(a) Define climate and state three of its importance in agriculture. (b) Explain five ways in which high rainfall affects agricultural production. (c) State the forms in which water exist in the soil. (d) Mention three ways through which soil water may be lost
Explanation
(a) Definition: Climate is the average weather condition of a place, measured over a long period of time (over 35 years). Importance of climate in agriculture are: (i) affects the duration of a cropping season (ii) determines the yield of crops and animals (iii) limits the types of crops/livestock to be grown or reared in an area (iv) vegetation distribution affects soil formation (v) affects the incidence of pests (vi) affects the incidence of diseases.
(b) Ways in which high rainfall affects agricultural production: (i) prolongs the cropping season (ii) increases the problem of plant diseases (iii) determines the type of crop to be grown (iv) increases the incidence of erosion/flooding (v) encourages thick forestation thus the incidence of pest e.g. tse-tse flies infestation (vi) encourages the growth of disease causing organisms (pathogens) (vii) increases leaching of plant nutrients/soil acidity (viii) it causes water logging in clayey soil (ix) determines the type of crops or livestock grown or reared i.e. distribution of crops and animals (x) encourages faster or rapid growth of weeds.
(c) Forms in which water exists in soil are: (i) capillary water (ii) hygroscopic water (iii) gravitational water.
(d) Ways through which soil water may be lost are: (i) surface run-off/erosion (ii) percolation/seepage (iii) evaporation (iv) transpiration