Forth maize seeds were sown on a raised bed and thirty-five seeds germinated.
(a) (i) Calculate the percentage of the maize seeds that germinated [2 marks]
(ii) What is the percentage of the maize seeds that did not germinate? [2 marks]
(b) State four conditions that could have enhanced the germination of the thirty-five seeds. [4 marks]
(c) Suggest five reasons why some of the seeds did not germinate [5 marks]
(d) Give two industrial uses of maize seeds.
Explanation
(a)(i) Percentage of the maize seeds that germinated = \(\frac{\text{No of germinated seeds}}{\text{no of seeds sown}} \times \frac{100}{1}\)
Percentage of the maize seeds that germinated = \(\frac{35}{40} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = 87.5%
(ii) Percentage of the maize seeds that did not germinate = \(\frac{\text{No of ungerminated seeds}}{\text{no of seeds sown}} \times \frac{100}{1}\)
Percentage of the maize seeds that did not germinate = \(\frac{5}{40} \times \frac{100}{1}\) = 12.5%
OR
Percentage of the maize seeds that did not germinate = 100% of seeds that germinate
100 - 87.5% = 12.5%
(b) Conditions that enhanced the germination of the thirty-five seeds:
- Suitable soil temperature
- Air (oxygen)
- Good soil
- Adequate moisture/ water
- Viable seeds/seed viability
- Planting at the right depth
(c) Reasons why some of the seeds did not germinate:
- Seeds might be too old/not viable
- Seeds might be infested with disease organisms
- Seeds might have been removed and eaten by birds or rodents/pests
- Seeds might have been sown too deep
- Seeds might have been damaged.
- Inadequate moisture/ water.
(d) Industrial uses of maize seeds:
- Used in the production of pharmaceutical/drugs
- Used in the production of biofuel Used in making adhesives
- Used in the brewery
- Used in making livestock feed
- Used in making processed food for man e.g Baby food, corn flakes
- Used in the production of corn oil
- Used in the production of starch