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BGCSE Agriculture 0599 study materials
BGCSE Agriculture 0599 study resources

BGCSE Agriculture 0599 practice questions

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Question 1Crop Production and Husbandry

Which soil type generally holds the most water and nutrients for crops?

  1. Loamy soil Correct answer.
  2. Sandy soil
  3. Clay soil
  4. Gravelly soil

Explanation

Loam contains a balanced mixture of sand, silt and clay particles, giving good water retention together with adequate drainage and air spaces for roots. This balance makes it the most productive soil for most crops.

Question 2Crop Production and Husbandry

What is the main purpose of ploughing a field before planting?

  1. To loosen and aerate the soil Correct answer.
  2. To remove all soil organisms
  3. To compact the soil surface
  4. To increase soil acidity

Explanation

Ploughing breaks up compacted soil, improves aeration and allows rainwater and roots to penetrate more easily. It also helps bury weeds and crop residues, preparing a suitable seedbed.

Question 3Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to plant maize seeds at a spacing that gives about 40,000 plants per hectare. Which spacing best matches this target?

  1. 100 cm x 100 cm
  2. 25 cm x 25 cm
  3. 50 cm x 50 cm Correct answer.
  4. 75 cm x 75 cm

Explanation

A spacing of 50 cm by 50 cm gives 0.25 square metres per plant, which equals 4 plants per square metre, or about 40,000 plants per hectare. Plant population is calculated by dividing 10,000 square metres by the area occupied by each plant.

Question 4Crop Production and Husbandry

Which practice best controls soil erosion on a sloping cultivated field?

  1. Ploughing along the contour Correct answer.
  2. Leaving the soil bare between seasons
  3. Removing all crop residues after harvest
  4. Planting rows up and down the slope

Explanation

Ploughing and planting along the contour creates ridges that slow runoff and trap soil, reducing erosion on slopes. Contour farming is a standard conservation measure on sloping land.

Question 5Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of these is a leguminous crop that can add nitrogen to the soil?

  1. Maize
  2. Cassava
  3. Groundnut Correct answer.
  4. Sorghum

Explanation

Groundnut is a legume that forms nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms the plant and soil can use. Cereals such as maize and sorghum and root crops such as cassava do not fix nitrogen.

Question 6Crop Production and Husbandry

What is the main advantage of crop rotation over growing the same crop repeatedly?

  1. It reduces build-up of pests and diseases Correct answer.
  2. It guarantees higher market prices
  3. It allows continuous harvesting of one crop
  4. It eliminates the need for any water

Explanation

Rotating different crops breaks the life cycles of pests and pathogens that specialise on one crop, reducing their build-up in the soil. Rotation also helps balance nutrient use and improves soil structure.

Question 7Crop Production and Husbandry

Which method of vegetative propagation is used to produce new cassava plants?

  1. Stem cuttings Correct answer.
  2. Seed sowing
  3. Leaf cuttings
  4. Root tubers

Explanation

Cassava is propagated from sections of mature stem, usually 20 to 30 cm long, planted directly into the soil. These stem cuttings develop roots and shoots to form a new plant.

Question 8Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer notices that germinating seeds have failed to emerge because the seeds were planted too deep. What is the most likely reason?

  1. The seedlings ran out of stored food before reaching the surface Correct answer.
  2. The soil was too dry at the surface
  3. The seeds were attacked by birds
  4. The seeds received too much sunlight

Explanation

A seed relies on its stored food reserves to push the shoot to the surface and begin photosynthesis. If planted too deep, these reserves are used up before the seedling reaches light, so it dies underground.

Question 9Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is the best description of transplanting?

  1. Applying fertiliser to growing plants
  2. Sowing seeds directly into the field
  3. Harvesting mature crops from the field
  4. Moving seedlings from a nursery to the field Correct answer.

Explanation

Transplanting is the transfer of young seedlings raised in a nursery bed into the main field once they are strong enough. It allows careful early care and better use of field space.

Question 10Crop Production and Husbandry

Which nutrient is most important for promoting strong root development and early plant establishment?

  1. Nitrogen
  2. Potassium
  3. Phosphorus Correct answer.
  4. Calcium

Explanation

Phosphorus supports root growth and early establishment, which is why it is often applied at planting. Nitrogen mainly promotes leafy growth, while potassium supports general vigour and fruit quality.

Question 11Crop Production and Husbandry

A soil test shows a pH of 4.8. Which action is most appropriate for growing most field crops?

