Explain the term staking in yam cultivation (3marks) (b) Describe the nursery practices in…

Explanation

(a) Explanation of staking in yam cultivation  
– It means using long poles or stick to support yam vines 
– The vines are trained to climb up the stakes by the farmer 
– Staking is done to ensure adequate exposure of leaf surface to sunlight for photosynthesis
 – Staking improves yield of yam 

(b) Nursery practices in coca cultivation  
– Polythene bags/poly pots are filled with loamy soil mixed with organic manure 
– Fresh seeds are sown in the soil in polythene bags 
– The polythene bags are placed under a shade in the nursery 
– The sown seeds in the polythene bags are watered daily 
– Removal/hand pulling of weeds around the growing seedlings is done regularly
 – The seeds are sown in nursery between October and November 
– Nursery practices last for about 5-6months 

 (c) Reasons for parboiling paddy rice 
– To reduce the breakage of grains during milling 
– To harden the grains. 
– To loosen the husk 
– To make dehusking easier
– To improve the resistance of grains to storage Pests
-To enable the grains absorb vitamin B and proteins in the bran during soaking 
-To improve storability of rice grains 

(d) Advantages  and disadvantages of taungya farming  
Advantages  
– Varieties of crops are harvested 
– It increases the income of the farmer 
– When leguminuos crops are used, the beneficial effect of root nodules increases soil fertility for the forest trees 
– The young forest trees receive attention from the farmer 
– Where land is scarce, the farmer has a piece of land to cultivate 
– Ensures effective weed control 
– Creates employment 

Disadvantages  
– The forestry sector may be reluctant to release their fertile land to farmers 
– There is competition for space, light, water and nutrients between arable crops and trees 
– Choice of crops to be planted is restricted to arable crops
 – Labour intensive because the system cannot be mechanized 
– Trees may harbour pests/pathogens of crops