• A piece of land which is prepared is known as seedbed.
• A seedbed is a piece of land that is prepared ready to receive planting materials.

Reasons for Seedbed Preparation;

• To enable water to infiltrate.
• To kill weeds
• To improve soil aeration.
• To destroy pests and diseases.
• To incorporate organic matter in the soil.
• For easy planting.
• To facilitate root penetration.

Land Clearing
Clearing of land is necessary when:

• Opening up a virgin land.
• A stalk growing crop was previously planted.
• There is long interval between primary and secondary cultivation.
• Land was left fallow for a long time.

Procedure

• Tree felling and removal of stumps and roots.
• Burning
• Slashing
• Use of chemicals

Note: Burning should be avoided where possible since it;

• Leads to loss of organic matter,
• Kills soil organisms
• Destroys soil structure and plant nutrients.

Primary Cultivation

• This is the initial breaking of land.
• It is done early before the onset of the rains to:
  • Give time for soil organisms to act on organic matter.
  • Allow gaseous exchange to take place, thus carbon dioxide diffuses out of the soil while oxygen enters into the soil.
  • Allow other operations to take place in time.

Reasons for primary cultivation:

• Remove weeds.
• Burry organic matter.
• Open up soil for infiltration of water and air.
• Expose pests and disease causing organisms.
• Soften the soil for easy planting.

Operations in primary cultivation

• Hand digging;

Use of hand tools;

• Jembes,
• Mattocks,
• Fork-jembes.

• Mechanical cultivation;

Use of mouldboard ploughs;

• Disc ploughs,
• Chisel ploughs,
• Subsoilers
• Rippers.

Use of Ox-Ploughs;
Which can be drawn by;

• Oxen,
• Donkeys,
• Camels

Depth of Cultivation
Depends on:

• The type of crop to be planted/size of seed.
• The implements available.
• The type of soil.

​Choice of Implement
Determined by:

• The condition of land.
• The type of tilth required/type of crop.
• Depth of cultivation.

Secondary Tillage

• These are refinement practices on the seedbed that follow primary cultivation.
• It is also known as harrowing.

Reasons for secondary Tillage:

• To remove the germinating weeds.
• To break soil clods to produce required tilth.
• To level the seedbed for uniform planting.
• To incorporate organic matter/manure into the soil.

• Soil moisture content.
• Size of the planting materials.
• Condition of the soil after primary cultivation.
• Slope of the land.

Tertiary Operations:
Ridging;
 The process of digging soil on a continuous line and heaping on one side to produce a furrow and a bund (ridge).
 It is important for root crops, to allow root expansion and for soil and water conservation.
Rolling:
 It is the compaction of the soil to produce a firm surface which increases seed-soil contact and prevents wind erosion.
Levelling;
 Production of an even, uniform surface which promotes uniform planting.
Sub soiling:
This is deep cultivation into the subsoil layer to break up any hardpan which might have developed.
It is done for the following reasons:-

• To facilitate drainage.
• Bring up leached nutrients to the surface.
• Increase aeration of the soil.
• To improve root penetration.
• The implements used include chisel plough and Subsoilers.

This is the application of a combination of farming practices with the aim of reducing the disturbance of the soil.
Examples of which include:

• Use of herbicides.
• Mulching and cover-cropping.
• Timely operations to prevent weed infestation.
• Strip cultivation.
• Uprooting and slashing of weeds.

Reasons for Minimum Tillage

• To reduce cost of cultivation.
• To control soil erosion.
• To preserve soil moisture.
• To prevent root exposure and damage.
• To reconstruct destroyed soil structure.

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

1. explain the importance of land preparation
2. describe the various types of cultivation
3. relate each cultivation operation to correct tools and or implements
4. Prepare a piece of land ready for crop production.

Land preparation
Definition
Importance
Operations in land preparation
Clearing land before cultivation

• Importance (include clearing as a method of land reclamation)
• Methods and equipment

Primary cultivation

• Definition and importance Timing
• Choice of tools and implements

Secondary cultivation

• Definition and importance
• Number of operations
• Correct tools and implement for different operations
• Relating final tilth to the intended planting material

Tertiary operations

• Ridging
• Rolling
• Levelling

Note: For each type: Give reasons, explain how it is carried out
Sub-soiling

• Meaning
• Importance
• Equipment used

Minimum tillage

• Definition
• Importance
• Practices

1. Give three factors that determine depth of Ploughing during land preparation
2. List four reasons for cultivating land before planting
3. 
   