  1. Add more nitrogen fertiliser
  2. Flood the field with water
  3. Apply lime to raise the pH Correct answer.
  4. Apply sulphur to lower the pH

Explanation

A pH of 4.8 is strongly acidic, and most field crops grow best near pH 6 to 7. Lime is a basic material that neutralises acidity and raises soil pH toward the suitable range.

Question 12Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is an example of an organic fertiliser?

  1. Urea
  2. Superphosphate
  3. Muriate of potash
  4. Farmyard manure Correct answer.

Explanation

Farmyard manure is plant and animal material that decomposes to release nutrients, making it an organic fertiliser. It also improves soil structure and water-holding capacity.

Question 13Crop Production and Husbandry

Why is it important to apply fertiliser at the correct rate rather than simply applying more?

  1. Fertiliser has no effect on plants
  2. More fertiliser reduces the need for water
  3. Excess fertiliser always improves yield
  4. Over-application can damage plants and pollute water Correct answer.

Explanation

Applying more fertiliser than the crop needs can burn roots and leaves and lead to nutrient runoff that pollutes streams. Correct rates match crop demand, save money and protect the environment.

Question 14Crop Production and Husbandry

Which irrigation method delivers water most efficiently to the root zone with minimal evaporation and runoff?

  1. Flood irrigation
  2. Sprinkler irrigation
  3. Furrow irrigation
  4. Drip irrigation Correct answer.

Explanation

Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone through emitters, minimising evaporation, runoff and water lost between rows. It is among the most water-efficient methods available.

Question 15Crop Production and Husbandry

What is the main purpose of mulching a crop bed?

  1. To increase weed competition
  2. To remove nutrients from the soil
  3. To raise soil temperature to extreme levels
  4. To conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds Correct answer.

Explanation

Mulch is a layer of material spread over the soil surface that reduces evaporation, moderates temperature and blocks light that weeds need to grow. It also protects the soil from erosion.

Question 16Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is a major insect pest of stored grain?

  1. Whitefly
  2. Maize weevil Correct answer.
  3. Aphid
  4. Locust

Explanation

The maize weevil attacks stored maize and other grains, laying eggs inside kernels and causing weight loss and contamination. Aphids, locusts and whiteflies are mainly field pests.

Question 17Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to reduce aphid damage on a vegetable crop with minimal chemical use. Which approach is most suitable?

  1. Removing all plants from the field
  2. Spraying the strongest insecticide weekly
  3. Applying more nitrogen fertiliser
  4. Encouraging natural predators such as ladybirds Correct answer.

Explanation

Biological control uses natural enemies such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps to keep aphid populations in check. This reduces reliance on chemicals and supports a balanced field ecosystem.

Question 18Crop Production and Husbandry

Which symptom is most typical of nitrogen deficiency in a growing crop?

  1. Wilting of the whole plant at midday
  2. Brown spots on mature fruit
  3. Purple colour on young leaves
  4. Yellowing of older leaves starting at the tips Correct answer.

Explanation

Nitrogen is mobile within the plant, so when it is deficient the plant moves nitrogen from older leaves to newer growth. This causes older leaves to turn pale or yellow, starting at the tips and moving inward.

Question 19Crop Production and Husbandry

Which practice best reduces post-harvest losses of maize grain during storage?

  1. Storing grain while still damp
  2. Drying grain thoroughly before storage Correct answer.
  3. Storing grain in open sacks on the floor
  4. Mixing fresh and old grain together

Explanation

Drying grain to a safe moisture level before storage prevents mould growth and insect attack. Dry grain stores longer with less risk of aflatoxin contamination and spoilage.

Question 20Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following describes the correct way to take a soil sample for testing?

  1. Dig below one metre for every sample
  2. Take soil only from the wettest corner
  3. Take one spadeful from the field entrance
  4. Collect several cores from across the field and mix them Correct answer.

Explanation

A representative sample is obtained by collecting several small cores from different points across the field and mixing them thoroughly. This composite sample reflects the average fertility of the area better than a single spot.

Question 21Crop Production and Husbandry

A crop is described as being grown in a nursery before being moved to the field. What is the main reason for using a nursery?

  1. To avoid the need for watering
  2. To raise healthy seedlings under close care Correct answer.
  3. To reduce the total growing season to zero
  4. To increase the number of weeds in the field

Explanation

A nursery allows seedlings to be raised in a small, well-managed area where water, shade and pest control can be provided carefully. Strong, uniform seedlings are then transplanted, improving establishment and yield.

