1. What is the main purpose of land preparation before planting crops?
To remove weeds, loosen the soil and create a seedbed suitable for planting
To compact the soil so seeds stay on the surface
To permanently stop all soil organisms from working
To increase the number of rocks on the surface
Explanation:
Good land preparation removes weeds, breaks clods and creates a fine seedbed so seeds can germinate and roots can grow.
2. When is the best time to prepare land for rain-fed crops in most parts of Kenya?
In the middle of a long dry spell with no rain expected
Shortly before the onset of the rains
During the coldest night of the year
After the crop has already emerged
Explanation:
Preparing land just before the rains ensures the seedbed has moisture for germination while reducing the time for weeds to re-establish.
3. Which hand tool is commonly used by smallholder farmers in Kenya for land preparation?
Gas-powered tiller only
Mechanical rotavator often pulled by tractor
Combine harvester
Jembe (hand hoe)
Explanation:
The jembe (hand hoe) is widely used by smallholder farmers for clearing, digging and shaping beds when tractors are not available.
4. Why is contour farming practiced on sloping land?
To ensure all water drains to the bottom of the slope
To make harvesting more difficult
To reduce soil erosion and slow runoff by following the slope contours
To encourage faster downhill water flow
Explanation:
Planting along contour lines helps slow water movement and reduces soil loss on slopes.
5. What depth of ploughing is generally recommended for crops like maize to allow good root growth?
About 20 cm
Less than 2 cm
More than 1 metre
Exactly 5 mm
Explanation:
Ploughing to about 20 cm loosens the root zone sufficiently for maize roots and improves drainage and aeration.
6. Why are ridges made for crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes?
To stop roots from forming
To improve drainage, allow root development and conserve moisture in the seedbed
To make the land unusable for other crops
To increase wind speed over the crop
Explanation:
Ridges create space for tuber development, improve drainage and can help conserve moisture around roots.
7. What is the purpose of harrowing after primary ploughing?
To plant seeds deeper than ploughing can
To break clods, level the surface and create a finer seedbed
To remove all organic matter permanently
To compact the surface for water runoff
Explanation:
Harrowing smooths and refines the rough ploughed soil, making it suitable for planting and seed contact.
8. What does good soil tilth mean?
The soil is in the right physical condition for seed germination and root growth
The soil is full of large rocks only
The soil has no nutrients at all
The soil is completely dry and hard
Explanation:
Tilth describes the soil's structure and texture that allow roots to grow, hold water and let air reach roots.
9. How should perennial weeds and grasses be controlled before planting?
Cover them with plastic and leave without further action forever
Remove or uproot them and, where practical, use deep ploughing or targeted herbicide before planting
Plant immediately without any control so they grow with the crop
Burn the whole field daily until planting
Explanation:
Perennial weeds need thorough removal or control before planting to reduce competition and make crop establishment easier.
10. Why should excessive tillage be avoided?
It can destroy soil structure, increase erosion and reduce organic matter
It guarantees no weeds will ever return
It always increases soil fertility immediately
It makes soil taste better
Explanation:
Too much tillage breaks down soil aggregates, exposes organic matter to rapid decomposition and raises erosion risk.
11. Why is soil testing recommended before major land preparation and fertilizer use?
To color the soil for aesthetic purposes
To see if the soil contains gold
To measure how many worms there are to sell
To determine existing soil fertility and what fertilizers or lime are needed
Explanation:
Soil tests show nutrient levels and pH so farmers can apply the correct type and amount of fertilizer or lime.
12. When is cow or farmyard manure best added to the field during land preparation?
Mixed with pesticides and applied only after harvest
Incorporated into the soil a few weeks before planting
Left on the surface and then immediately set on fire
Added only to harvested grain
Explanation:
Incorporating manure before planting allows it to decompose, release nutrients and improve soil structure for seedlings.
