Organic Gardening

21 Grade 9 Agriculture questions on Organic Gardening, with worked marking schemes. 21 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   A learner establishing an organic vegetable plot wants to improve soil fertility the organic way. Which of the following should she use?

   A. Well-decomposed compost and farmyard manure

   B. Granular DAP fertiliser at planting

   C. Foliar feed made from dissolved CAN

   D. Urea top-dressing after germination

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Why do organic gardeners plant marigold or onions among vegetables (companion planting)?

   A. To repel some pests naturally without chemicals

   B. To attract more pests to the garden

   C. To increase soil acidity for the vegetables

   D. To add nitrogen fertiliser to the leaves

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   Which of the following is a key benefit of consuming vegetables grown through organic gardening?

   A. They never suffer from any pest attack

   B. They are free from harmful chemical residues

   C. They require artificial fertiliser to grow

   D. They mature faster than all other vegetables

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   2 marks

   State two reasons why mulching is recommended in an organic vegetable garden.

   (2 marks)

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5. Question 5

   1 mark

   Which of the following best improves soil fertility in an organic vegetable garden?

   A. Applying DAP fertiliser at planting

   B. Spraying foliar chemical fertiliser

   C. Adding well-decomposed compost manure

   D. Using granular CAN top-dressing

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   6 marks

   A Grade 9 learner wants to establish an organic vegetable garden at home.

   (a) State two materials the learner can use to improve soil fertility organically.

   (b) Describe two ways the learner can control pests without using synthetic chemicals.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Any 2 (1 mk each): compost manure; farmyard manure; green manure; mulch. (b) Any 2 (2 mks each): use plant-based sprays e.g. pepper/pyrethrum/neem/wood-ash extract; hand picking of pests; companion planting with pest-repelling plants e.g. marigold/onion; crop rotation to break pest cycles; encouraging natural predators. Total 6.

7. Question 7

   1 mark

   A Grade 9 learner is establishing a school vegetable garden using organic methods only. Which of the following would the learner AVOID using?

   A. Synthetic (artificial) fertilisers

   B. Green manure from legumes

   C. Farmyard manure

   D. Well-decomposed compost manure

   (1 mark)

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8. Question 8

   1 mark

   A parent wants to control weeds in an organic kitchen garden. Which method is appropriate?

   A. Spraying a chemical herbicide

   B. Fumigating the soil with a chemical

   C. Applying a selective weed killer

   D. Hand weeding and mulching

   (1 mark)

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9. Question 9

   5 marks

   A Grade 9 learner is preparing a kitchen garden at home and is advised by the agriculture teacher to practise organic gardening instead of relying on synthetic chemicals.

   (a) Explain the meaning of the term 'organic gardening'. (2 marks)

   (b) Describe three practices the learner can use to control pests and improve soil fertility organically in the kitchen garden. (3 marks)

   (5 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Meaning of organic gardening (2 marks): Organic gardening is the growing of crops using natural materials and methods - such as compost, manure and natural pest control - without the use of synthetic/artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, in order to produce safe, healthy food while protecting soil and the environment. (b) Three organic practices (3 marks, 1 each): 1. Apply well-decomposed compost manure or farmyard manure to add nutrients and improve soil structure and fertility. 2. Use organic/botanical pest control such as plant extracts (e.g. neem, pyrethrum, chilli or ash) and encourage natural predators instead of synthetic pesticides. 3. Practise crop rotation and mulching to control pests/diseases, conserve moisture, suppress weeds and maintain soil fertility. (Also acceptable: companion planting; hand-picking pests; use of green manure/cover crops.)

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    A farmer practising organic gardening notices aphids attacking her kales. Which control method is most consistent with organic gardening?