Question 22Crop Production and Husbandry

Which factor most directly determines the plant population a farmer can achieve per hectare?

  1. The colour of the seeds
  2. The number of workers on the farm
  3. The depth of the water table
  4. The spacing between plants and rows Correct answer.

Explanation

Plant population per hectare is calculated from the area each plant occupies, which is set by the spacing between plants within a row and between rows. Closer spacing gives more plants per hectare.

Question 23Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of these is a suitable method for controlling weeds in a crop field before planting?

  1. Adding compost to the field
  2. Applying herbicide to bare soil Correct answer.
  3. Raising seedlings in a nursery
  4. Harvesting the previous crop

Explanation

Applying a suitable herbicide to bare soil before planting can kill germinating weeds and reduce competition with the crop. Mechanical cultivation before planting is another common pre-planting weed control method.

Question 24Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer grows beans after maize in the same field and finds the maize yield improves. Which explanation best fits this result?

  1. Beans remove all moisture from the soil
  2. Beans add nitrogen to the soil for the next crop Correct answer.
  3. Beans increase soil acidity
  4. Beans attract more storage pests

Explanation

Beans are legumes that fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules. When their residues decompose, some of this nitrogen becomes available to the following cereal crop, improving its yield.

Question 25Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following best describes the term 'hardening off' in crop production?

  1. Removing all leaves from seedlings
  2. Compacting the soil around the roots
  3. Applying hard fertiliser pellets
  4. Gradually exposing nursery seedlings to field conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

Hardening off is the gradual reduction of water and shade and increased exposure to sun before transplanting. This toughens seedlings so they survive the shock of moving to the field.

Question 26Crop Production and Husbandry

Which term describes the practice of growing two or more crops together in the same field at the same time?

  1. Intercropping Correct answer.
  2. Fallow cropping
  3. Ratooning
  4. Monocropping

Explanation

Intercropping is the deliberate growing of two or more crops in the same field during the same season, so that they share space, light and nutrients for part or all of their life cycles. It differs from sequential cropping, where one crop follows another on the same land.

Question 27Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to plant a cereal crop on heavy clay soil that stays waterlogged for long periods. Which land preparation step most directly improves the situation?

  1. Constructing raised beds and drainage channels Correct answer.
  2. Applying lime to raise the soil pH
  3. Rolling the field to firm the surface
  4. Increasing the sowing rate to compensate

Explanation

Waterlogging on heavy clay is a drainage problem, so shaping the land into raised beds and cutting drains lets surplus water move away from the root zone. Aeration then improves and roots can respire, which is essential for cereal establishment.

Question 28Crop Production and Husbandry

Which part of a seed develops into the radicle during germination?

  1. The testa
  2. The cotyledon
  3. The radicle is the embryonic root already present in the seed Correct answer.
  4. The endosperm

Explanation

The embryo inside a seed already has a miniature root, the radicle, which is the first structure to emerge during germination and grows downward to anchor the seedling and absorb water. The plumule, the embryonic shoot, emerges later.

Question 29Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer stores seed maize at 14 percent moisture in a humid room and finds the seed is dead after two months. Which explanation best accounts for this?

  1. The seed lost its viability because it was kept too dry
  2. The seed coat hardened and blocked water uptake
  3. The seed respired rapidly and fungi grew because moisture was too high Correct answer.
  4. The seed was exposed to too much light

Explanation

Seed kept above roughly 12 to 13 percent moisture respires quickly and supports mould growth, and the heat produced speeds deterioration until viability is lost. Cool, dry storage is needed to keep respiration and fungi in check.

Question 30Crop Production and Husbandry

Which practice is the best way to control a perennial weed such as couch grass before planting a vegetable crop?

  1. Applying a nitrogen fertiliser to the seedbed
  2. Spraying a selective grass herbicide after the crop emerges
  3. Repeated cultivation to exhaust the underground stems Correct answer.
  4. Flooding the field for one day

Explanation

Perennial weeds survive through rhizomes or tubers, so fragmenting and drying them through repeated cultivation over several weeks exhausts their food reserves. Cultivation must be timed before planting so that regrowth is killed and the crop starts clean.

Question 31Crop Production and Husbandry

Which statement best explains why legumes such as groundnuts are often included in a rotation with cereals?

  1. They dry the soil so cereals can be harvested easily
  2. They release chemicals that kill cereal pests
  3. Their root nodules host bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen Correct answer.
  4. Their deep roots bring phosphorus to the surface

Explanation

Legume roots form nodules containing rhizobia, bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms the plant can use. When residues and roots break down, some of that nitrogen becomes available to the following cereal crop.

