(a) State two advantages and two disadvantages of using biogas as a source of farm power. [ 4 marks ]
(b) Mention eight simple farm tools. [ 4 marks ]
(c) List two common storage structures and two processing structures that could be found on a farmstead in West Africa. [ 4 marks ]
(d) Explain the term denitrification. [ 2 marks ]
(e) Describe the following components of the soil:
(i) mineral matter;
(ii) organic matter. [ 4 marks ]
Explanation
(a) Advantages and disadvantages of biogas as asource of farm power
Advantages
- It reduces environmental pollution
- It is easily controlled/easy to operate
- Animal dung is cheap
- Provides economic value to animal wastes/provides proper use of animal wastes
- It can be used for different farm operations like heating the brooder house, drying etc
Disadvantages
- It requires high technical know-how
- It is not a common source of farm power
- Its use is limited to areas where there is abundance of animals
- it is expensive to set up and maintain
(b) Simple farm tool
Some tools used in the farm are:
1. Cutlass
2. Hoe
3. Garden fork
4. Hand fork
5. Trowel
6. Rake
7. Shears
8. Secateurs
9. Sprayers
10. Watering can
11. Sickle
12. Axe
13. File
14. Head pan
15. Wheel barrow
16. Spade
17. Shovel
18. Mattock
19. Mallet
20. Tapping knife
21. Dibber
22. Budding knife
(c) Common storage structures and processing structures found on farmstead in West Africa
Storage structures
- - Barns
- Bins
- Cribs
- Silos
- Drums
- Cages
- Bags
- Baskets
- Rhumbu
- Farm store/warehouse
- Underground pits
- Platforms
- Cold room/cold store
Processing structures
- - Abattoir
- Milk pasteurizing shed
- Fish or meat smoking shed
- Rice mill
- Cassava mill
- Oil mill(for oil crops)
- Curing house for tobacco
- Shelling barn
(d) Explanation of denitrification
This is the process whereby soil nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas, nitric oxide or nitrous oxide through the activities of denitrifying bacteria
(e) Description of soil components
(i) Mineral Matter: Form the solid parts of the soil which are derived from weathered rocks
- - Represents 45% per volume of a soil sample
- - Holds water and air for plant use
- -Source of plant nutrients
- -Provides anchorage to plants
(ii) Organic matter:
- Represents a mixture of plant and animal materials at different stages of decomposition in the soil
- Represents 5% per volume of a soil sample
- Improve soil structure/binds soil particles together
- Source of plant nutrients after decomposition