(a) State four aims of crop improvement. [4 marks]
(b) Give four conditions necessary for seed germination. [4 marks]
(c) State the importance of conducting a germination test. [2 marks]
(d) Discuss briefly three problems associated with the use of poor quality planting materials. [6 marks]
Explanation
(a) Aims of crop improvement are
– increase the quality of crops
-Increase the quality of produce/improve nutritional value of produce
– Meet the need of growers and consumers/improve harvesting qualities.
-Adapt to climatic conditions.
– Increase resistance to diseases.
-Increase resistance to pests.
-produce crops that mature early.
Produce crops with uniform agronomic characteristics.
(b) Conditions necessary for seed germination
– Temperature/suitable temperature/optimum temperature
– Air/Oxygen Moisture/Water/Rainfall
-Viable seed
(c) Importance of conducting a germination test
-To assess the viability of the seeds.
– To determine seed rate
(d) Problems associated with the use of poor quality planting materials
– It may lead to uneven germination and establishment which will eventually require replanting.
-Seedings may be weak or feeble thereby predisposing them to mechanical damage, disease infection and if pest attack.
– It requires grading and disinfection of the planting material against seed borne pests and diseases.
-Extra costs are incurred in purchasing more planting materials.
-Uneven plant growth.
-Uneven growth may lead to uneven maturity. This will lead to haphazard nature of harvesting.
-Marketing of produce is affected by uneven maturity n and harvesting. ▪
-Poor quality produce is harvested. •
-Processing is affected due to the unequal sizes of the produce.
– Yield is reduced/poor.