Question 32Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer applies a thick layer of fresh, unrotted manure directly around young seedlings and the seedlings turn yellow and die. What is the most likely cause?

  1. The manure attracted too much sunlight
  2. The manure heated and burned the roots as it decomposed Correct answer.
  3. The manure raised the pH above 8
  4. The manure supplied too much phosphorus

Explanation

Fresh manure continues to decompose in the soil, and this microbial activity releases heat and ammonia that can scorch young roots and shoots. Manure should be well rotted and incorporated before planting, not heaped around seedlings.

Question 33Crop Production and Husbandry

Which feature of a knapsack sprayer should be checked to ensure an even dose of pesticide is applied?

  1. The colour of the tank
  2. The material of the lance
  3. The length of the shoulder strap
  4. The nozzle size and its calibration Correct answer.

Explanation

The nozzle determines droplet size and flow rate, so a worn or wrong nozzle changes the dose delivered per hectare. Calibrating the sprayer with water before use ensures the recommended rate is applied evenly.

Question 34Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to protect a field of maize from birds that attack the grain as it ripens. Which method is most practical and least harmful to the environment?

  1. Deploying scaring devices that are moved regularly Correct answer.
  2. Spraying the crop with a broad-spectrum insecticide
  3. Covering the whole field with shade netting
  4. Flooding the field before harvest

Explanation

Birds quickly learn to ignore a static scarecrow, so moving and varying scaring devices such as reflective tape or noisemakers makes them more effective. This avoids chemicals that would harm non-target organisms.

Question 35Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is a fungal disease of maize characterised by long grey-green lesions on the leaves?

  1. Maize streak virus
  2. Striga infestation
  3. Northern leaf blight Correct answer.
  4. Bacterial stalk rot

Explanation

Northern leaf blight is caused by a fungus and produces long, cigar-shaped grey-green lesions running along the leaf. It spreads in humid conditions and can reduce photosynthesis and yield.

Question 36Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer notices white mouldy growth and a musty smell on stored groundnuts. Which action is most important to prevent further loss?

  1. Add more nuts to fill the storage bag
  2. Mix the mouldy nuts with sound ones
  3. Store the nuts in a damp shed
  4. Dry the nuts quickly to a safe moisture level Correct answer.

Explanation

Mould on groundnuts indicates high moisture, and some moulds produce aflatoxins that are harmful to people and livestock. Rapid drying to a safe moisture level and clean, dry storage stop mould growth and toxin formation.

Question 37Crop Production and Husbandry

Which method is appropriate for controlling weeds in a field of young transplanted tomatoes without damaging the crop?

  1. Broadcasting a non-selective herbicide over the field
  2. Hand weeding between the rows Correct answer.
  3. Spraying a contact herbicide directly onto the tomato leaves
  4. Flooding the field for several days

Explanation

Hand weeding between rows removes weeds close to young transplants without exposing the crop to herbicide damage. Non-selective herbicides would kill the tomatoes as well as the weeds.

Question 38Crop Production and Husbandry

Which practice best helps a newly transplanted seedling establish quickly in the field?

  1. Watering it in immediately after planting Correct answer.
  2. Applying a high-nitrogen fertiliser to the leaves
  3. Planting it at midday in full sun
  4. Pulling the seedling by its stem from the nursery

Explanation

Watering immediately after transplanting settles the soil around the roots and replaces the water lost during lifting, so the seedling can re-establish contact with the soil. This reduces transplanting shock and wilting.

Question 39Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to grow a crop on a slope where erosion is a risk. Which practice most directly reduces soil loss?

  1. Ploughing up and down the slope
  2. Leaving the soil bare between seasons
  3. Removing all crop residues after harvest
  4. Planting along the contour with strips of grass Correct answer.

Explanation

Contour planting and grass strips slow the downhill flow of water, so it soaks in rather than carrying soil away. Vegetative cover also holds soil particles in place.

Question 40Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following describes the correct spacing for a crop?

  1. The depth at which seed is buried
  2. The angle at which seedlings are set
  3. The number of seeds placed in each hole
  4. The distance between plants within a row and between rows Correct answer.

Explanation

Spacing refers to the distance between plants in the row and the distance between rows, which together determine plant population and competition. It is usually written as a pair such as 75 cm by 25 cm.

Question 41Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer notices that maize plants in a field are stunted with purple-tinged leaves, especially on older leaves. Which nutrient is most likely deficient?

