is establishing a maize crop and decides to plant the seeds at the spacing recommended by the seed company instead of crowding them together. What is the MAIN benefit of correct spacing?

    A. The seeds germinate faster than recommended

    B. Each plant gets enough nutrients, water, light and air to grow well

    C. The farmer uses far more seed than necessary

    D. Weeds are completely prevented from growing

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

20. Question 20

    1 mark

    Planting a seed too deep in the soil is likely to result in:

    A. More seedlings than seeds

    B. Poor or delayed germination

    C. Immediate flowering

    D. Faster germination

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

21. Question 21

    5 marks

    A Grade 7 learner in Machakos is preparing a seedbed for transplanting tomato seedlings in the school garden. The teacher explains that the seedbed must be well prepared before the seedlings are moved.

    (a)(i) State TWO activities the learner should carry out when preparing the seedbed. (2 marks)

    (a)(ii) Give ONE reason why the seedbed soil should be broken down into a fine tilth. (1 mark)

    (b) Explain TWO advantages of transplanting tomato seedlings in the evening rather than at midday. (2 marks)

    (5 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a)(i) Any TWO: clearing the land of weeds, trash and stones; digging/cultivating the soil to loosen it; breaking the soil into a fine tilth; levelling the seedbed; incorporating well-decomposed manure. (1 mark each = 2 marks) (a)(ii) A fine tilth allows the roots of the young seedlings to penetrate and anchor easily / improves soil-to-root contact / promotes good aeration and water movement so seedlings establish well. (1 mark) (b) Evening transplanting (1 mark each, max 2): (1) The temperatures are lower and there is no hot sun, so the seedlings lose less water through transpiration and do not wilt. (2) The seedlings have the whole cool night to recover and re-establish their roots before facing the heat of the following day, reducing transplanting shock.

22. Question 22

    1 mark

    A farmer is establishing a maize crop and wants the correct spacing so that each plant gets enough nutrients, light and water. What is the MOST likely effect of planting the maize too closely together?

    A. The plants compete for resources and produce poor yields

    B. The plants grow larger cobs

    C. The soil becomes more fertile

    D. Weeds are completely eliminated

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

23. 16 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

    Create a free account

More Grade 7 Agriculture topics