AY Honors/Agriculture/Answer Key
1. List the components of soil. Why is soil important to plants?
2. Explain the difference between clay, sand, and loam soils. List three crops that grow well in each.
- Clay
- clayey soils are made from very fine particles which stick together easily. Water does not easily soak through clayey soils, but once it pentrates, the clay holds it well. It must be broken up before it can be used for agriculture. This can be done by mixing it with sand, sawdust, wood chips, lime, or manure. Crops that grow well in clayey soils include celery, (need two more).
- Sand
- Sandy soils are made from coarse particles. Water soaks into sand quickly, but will not remain there for very long. This can be addressed by adding clayey soil to it. Crops that grow well in sandy soil include melons, cucumbers, and beans.
- Loam
3. Test the germination of three varieties of seeds, 100 seeds in each variety. Record germination percentage after three, four, and five days.
First, wrap each variety seeds in a paper towel. Then dampen the paper towels and place them each inside their own clear plastic bag (such as a sandwich bag or a freezer bag) so that they retain moisture. Do not seal the bags. Place the bags in a warm place. After three days, carefully remove the paper towel from each bag, open it, and count the number of seeds that have sprouted. If you started with 100 seeds as per this requirement, the germination percentage will equal the number of seeds that have sprouted. Write this percentage down for each variety.
Do not remove the sprouted seeds. Rewrap the seeds in the paper towels, place the paper towels back in the bags, and return them to the warm place. Repeat after day four and day five.
4. Explain how plants obtain nutrients and convert them to food. Explain the differences between primary, secondary, and micronutrients.
5. Name and identify ten common weeds of your community and tell how to best eliminate them, using cultural or chemical methods.
6. Identify six common insect pests or diseases. Tell what plants they usually affect and how to eliminate or prevent their occurrence.
7. Locate two sources of agricultural weather information. How is this information helpful to the farmer?
8. Assist in planting, cultivating, and harvesting at least four different crops. Maintain a log of work done and problems encountered from seeding to harvest.
9. Know the purpose of the following:
- a. Plowing
- b. Disking
- c. Cultivating
- d. Irrigation
- e. Harvesting