13. What is conservation tillage (minimum tillage)?
A system that reduces ploughing and leaves crop residues to protect the soil
Heavy tillage every day to make soil dust
Planting crops without any soil at all
A method to remove all residues and sterilize the soil
Explanation:
Conservation tillage reduces soil disturbance and keeps residues on the surface to prevent erosion and conserve moisture.
14. Why is land leveling important for irrigation farming?
To create hills where water collects only in one spot
To make the field steeper for faster runoff
To stop irrigation completely
To ensure water spreads evenly across the field and prevent waterlogging
Explanation:
Level fields allow uniform water application, reducing dry spots and areas of waterlogging that damage crops.
15. What is the main benefit of building terraces on steep farmland?
They make the land steeper and increase erosion
They reduce soil erosion and allow cultivation of steep slopes
They are used only for aesthetic garden design
They prevent any plant from growing
Explanation:
Terraces slow water flow, trap soil and make steep slopes suitable for crop production.
16. Why is stumping and clearing necessary before cultivation in formerly forested land?
To leave big stumps to block machinery
To remove roots and stumps that interfere with ploughing and root growth
To ensure pests hide under the stumps
To encourage large trees to regrow quickly among the crops
Explanation:
Removing stumps and large roots is needed so implements can work the soil and crop roots are not obstructed.
17. What is a cover crop and why is it used during land preparation periods?
A crop like legumes planted to protect the soil, fix nitrogen and reduce erosion when the main crop is not growing
A crop that always kills the soil microbes
A material used to cover seeds so nothing grows
A crop planted only to be immediately harvested for timber
Explanation:
Cover crops protect the soil from erosion, improve fertility (especially legumes) and keep the soil active between main crops.
18. How does adding organic matter (compost or manure) help prepared land?
It improves soil structure, increases water holding capacity and supplies nutrients
It turns the soil into pure sand
It reduces the number of beneficial microbes permanently
It makes the soil impermeable to water
Explanation:
Organic matter enhances soil tilth, retains moisture, feeds soil organisms and slowly releases nutrients to crops.
19. What should a farmer do when preparing land that is swampy or waterlogged?
Add extra water to make it deeper
Drain excess water or use raised beds/ridges before planting
Plant immediately without changing water levels
Cover the land with plastic and leave
Explanation:
Excess water must be removed or crops raised on ridges to prevent root suffocation and promote healthy crop establishment.
20. Why are windbreaks or shelterbelts planted around fields during land preparation planning?
To encourage birds to destroy the crop
To attract more wind for drying the soil
To make planting more difficult
To reduce wind speed, protect soil from wind erosion and protect crops
Explanation:
Windbreaks lower wind speed across fields, reducing soil loss, drying and physical damage to crops.
21. What is a risk of deep ploughing when done too often on sloping land?
It permanently increases soil fertility without limits
It turns slope into perfectly flat land instantly
It may expose more soil to erosion and reduce long-term soil stability
It guarantees zero runoff forever
Explanation:
Frequent deep ploughing on slopes can break down protective layers and increase vulnerability to erosion.
22. Why is knowing the soil pH important during land preparation?
To know how many worms to add
To determine if lime is needed to correct acidity and to know nutrient availability
To decide what colour the soil will be
To choose the loudest farming tool
Explanation:
Soil pH affects nutrient availability; testing pH tells farmers if liming or other adjustments are necessary before planting.
23. What is the ideal soil moisture condition for tillage to avoid compaction?
Moist but not wet (firm with little soil sticking to tools)
Bone-dry and dusty
Frozen solid
Soggy and waterlogged
Explanation:
Tilling when soil is moist (not saturated) reduces compaction and clod formation; wet soil compacts and dry soil may be too hard.
24. Why should large stones and roots be removed during land preparation?
To increase soil acidity
To make it harder to plant seeds
To prevent damage to planting tools and to allow easy root growth and uniform planting depth
To provide hiding places for pests near seedlings
Explanation:
Removing stones and large roots protects implements, helps planting at the correct depth and allows roots to develop unimpeded.