Univeristy of Massachusetts Amherst:Course Homepage:Template

Course Title
PLSOIL 120 ORGANIC FARMING AND GARDENING

FINAL EXAMINATION Name ______________________________

Third examination Night Class

(10)1. State a justification for the following practices in applications of farm manures to crop land.

a. Fresh (uncomposted) farm manures should be applied to land about two weeks ahead of planting of crops.

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b. To achieve maximum benefit from the plant nutrients, farm manures should be incorporated into the ground immediately after application of the manures to the land.

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c. Farm manures application to land in the fall of the year should be followed by planting of a fibrous-rooted cover crop.

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(10)2. Explain the value of the following actions in making compost for application to crop land.

a. Shredding the compostable materials __________________________________________________________

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b. Incorporating nitrogen fertilizers with the compostable materials ___________________________________

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c. Adding limestone to actively rotting materials in a compost pile ____________________________________

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d. Turning the pile __________________________________________________________________________

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(10)3. Comment on why the following properties are good characteristics of a green manure crop.

a. The green manure crop should be rapid growing _________________________________________________

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b. The green manure should be a legume _________________________________________________________

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(10) 4. Comment on the use of green manures under the following conditions.

a. Annual preciptation of 38 inches in any region __________________________________________________

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b. Annual frost-free growing season of 120 days in any region _______________________________________

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c. Home vegetable gardens in Massachusetts _____________________________________________________

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(10)5. Fill in the blanks.

a. The average composition of fresh manure from livestock is about ______ N, _____P2O5, and _____ K2O per ton. This manure for adequate nutrition of crops should be applied at __________ per acre annually. Poultry manures should be applied at about one-third the rate of livestock manures because of the __________ in the poultry manure. Problems with applications of manures to land might include _____________ and _________.

b. ___________________, _____________________, and _______________________ are examples of organic materials that should be composted before applying to land, but ___________________________________ and __________________ are suitable for direct incorporation into the land. Do not add _____________________ or__________________________________ to compost piles.

c. The principal reason for green manuring is to add ________________________ to the land. However, legumes are additionally beneficial as green manures in that they add from ______ to ______ lb of N per acre per year, whereas grasses and other nonlegumes add _____________ lb of N per acre per year. The benefits of green manure last for about _______ years with _______% of the benefits being imparted in the first year.

(10)6. How does one determine when to incorporate the green manure into the ground? List three factors to consider.

a. ___________________________________________________________________________________

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b. ___________________________________________________________________________________

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c. ___________________________________________________________________________________

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(10)7. Explain how the following benefits are achieved by mulching of land.

a. Conservation of moisture.

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b. Control of weeds

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c. Warming of soil by clear plastic mulches.

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(6)8. What is the difference between root distribution of a crop in a mulched soil and root distribution of the crop in an unmulched soil?

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How does this distribution affect the management of the mulch?

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(10)9. Evaluate the following methods of weed control by commenting on the effectiveness and major weakness of each procedure.

a. Burning of fields.

Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________________

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Major weakness________________________________________________________________________

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b. Intertillage of crops.

Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________________

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Major weakness________________________________________________________________________

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c. Fallow tillage

Effectiveness__________________________________________________________________________

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Major weakness________________________________________________________________________

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(10)10. Explain the following statements.

a. Clear plastic mulch is more effective in warming the soil for earliness of crops than black plastic.

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__ __________________________________________________________________________________

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b. Mulches for moisture conservation should not be retentive of water ____________________________

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c. Organic mulches added to protect plants against winter injury should be removed in the spring _______

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Produced and maintained by Your Name Allen V. Barker
University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
last updated - June 9, 1999