FORM 2 AGRICULTURE SYLLABUS.

9.0.0 Soil Fertility II (Inorganic Fertilizers)  (12 Lessons)

10.0.0 Crop Production II (Planting) (16 Lessons)

11.0.0 Crop Production III (Nursery Practices) (16 Lessons)

12.0.0  Crop Production IV (Field Practices)  (14 Lessons)

13.0.0 Crop Production V (Vegetables) (16 Lessons)

14.0.0 Livestock Health I (Introduction)  (16 Lessons)

15.0.0 Livestock Health II (Parasites) (16 Lessons)

16.0.0 Livestock Production II (Nutrition) (12 Lessons)

Agriculture Encyclopaedia

9.0.0 SOIL FERTILITY II (INORGANIC FERTILIZERS) (12 LESSONS)

9.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) list the essential elements

b) classify the essential elements

c) state the role of each macro- nutrient

d) describe the deficiency symptoms of the macro-nutrients

e) identify and classify fertilizers describe the properties of various fertilizers

g) describe soil sampling and testing procedures

h) use appropriate methods of fertilizer application

i) ca1culate fertilizer application rates

j) explain how soil acidity and alkalinity affect crop production.

CONTENT:

9.2.1 Essential elements

    Macro-nutrients

- carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

- fertilizer elements (N, P, K)

- liming elements (Ca, Mg, S)

    Role of macro-nutrients in plant growth

    Deficiency symptoms of macro-nutrients in crops

    Micro-nutrients

9.2.2 Inorganic fertilizers

    Classification of fertilizers

    Identification of fertilizers

    Properties of fertilizers

    Methods of fertilizer application

    Determination of fertilizer rates

9.2.3 Soil sampling

    Meaning

    Soil sampling methods and procedures

    Sites to avoid

    Preparation and Procedure of sending soil for testing

9.2.4 Soil testing

    Meaning

    Importance

    Testing for pH

    How soil pH affects crop production

Note: Learners to make a table showing optimum pH range for various crops with the help of the teacher.

10.0.0 CROP PRODUCTION II (PLANTING) (16 LESSONS)

10.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) state the correct planting materials for various crops

b) select and prepare planting materials

c) determine the optimum time of planting

d) state the factors which determine the depth of planting

e) describe the planting procedures for different crops

f) state the factors that determine seed rate, spacing, and plant population

g) calculate plant population

h) demonstrate an appreciation for the economical use of land.

CONTENT:

10.2.1 Types of planting materials

    Seeds

   - Description

   -Advantages

   - Disadvantages

    Vegetative materials

   - Description

   - Advantages

   - Disadvantages

    Plant parts used for vegetative propagation

   - Slips

   - Splits

   - Bulbils

   - Crowns

   - Suckers

   - Tubers

   - Vines

   - Cuttings and setts

10.2.2 Selection of planting materials Suitability to ecological conditions (use maize hybrids and coffee varieties as examples)

    Purity

    Germination percentage

    Certified seeds

10.2.3 Preparation of planting materials

    Breaking dormancy

    Disease and pest control/seed dressing

    Seed innoculation

    Chitting

Note: Give appropriate crop for each Practice

10.2.4 Planting

    Timing

   -Factors to consider

   -Advantages of timely planting

    Methods of planting

   - Broadcasting

   - Row planting

   - Oversowing (refer to pastures- 25.2.1)

   -Undersowing

Note: Give appropriate crop for each method

10.2.5 Plant population

    spacing

          - factors to consider

    seedrates

         - factors to consider

    calculation of plant population

10.2.6 Depth of planting

    factors to consider

Note: Learners should:

          - carry out the above practices

         - develop a table showing spacing for different local crops

11.0.0 CROP PRODUCTION III (NURSERY PRACTICES) (16 LESSONS)

11.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) describe a nursery bed

b) distinguish between a nursery bed, a seedling bed and a seed bed

c) state the importance of a nursery bed

d) select a suitable site for a nursery

e) prepare a nursery bed fl manage a nursery bed

g) transplant crops from a nursery

h) bud a seedling

i) graft a seedling

j) explain the importance, budding, grafting, layering and tissue culture

k) describe damage caused by animals on tree seedlings and how to prevent it.

11.2.1 Nursery bed

    Definition

    Difference between a nursery bed, seedling bed and a seed bed

    Importance

    Site selection

    Nursery establishment

   i) Vegetable nursery

   ii) Tree nursery

   iii) Vegetative propagation nursery (tea as an example)

    use of sleeves and other innovations for growing young plants

    making and using seedling boxes for growing young plants

    reparation of rooting medium

    preparation of cuttings

11.2.2 Routine management in raising seedlings

    Seed drilling

    Mulching

    Watering

    Shading

    Pricking out

     Hardening off

    Weed control

    Pest control

    Disease control

11.2.3 Budding

    Meaning

    Methods and procedure

    Appropriate plants

    Appropriate tools and materials

Note: Learners to practice budding of orange scions on lemon root-stocks or other appropriate plants.

11.2.4 Grafting

    Meaning

    Methods and procedure

    Appropriate plants

    Appropriate tools and materials

Note: Learners to practice grafting on appropriate fruit trees importance of budding and grafting

11.2.5 Importance of budding and grafting

11.2.6 Layering

    Methods

    Importance

    Appropriate crops/plants for layering

    Materials used in layering

11.2.7 Tissue culture for crop propagation

11.2.8 Transplanting of vegetable seedlings from nursery to seedbed

    Timing

    Procedure and precautions

11.2.9 Transplanting of tree seedlings

    Timing

    Digging appropriate holes

    Planting including firming and watering

    Protecting the seedlings after transplanting

- Shading

- Damage caused by animals on tree seedlings and how to prevent it.

