MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
P.O. Box 972-60200 – Meru-Kenya.
Tel: +254(0) 799 529 958, +254(0) 799 529 959, +254 (0)712 524 293
Website: www.must.ac.ke Email:
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2021/2022
FIRST YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
AAA 7101: ADVANCES IN PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
DATE: OCTOBER 2022 TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) Explain the roles played by the following essential elements in plants, citing the forms in
which they are absorbed
i. Phosphorous (2 Marks)
ii. Calcium (2 Marks)
b) Discuss the negative implications of inorganic fertilizers to the environment. (5 Marks)
c) Describe the classification of fertilizers, giving an example of each type (6 Marks)
d) Describe the three categories of Nutrient use efficiency (NUE), giving the expression on
how each can be determined (6 Marks)
e) Discuss the effects of soil acidity on the availability of N and P nutrients to plants.
(4 Marks)
f) Describe the Mn and Al toxicity, and their effects in plants growth. (5 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (15 MARKS)
a) Discuss the causes of soil salinity and its effects on plant growth. (10 Marks)
b) Discuss the reclamation strategies for saline soils. (5 Marks)
Meru University of Science & Technology is ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Foundation of Innovations Page 1
P.O. Box 972-60200 – Meru-Kenya.
Tel: +254(0) 799 529 958, +254(0) 799 529 959, +254 (0)712 524 293
Website: www.must.ac.ke Email:
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2021/2022
FIRST YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
AAA 7101: ADVANCES IN PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
DATE: OCTOBER 2022 TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) Explain the roles played by the following essential elements in plants, citing the forms in
which they are absorbed
i. Phosphorous (2 Marks)
ii. Calcium (2 Marks)
b) Discuss the negative implications of inorganic fertilizers to the environment. (5 Marks)
c) Describe the classification of fertilizers, giving an example of each type (6 Marks)
d) Describe the three categories of Nutrient use efficiency (NUE), giving the expression on
how each can be determined (6 Marks)
e) Discuss the effects of soil acidity on the availability of N and P nutrients to plants.
(4 Marks)
f) Describe the Mn and Al toxicity, and their effects in plants growth. (5 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (15 MARKS)
a) Discuss the causes of soil salinity and its effects on plant growth. (10 Marks)
b) Discuss the reclamation strategies for saline soils. (5 Marks)
Meru University of Science & Technology is ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Foundation of Innovations Page 1