  1. Boron
  2. Phosphorus Correct answer.
  3. Calcium
  4. Molybdenum

Explanation

Phosphorus deficiency commonly causes stunted growth and a purple or reddish tinge on older leaves because phosphorus is mobile and moves to new growth. It is most noticeable in cold, acidic or compacted soils.

Question 42Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is the best reason for thinning a densely sown row of seedlings?

  1. To increase the number of plants per hectare
  2. To reduce competition so remaining plants grow stronger Correct answer.
  3. To make the crop mature earlier than normal
  4. To prevent the soil from drying out

Explanation

Overcrowded seedlings compete for light, water and nutrients, so thinning reduces competition and allows the remaining plants to develop stronger stems and larger yields. The aim is an optimum population, not the maximum number.

Question 43Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to grow a crop in a region with a short rainy season and sandy soil. Which crop characteristic would be most suitable?

  1. Drought tolerance and early maturity Correct answer.
  2. Preference for heavy clay soil
  3. Very long growing season
  4. Requirement for continuous flooding

Explanation

Sandy soils hold little water and the rainy season is short, so a crop that matures early and tolerates drought is most likely to succeed. Matching crop characteristics to the environment is a basic principle of crop selection.

Question 44Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following best describes the role of a cover crop?

  1. It replaces fertiliser completely in all situations
  2. It is harvested for grain as the main cash crop
  3. It protects and improves the soil between main crops Correct answer.
  4. It is a weed that must be removed

Explanation

A cover crop is grown mainly to protect the soil surface from erosion, suppress weeds and add organic matter, rather than for harvest. It improves soil health between main crops.

Question 45Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer's crop shows yellowing between the veins of older leaves while the veins stay green. Which deficiency is most consistent with this pattern?

  1. Nitrogen
  2. Iron
  3. Zinc
  4. Magnesium Correct answer.

Explanation

Magnesium is part of chlorophyll and is mobile in the plant, so deficiency appears on older leaves as interveinal yellowing while the veins remain green. Iron deficiency produces similar interveinal yellowing but on young leaves first.

Question 46Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following is the main purpose of roguing in a seed production field?

  1. Increasing the plant population before harvest
  2. Applying water to the seedbed
  3. Removing off-type and diseased plants to maintain seed purity Correct answer.
  4. Loosening the soil around the roots

Explanation

Roguing is the removal of plants that are off-type, diseased or otherwise undesirable so that they do not pollinate or contaminate the seed crop. It protects the genetic purity and health of the harvested seed.

Question 47Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer wants to control weeds in a field of maize using a herbicide that kills grasses but not the maize. Which type of herbicide is being described?

  1. A selective herbicide Correct answer.
  2. A soil sterilant
  3. A non-selective herbicide
  4. A contact desiccant

Explanation

A selective herbicide kills certain plant types while leaving the crop unharmed, which is why grass killers can be used in a grass crop such as maize when the correct product is chosen. Non-selective herbicides kill all vegetation.

Question 48Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer notices that a crop planted in the same field for several seasons is increasingly damaged by a soil-borne pest. Which practice best addresses this?

  1. Applying more of the same fertiliser each season
  2. Rotating with a crop that is not a host of the pest Correct answer.
  3. Increasing the plant population in the field
  4. Irrigating more frequently during the season

Explanation

Soil-borne pests build up when a susceptible host is grown repeatedly, so rotating to a non-host crop starves the pest and reduces its population in the soil. This is a key reason for planned crop sequences.

Question 49Crop Production and Husbandry

Which of the following describes the purpose of a nursery bed in vegetable production?

  1. To store harvested vegetables before sale
  2. To grow plants for livestock grazing
  3. To test the fertility of the field soil
  4. To raise healthy seedlings in a protected, well-managed area Correct answer.

Explanation

A nursery bed concentrates seedlings in a small, well-prepared and protected area where watering, shade and pest control are easier. Strong seedlings are then transplanted to the field.

Question 50Crop Production and Husbandry

A farmer harvests a crop of tomatoes and finds many fruits bruised and rotting within a few days. Which factor is most likely to have caused the loss?

  1. Rough handling and harvesting at high temperature Correct answer.
  2. Cooling the fruit soon after harvest
  3. Harvesting at the correct maturity stage
  4. Using clean, ventilated crates

Explanation

Bruising from rough handling breaks the skin and allows rot organisms to enter, and harvesting during the heat of the day raises the fruit temperature so it deteriorates faster. Careful handling and prompt cooling reduce such losses.