12.0.0 CROP PRODUCTION IV (FIELD PRACTICES)(14 LESSONS)

12.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) define crop rotation

b) state the importance of crop rotation

c) draw a crop rotation programme

d) distinguish terms used in crop farming

e) state the importance of mulching in crop production

f) describe the importance of various field practices in crop production

g) carry out various field practices

h) state the correct stage for harvesting various crops

i) describe harvesting practices for various crops.

12.1.0 Specific Objectives

12.2.1 Crop rotation

    Definition

    Importance

    Factors influencing crop rotation

    Rotational programmes

12.2.2 Terms used in crop production

    Monocropping

    Intercropping Mixed cropping

12.2.3 Mulching

    Meaning

    Importance Types of mulching materials

   - organic

   - inorganic

    Advantages and disadvantages of mulching materials

12.2.4 Routine field practices

    Thinning

    Rogueing

    Gapping

    Training/staking/propping

    Pruning:

   i) Tea - table formation and maintenance

   ii) Coffee

      - single and multiple stem.

      -capping

      -de-suckering

      -changing cycles

   (iii) Banana stool management

   (iv) Pyrethrum

-   cutting back

    Earthing up

    Crop protection:

   - Weed control

   - Pests and disease control (see unit 22 and 23)

Note: Study each of the above under

   - Importance

   - Timing

   - Appropriate crops

12.2.5 Harvesting

    Stage and timing of harvesting

    Methods of harvesting

    Precautions during harvesting

12,.2.6 Post - harvest practices

    Threshing/shelling

    Drying

    Cleaning

    Sorting and grading

    Dusting

    Packaging

12.2.7  Storage

    Importance

    Types of storage

    Preparation of store .

13.0.0 CROP PRODUCTION V (VEGETABLES) (16 LESSONS)

13.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) grow a vegetable crop from nursery establishment to harvesting

b) keep crop production records

c) market farm produce

d) demonstrate an appreciation of agriculture as an economically lucrative activity. 

13.2.1 Vegetable crops

    Tomatoes - use varieties that require pruning and staking.

    Carrots

    Onions

    Cabbages/kales

Note:

- Each student should grow at least one of the above crops keeping all the necessary records

- The teacher should organise the class in such a way that there are

students growing each of the crops

- Class discussions should be organised so that students tell and demonstrate to each other their work in the different vegetable crops. Discussion may be held at the crop plots for students to observe.

- The teacher may organise common nurseries for students growing tomatoes, cabbages/kales and onions. However, all students should actively participate in all nursery establishment and management practices.

- Topics 12.00 and 13.00 should be carried out concurrently as theory and practical.

14.0.0 LIVESTOCK HEALTH I (INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK HEALTH) (8 LESSONS)

14.1.0 Specific objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) define health and disease

b) describe signs of sickness in animals

c) state the predisposing of livestock diseases

d) categorize animal diseases

e) carry out disease control practices

f) state the importance of maintaining livestock healthy

g) demonstrate a caring attitude towards livestock.

14.2.1 Health and disease Definitions

• Definitions

• Importance of keeping livestock healthy

• Pre-disposing factors of livestock diseases

• Signs of ill -health in livestock

14.2.2 Classification of livestock diseases by cause

14.2.3 General methods of disease control

14.2.4 Appropriate methods of handling livestock.

15.0.0 LIVESTOCK HEALTH II (PARASITES) (16 LESSONS)

15.1.0 Specific objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) describe host-parasite relationship

b) identify different parasites

c) describe the life-cycle of parasites

d) explain methods of parasite control in livestock.

15.2.1 Host - parasite relationship

    effects of parasites on hosts

15.2.2 External parasites

    Ticks

    Tsetse flies

    Mites

    Lice

    Fleas Keds

15.2.3 Internal parasites

    Roundworms (Ascaris spp)

    Tapeworms (Taenia spp)

    Flukes (Fasciola spp)

Note:

    The parasites in 15.2.2 and

15.2.3 should be studied under the following:

   i) Identification

   ii) Livestock species attacked

   iii) Part(s) of livestock attacked or inhabited and mode of feeding

   iv) Signs and symptoms of attack

    Describe the life cycles of the following:

 i) Roundworm (Ascaris spp.)

ii) Tapeworm (Taenia spp)

iii) Liver Fluke (Fasciola spp.)

iv) Ticks, appropriate examples of:

- one - host

- two - host

- three - host

Note:

    Indicate whether soft or hard tick

    State methods of parasite control giving appropriate example of a parasite for each method. 

16.0.0 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION II (NUTRITION) (12 LESSONS)

16.1.0 Specific Objectives

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

a) identify and classify livestock feeds

b) describe digestion and digestive systems of cattle pig and poultry

c) define terms used to express feed values

d) compute a livestock ration

e) prepare balanced ration for various livestock

f) demonstrate a caring attitude towards livestock.

l6.2.1 Livestock nutrition

    Feeds and Feeding

   - Identification

   - classification of feeds

   - Terms used in expressing feed values

   - Computation of livestock rations

   - Preparation of livestock rations

    Digestive systems.

   - Ruminant (cattle)

   - Non-ruminant (pig and poultry)

    Digestion in cattle, pig and poultry

16.2.2 Appropriate livestock handling techniques while feeding.