(a) Discuss the cultivation of maize under the following headings. (i) soil requirements; (ii) method...

Explanation

(a)Cultivation of maize

(i)Soil requirements

• Well drained soil, rich in nutrients;
• Sandy-loam soil;
• Thrives on neutral or alkaline soil

(ii)Method of propagation

• Propagated by seed.

(iii)Spacing

• 90cm x 30cm at one seed per hole/stand;
• 75cm x 25 cm at two seeds per hole/stand.

(iv)Weed control

• Done manually with cutlass and hoe;
• Done 2-3 times on the farm at regular intervals;
• Could also be done mechanically with implements pulled by animals;
• Herbicides could also be used.

(v)Two fungal diseases

• Corn smut;
• Maize rust;
• Leaf spot

(vi)Harvesting

• On a low/small scale, could be harvested manually by breaking the ear from the maize plant;
• Cutlass could be used to slash the whole plant while the ear is broken from the plant;
• Combine harvester could be used on a large scale when the moisture content of the crop is low (25-28%);
• Could be harvested green or dry;
• Crop is due for harvesting from 60-120 days after planting depending on variety.

(b)Description of farm records

(i) Production record

• Shows the yield of crops cultivated on the farm;
• Shows the produce from livestock/farm animals;
• Shows the date of collection of farm produce;
• Helps to forecast yield.

(ii)Farm inventory

• Farm inventory is a record of all the assets on a farm at a particular time;
• These include buildings, feed, land, animals, produce in storage and the number of machines on the farm;
• Usually taken at the beginning and end of the year;
• Shows the value of the assets on a farm;
• Shows the state of each equipment.

(iii)Cash book

• The cash book shows the financial transactions of the farm;
• These include receipts from goods bought, salary of workers, cost of inputs and output, records of all payment made to the farm;
• Shows receipts/sales on the left hand side;
• Shows expenses/payments on the right hand side;
• Shows date of transactions.