FORM II 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 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 inoculation
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
- Over sowing (refer to pastures- 25.2.1)
-Under sowing
Note: Give appropriate crop for each method
10.2.5 Plant population
Spacing
- Factors to consider when spacing crops
Seed rates
- Factors to consider when choosing seed rate
Calculation of plant population
10.2.6 Depth of planting
Factors to consider when deciding planting depth
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 and 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
Mono-cropping
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.