Agricultural Science 2024 Jamb Examination

Biotic factors are living components of the ecosystem that affect agricultural production.
Predators, being living organisms, influence crop and livestock populations, unlike soil structure, wind, or rainfall which are abiotic factors.

The Land Use Act does not prevent land from being used; rather, it regulates ownership and use to prevent misuse.
Thus, the statement that land cannot be used for any purpose is incorrect.
The act gives the government control over unused land and supports re-allocation to enhance agricultural productivity.

Agriculture is best defined as the science and art of farming, encompassing both crop cultivation and livestock management, aimed at satisfying human needs.
It goes beyond merely raising crops or animals, involving planning, management, and application of scientific principles.

To achieve self-sufficiency in food production, emphasis should be on land uses that directly contribute to agricultural output, such as agriculture and forestry.
Research centres and roads are supportive, but primary land use for food is critical.

Efficient pest control reduces crop losses, ensuring higher food availability and preventing shortages.
Hoarding, natural hazards, and illegal exportation exacerbate shortages rather than alleviate them.

The A-horizon, also called the topsoil, is rich in organic matter and nutrients, providing an ideal environment for microbial activity.
Microorganisms thrive here, playing a vital role in decomposition and nutrient cycling.

Governments provide subsidies, farm settlements, and loans to support agriculture.
However, training farmers' children is not a direct role in agricultural development; it falls under general education policy.

Plutonic igneous rocks, also known as intrusive rocks, form beneath the Earth's surface from slowly cooled magma.
Volcanic rocks form on the surface, while stratified and quartzite are sedimentary and metamorphic rocks respectively.

Rapid cooling and solidification of rocks is a process in igneous rock formation, not physical weathering.
Physical disintegration occurs through expansion/contraction, cracking, and surface heating/cooling cycles.

Hygroscopic water is tightly bound to soil particles and unavailable to plants.
Capillary water is available to plants, gravitational water moves through soil freely, and superfluous water is excess water leading to waterlogging.