Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  Soil organic matter (SOM) is the organic matter component of soil, consisting of plant and animal residues at various stages of decomposition, cells, and tissues of soil organisms, and substances synthesized by soil organisms. The following are factors affecting decomposition of soil organic matters: Temperature: Cold periods retard plant growth and OM decomposition. Warm summers may permit plant growth and humus accumulation.  Soil moisture: Extremes of both arid and anaerobic conditions reduce plant growth and microbial decomposition. Near or slightly wetter than field capacity moisture conditions are most favourable for both processes.   Nutrients: Lack of nutrients particularly N slows decomposition.   Soil PH: Most of the microbes grow best at pH 6 – 8, but are severely inhibited below pH 4.5 and above pH 8.5.   Soil Texture: Soils higher in clays tend to retain larger amounts of humus.   Other Factors: Toxic levels of elements (A...

  The following are Problems facing farmers in Mwea irrigation scheme Stagnant ware encourages its breeding of snails and mosquitoes increasing incidences of   Bilharzia and malaria                                         Quelea birds which feed on rice grain lowers drop yield Siltation in canals reduces capacity to hold enough water for irrigation Fluctuating water volumes reduces water for irrigation Poor marketing strategies Delayed payment to farmers lowers their morale - Shortage of capital to finance farming activities such as plough RELATED POSTS IMPORTANCE OF SOIL STRUCTURE     7 CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL CLIMATE    7 ADVANTAGES OF WETLANDS     7 FACTORS INFLUENCING MASS WASTING    5 CONDITIONS FOR EXISTENCE OF CORAL REEFS ...

  what is sugar cane? sugarcane is any of the several species of tall perennial true grasses of the genus Saccharum, tribe andropogoneae and it belongs to the grass family called Poaceae. the official classification of sugarcane is Saccharum officinarum. it is common in tropical and subtropical countries throughout the world several different horticultural varieties are known and they differ by their stem color and length sugarcane is composed of six species of perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum L, in the tribe andropogoneae. there are two wild species (s. spontaneum and s. robustum) and four cultivated species (s. officinarum, s.barberi, s.sinense and s.edule) sugarcane is indigenous to tropical south and southeast asia sugarcane has been cultivated since ancient times and it was one of the first cash crops of early colonial America the countries that produce the largest amount of sugarcane are brazil, India , China, Mexico, Thailand, and Pakistan sugarcane is the world's la...

  Nomadic pastoralism involves constant or seasonal movement or migration of nomads and their livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys, and camels) from one place to another in search of green pastures and water The following are characteristics of nomadic herding Seasonal movement of nomads and their livestock cattle are kept as sign of wealth large herd of cattle with uncontrolled breeding are kept lack of organized land tenure where land is communally owned little or no crop is grown as much attention is turned to animals many kinds of animals (goat, sheep, donkeys etc) are grazed together poor marketing of the animals and their products There are high incidences of diseases. RELATED POSTS COMPARISON BETWEEN FISHING IN KENYA AND JAPAN THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROBLEM FACING ENVIRONMENT Five (5) Advantages of questionnaire as data collection tool in research 5 DISADVANTAGES OF ROAD TRANSPORT 10 FACTORS THAT AFFECT OCEAN SALINITY CAUSES AND EFF...

    Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to support plant growth in areas that have insufficient rainfall . Irrigation is either permanent or temporary, and it is carried out in areas that have insufficient rainfall and where flooding is common. Under irrigation, the extra amount of water needed depends on the type of crop grown, the prevailing temperature and humidity, the kind of soil, and other conditions in the area. The following are advantages of irrigation: The supply of water by irrigation is regular and reliable, whereas rainfall is often seasonal or unpredictable. Under irrigation, cultivation can be done all year round and not during the rainy season In desert areas, the constant flow of irrigation water through the soil helps to reduce the salinity of the soil. Modern multi-purpose dams not only support irrigation but also help to control floods, generate hydroelectricity, and improve the navigability of rivers. Irrigation water supplied by rivers durin...

  Dairy farming is a system of rearing cattle for milk and milk products. Farmers in both Kenya and Denmark involve themselves in dairy farming but there are notable differences in how they conduct dairy farming. The following are ways in which dairy farming in Kenya is different from dairy farming in Denmark:      In Kenya, cattle mainly depend on natural growing grass/pasture whereas in Denmark the cattle is fed on fodder and commercial feeds  In Kenya mechanization is limited/mainly labour intensive whereas in Denmark mechanization is widely used  In Kenya, most farmers practice mixed farming while in Denmark dairy farming is highly specialized  In Kenya, most of the dairy products are consumed by the domestic market   In Kenya, dairy production is affected by variation in a climate wherein in Denmark, dairy farming is least affected by variations in climate  In Kenya, the dairy cooperative movement is less developed whereas I...