The pictures show two plants that could be used when reseeding a pasture - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question a - 2017
Question a
The pictures show two plants that could be used when reseeding a pasture.
(i) Name the grass variety in picture A.
(ii) Give two reasons why a farmer would use thi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The pictures show two plants that could be used when reseeding a pasture - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question a - 2017
Step 1
i) Name the grass variety in picture A.
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Answer
The grass variety in picture A is Perennial ryegrass (PRG), also acceptable is Italian ryegrass or ryegrass (noting that it is not intermediate ryegrass).
Step 2
ii) Give two reasons why a farmer would use this grass when reseeding.
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It offers a high yield and productivity, allowing for better pasture growth.
It is highly digestible, which increases the overall nutritional value for grazing livestock.
Step 3
iii) Name the plant in picture B.
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The plant in picture B is Clover.
Step 4
iv) Give two reasons why plant B would be used in a seed mixture.
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Clover is effective for nitrogen fixation, enriching the soil with nutrients needed for growth.
It provides quality ground cover, which supports good growth and prevents erosion.
Step 5
b) Give one reason why weeds should be controlled in grassland.
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Weeds can reduce the competition for nutrients and water among desirable plants, leading to poorer grass growth or yield.
Step 6
c) State two ways of controlling weeds in grassland, other than using herbicide (weedkiller).
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Mechanical means such as topping or pulling weeds by hand, or using certified seed crops to ensure weed-free planting.
Grazing management techniques, where livestock can graze selectively on weeds.
Step 7
d) Describe strip grazing, with the aid of a labelled diagram.
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Strip grazing involves dividing pasture into sections or strips where livestock can graze.
Diagram:
Grazing area divided into strips by fence. Labels include:
Front fence or movable electric fence
Water supply
Area of recovery or regrowth
Direction of fence movement
Description:
Livestock are given access to a strip of pasture for 24 hours; they graze each strip for one day before moving to another. This system allows for better management of grass growth and livestock nutrition.
Step 8
e) Describe an experiment to find the percentage (%) sugar in a sample of grass.
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Dry the grass sample in a paper bag or seal bag until a constant weight is achieved.
Place the dried sample in a beaker, cover it with distilled water, and let it soak for 24 hours or more to extract sugars.
Use a refractometer or similar device to measure the sugar concentration in the solution, following standard calibration procedures.
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