   1. What is minimum tillage?
   2. Give four farming practices that help in achieving minimum tillage.
4. Describe the establishment of grass pasture from the time the land is ploughed using a mould board plough to the time the pasture is ready for grazing
   1. Explain five practices that a farmer should carry out to ensure uniform germination of seeds
   2. Describe five factors that determine the number of cultivations when preparing a seedbed
5. State four physical conditions of the seedbed that need to be changed to facilitate germination
6. State four importance of sub soiling as a tertiary operation
7. Outline four advantages of rolling in seedbed preparation
8. State four disadvantages of minimum tillage
9. Give two reasons why it is advisable to cultivate the field during the dry season
10. How are hard pans caused by cultivation?
11. Give four factors that determine the number of secondary cultivation operations
12. Define the term minimum tillage
13. List four advantages of timely planting
14. State any two factors that determine the number of cultivation on a field before it is ready for planting
15. Give three benefits of timely planting of annual crops

16.State four factors determining the depth of Ploughing land

Farm tools and equipment perform specific jobs in the farm.
They make work easier and more efficient.
They can be classified according to their uses as follows:

​Panga
Cutting and shallow cultivation, making holes.
Jembe / hand hoe
Cultivation, digging, shallow planting holes and trenches.
Fork Jembe
Cultivation, digging out roots, harvesting of root crops.
Rake
Collecting trash, breaking large clods, levelling, removing stones from a seedbed and spreading organic manure.
Spade
Scooping and carrying of soil, sand, concrete mixture and manure.
Spring balance
Measuring weight.
Trowel
Scooping seedlings during transplanting and digging planting holes for seedlings.
Pruning hook
Bending tall branches when pruning.
Secateur
Cutting young stems and pruning branches.
Tape measure
Measuring distances.
Axe
Cutting big trees and roots and splitting logs of wood.
Soil auger
Making holes for fencing posts.
Mattock
Digging hard soils
Sprinkler
Overhead irrigation
Watering can
Watering plants in nursery bed
Wheel barrow
Transportation of soil, fertilizers, farm produce, tools and equipment.
Levelling board
For levelling a nursery bed
Pruning saw
Cutting old wood stems and pruning big branches.
Hose pipe
For conveying water from a tap to where it is need.
Knap sack sprayer
Applying agro-chemical by spraying.
Garden shear
Trimming hedges.
Pruning knife
Removal of small shoots.
Meter ruler
Measuring distances.
Garden fork
Shallow digging.

​Drenching gun
Administering liquid drugs to animals orally.
Bolus gun/dosing gun
Administering solid drugs or tablets to animals orally.
Wool Shears
Cutting off wool from sheep.
Hypodermic syringe
Administering drugs by injection for example in vaccination.
Stirrup (bucket) pump
Application of acaricide by hand spraying.
Thermometer
Taking body temperatures of farm animals.
Burdizzo
Used in bloodless method of castration.
Halter
Rope designed to restrain the animal.
Trimming knife
Cutting short the overgrown hooves.
Elastrator
Stretching rubber ring during castration, dehorning and docking of lambs.
Iron dehorner
Applies heat on the horn bud to prevent growth of horns.
Nose ring
Fixed into the nose of a bull to restrain it.
Strip cup
Detecting mastitis in milk products.
Trocar and cannula
Relieving a bloated animal of gases particularly ruminants.
Hard broom
For scrubbing the floor.
Ear notcher
Making ear notches in livestock.
Bucket
For holding milk during milking.
Milk chum
For holding milk after milking.
Milk strainer/sieve
Removing foreign particles from milk for example hairs and sediments.
Rope
Tying or tethering animals.
Milking stool
Used by the milker to sit on while milking.
Weighing balance
Weighing milk after milking.
Teeth clipper
Removal of canine teeth of piglets soon after birth.
Chaff cutter
Cutting fodder into small bits.
Dehorning wire
Cutting grown horns.

​Spanner
Tightening and loosening nuts and bolts.
Pliers
Cutting small wires and thin metal and gripping firmly.
Files
Sharpening tools, smoothening or shaping edges of metals,
Rasps
Smoothening and shaping of wooden structures.
Chisels (wood)
Making grooves in wood.
Cold chisel
Cutting and shaping metal.
Screw drivers
Driving screws in or out of wood or metal.
Cross cut saw
Cutting across the grain of wood.
Rip saw
Cutting along the grain of wood.
Hack saw/Bow saw
Cutting metals.
Tenon / back saw
Cutting branches of trees.
Coping saw
Cutting Joints on wood and fine sawing.
Compass/keyhole saw
Cutting curves on thin wood.
Cutting either along or across the grain of wood especially when cutting key holes.
Tin snip
Cutting metal sheets.
Braces and bits.
Boring holes in wood. ,
Drill and bits
Boring holes in metal work and woodwork.
Claw hammer
Driving in, removing and straightening nails.
Ball peen
Driving in nails, rivets and straightening metal. Also used on cold chisel, Mallet Hammering or hitting wood chisel.
Jack plane
Fine finishing of wood.
Scrappers/spoke shave
Smoothening curved surfaces of wood such as handles of jembes, axes.
Metre ruler
Measuring short length
Try square
Measuring length angles and to ascertain squareness.
Marking gauge
Marking parallel lines to the edge of wood.
Fencing pliers
Cutting wires, hammering staples when fencing.
Vice and clamps
Firmly holding pieces of work together.
Spirit level
Measuring horizontal or vertical levels.
Soldering gun
Melting soldering rods when repairing or fabricating metal sheets.
Wire brush
Brushing rough surfaces.
Divider
Marking and laying out.
Centre punch
Marking the point of drilling.
Paint brush
Applying paint on surfaces.
Sledge hammer
Ramming hardware, breaking stones.
Wire strainer
Tightening wires during fencing.
Riveting machine
Fix rivets when joining pieces of metal.
Claw bar
Removing long nails from wood, straining fencing wires and digging fencing holes.