    A. Spraying an extract made from crushed pepper and soap

    B. Dusting the plants with an artificial pesticide powder

    C. Applying a synthetic insecticide

    D. Spraying with a strong chemical acaricide

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    1 mark

    A parent wants to grow vegetables organically in the home kitchen garden and asks a Grade 9 learner how to control aphids without synthetic chemicals. The most appropriate organic method to suggest is:

    A. Spraying the crops with a strong synthetic insecticide

    B. Applying a homemade plant extract such as a chilli, garlic or pyrethrum spray

    C. Pouring undiluted bleach over the affected plants

    D. Spreading inorganic fertiliser around the plants

    (1 mark)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    A learner rotates kales, then legumes, then root crops on the same plot in successive seasons. In organic gardening, crop rotation mainly helps to:

    A. Make the soil more acidic each season

    B. Reduce the variety of crops grown

    C. Break pest and disease cycles and maintain soil fertility

    D. Increase the need for chemical sprays

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    A farmer practising organic gardening notices aphids attacking her kales. Which control method is consistent with organic principles?

    A. Spraying a synthetic insecticide

    B. Applying a plant-based extract such as neem or planting onions as a companion crop

    C. Spraying the crop with herbicide

    D. Adding inorganic fertiliser to repel the pests

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    Which material is the MOST suitable source of nitrogen in an organic garden?

    A. Urea fertiliser

    B. Green manure from a leguminous cover crop

    C. Muriate of potash

    D. Single superphosphate

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    6 marks

    A Grade 9 learner wants to establish an organic vegetable garden at home and intends to manage pests and improve soil fertility without using synthetic chemicals.

    (a) State two ways the learner can control pests organically. (2 marks)

    (b) Explain two benefits of practising organic gardening. (4 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Organic pest control (any two): Use plant-based pesticides/botanicals e.g. extracts from neem (mwarubaini), pyrethrum, chilli or ash; practise crop rotation to break pest life cycles; intercropping/companion planting to repel pests; handpicking pests; use of biological control (natural predators); maintaining field hygiene by removing infested plants. (2 marks) (b) Benefits (any two, explained): (i) Produces healthy, chemical-free (residue-free) food that is safe for human consumption. (ii) Improves and maintains soil fertility and structure through use of organic manure/compost, increasing soil organic matter and microbial life. (iii) Protects the environment by avoiding pollution of soil and water with synthetic chemicals; conserves beneficial organisms. (iv) Cheaper since the farmer uses locally available materials instead of buying expensive inputs. (4 marks, 2 marks each)

16. Question 16

    6 marks

    Explain three benefits of practising organic gardening to a Kenyan smallholder family.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any 3 (2 mks each): produces food free of harmful chemical residues (safe/healthy); low cost since inputs like manure/compost are locally available; improves and maintains soil structure/fertility; environmentally friendly/reduces pollution; can fetch higher market prices. Total 6.

17. Question 17

    6 marks

    A learner is preparing compost manure for an organic garden. Describe three practices that ensure the compost decomposes well and produces good quality manure.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any 3 (2 mks each): mix green and dry materials in layers; turn/mix the heap regularly to aerate it; keep the heap moist (not waterlogged); avoid adding diseased material/plastics; allow enough time for full decomposition until dark and crumbly. Total 6.

18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which practice would DISQUALIFY a garden from being considered truly organic?

    A. Controlling pests with a wood-ash and soap solution

    B. Top-dressing the crops with CAN fertiliser

    C. Improving soil with compost

    D. Applying decomposed farmyard manure

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    1 mark

    A learner adds kitchen vegetable peelings, dry leaves and animal droppings into a pit and turns them regularly. What is the learner most likely making for the organic garden?

    A. Artificial soil conditioner

    B. Chemical pesticide

    C. Compost manure

    D. Foliar fertiliser

    (1 mark)

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20. Question 20

    1 mark

    In organic gardening, mulching a vegetable bed with dry grass helps to achieve all the intended benefits EXCEPT one. Which one is it?

    A. Suppressing weed growth

    B. Conserving soil moisture

    C. Adding organic matter as the mulch decomposes

    D. Introducing synthetic nutrients directly into the plant leaves

    (1 mark)

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21. Question 21

    1 mark

    A Grade 9 learner is establishing a school vegetable garden using organic methods only. Which input should the learner AVOID using?

    A. Well-rotted farmyard manure

    B. Synthetic (inorganic) chemical fertiliser

    C. Compost from kitchen waste

    D. Mulch from dry grass

    (1 mark)

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