2.1 Name FOUR functions of soil in crop production - NSC Agricultural Management Practices - Question 2 - 2019 - Paper 1

Contour ploughing helps in reducing soil erosion by following the natural contours of the land, which minimizes runoff and promotes water absorption.

By creating ridges and furrows along the contours of the land, contour ploughing effectively channels surface runoff into designated waterways that can direct the water into dams, thereby preventing soil erosion while conserving water.

Contour ploughing involves ploughing along the contour lines of the land to minimize erosion, while terracing involves creating flat areas on steep slopes to slow water runoff and allow for more effective farming.

Greyish clay soil typically has poor drainage due to its compact nature, which can lead to waterlogging. However, its structure can improve with the addition of organic matter and proper cultivation practices.

The pH scale measures acidity or alkalinity on a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7,8 indicates that the grey clay soil is slightly alkaline, which is beneficial for many crops.

To improve the pH of the soil, gypsum or lime (calcium sulphate) can be added.

The young farmer should adopt conservation tillage practices, such as no-till farming or mulching, to protect the soil structure, retain moisture, and reduce erosion. By minimizing soil disturbance, these practices can improve soil health and enhance productivity.

Fair labour practices ensure that workers are not overburdened, leading to increased productivity. When workers are treated well, they can work efficiently without wasting time, which enhances the positioning of buildings and equipment for optimal workflow.

1. Financial Capital - Cash funds used for purchasing seeds.
2. Physical Capital - Machinery such as tractors.
3. Human Capital - Skills and expertise of farm workers.
4. Intellectual Capital - Knowledge of farming practices.

A - Semi-intensive production B - Extensive production (Free range) C - Intensive production

(a) Method B (Extensive) requires low labour input due to larger land areas with less intensive management, while Method C (Intensive) requires high labour input as it involves closer monitoring and management of crops or livestock.

(b) Method B relies very little on technology, whereas Method C employs a significant amount of technology for monitoring and managing production processes.

Method A can be regarded as organic farming since it emphasizes natural inputs and minimizes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, thereby maintaining environmental health.

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) can be used to analyze and divide natural veld into effective grazing camps.

A camp must have clean and fresh drinking water available at all times, good topography to allow for easy movement, and sufficient fodder to meet nutritional needs.

Precision farming technologies such as GPS tracking and RFID tags can be used by stock farmers to monitor the location and health of animals, ensuring they can manage grazing habits even without physical presence.

2.8.1 - Maintenance budget 2.8.2 - Cash flow budget 2.8.3 - Whole farm budget 2.8.4 - Partial budget 2.8.5 - Enterprise budget

1. A budget must be regularly updated to reflect changing circumstances such as market prices and costs.
2. It is essential to measure progress against budgeted values over time.
3. Budgets help in planning corrective actions when there are discrepancies between expected and actual performance.