Pipe wrench Holding, tightening and loosing metallic pipes.
Pipe cutter
Cutting PVC pipes.
Levelling rod
Levelling the floor during construction.
Mason's trowel
Placing mortar between construction stones and bricks.
Wood float
Create a level surface on walls and floors.
Mason's square
Ascertain verticalness.
Plumb bob
Spreading screed over floors and walls.
Shovel
Mixing and scooping concrete or mortar, measuring cement.

Reasons for Maintenance

1. To increase durability.
2. To increase efficiency.
3. Reduce costs of replacement.
4. For safety of the user/avoid accidents.
5. Avoid damage to the tool.

Methods

• Use tools for the right work.
• Proper handling when using tools or equipment.
• Clean and oil tools after work.21
• Keep tools in there right place.
• Replace and repair worn-out parts
• Sharpen cutting or digging edges
• Grease moving parts to reduce friction
• Use safety devices in the workshop to reduce accidents and breakages

1. Garden tools and equipment
2. Workshop tools and equipment
3. Woodwork tools and equipment
4. Metalwork tools and equipment
5. Livestock production tools and equipment
6. Plumbing tools and equipment
7. Masonry tools and equipment

Note: Study the above tools under the following headings:

• Name and uses
• Parts and uses
• Maintenance practices

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to:

1. Identify various farm tools and equipment
2. Name parts of various farm tools and equipment
3. Describe the use of various tools and equipment
4. Carry out maintenance practices on tools and equipment
5. Demonstrate an appreciation for care and maintenance of tools.

​1. List four maintenance practice carried out on a cross-cut saw
2. Identify the following tools and state their functions

​Identify A, B, C, D
3. Study the illustration below and answer the questions that follow.

​i) Identify the equipment represented by the illustration
ii) What is the use of the equipment?
iii) Name the parts labeled A and B
iv) What is the function of the part labeled A and B
4. What is the use of a garden fork?
5. Name the tool that a builder would use to check the vertical straightness of a wall during construction
6. Name the farm tool that can be used when removing nails from timber
7. Give two examples of equipment that a livestock farmer can use in administering oral anti helminthes
8. Diagrams M, N, P and Q represent some farm tools. Study them carefully and answer questions that follow. 

a. Identify the tools M, N, P and Q (2 marks)
b. Give one use of each of the tools names above  (2 marks)
c. State two maintenance practices that should be carried out on tool M  (1 mark)

​9. Name a tool used to perform the following functions on the farm;
  (i) Drilling of small holes on metal
  (ii) Bore holes on wood
10. State the common faults in the operation of Knapsack spray
11. (a) Name the three tools in castration of livestock
12. Name the most appropriate set of animal handling tools that a farmer uses for the following operations:-
  (i) Restraining a large bull when taking it around the show ring
  (ii) Cutting tail in sheep
13. a) Below are illustrations of farm tools

  i) State the use of the tools
  ii) Name the type of hammer that may be used for driving tool K during work

​14. List two equipments used in handling cattle during an Agricultural exhibition
15. Mention the use of the following tools.
  i) Dibber
  ii) Spokeshaves
  iii) Tinsnips
  iv) Burdizzo
16. List four precautions that should be taken when using workshop tools and equipment.
17. i) Below is an illustration of a farm equipment. Study it and answer questions that follow

​a) Identify the farm equipment illustrated above
b) What is the use of the equipment
c) Name the parts labelled W, X and
d) What is the functions of Y on the equipment

​18. Use the diagram below to answer questions which follow

​i) Identify the above diagram
ii) Name the parts labelled A and B

​19. Below are illustrations of farm tools.  Study them and answer the question that follows:

​a) Identify P and M. (1mk)
b) State one advantage of P over Q. (1mk) 
c) State the function of tool labeled N and M. (2mks) 
d) Give two maintenance practices that can be carried out on tool P. (1mk)

​20. The diagram below is of a farm implement study in carefully and answer the questions that follows.

​i. Identify the implement.  (1 mark)
ii. Label lparts A, B, C and D.  (2 marks)
iii. State three maintenance practices carried out on the above implement.  (1½ mark)

​21. Study the farm tools shown below and answer the questions that follow.

​i. Identify the tools labeled.  (1½ marks)
ii. State one use for each of the tools B and C  (2 marks)
iii. Give three maintenance practices that should be carried out on tool A.  (1½marks)