AGE721S - AGROECOLOGY - 1ST OPP - NOV 2022


AGE721S - AGROECOLOGY - 1ST OPP - NOV 2022



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nAITTIBIA untVERSITY
OF SCIEnCE Ano TECHnOLOGY
FACULTYOF HEALTH,APPLIEDSCIENCEAND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREAND NATURALRESOURCESSCIENCES
QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BAGA
LEVEL:NQF Level 7
COURSE:Agroecology
COURSECODE:AGE721S
DATE:November2022
DURATION: 3 Hours
MARKS: 100
FIRSTOPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
EXAMINER(S}: I Mr C. L. Akashambatwa
MODERATOR: I Mrs. A. Lilungwe
THIS QUESTION PAPERCONSISTSOF 4 PAGES
(INCCLUDING THIS FRONT PAGE}
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer ALL the questions.
2. Write clearly and neatly.
3. Number the answers clearly.
PERMISSIBLEMATERIALS
1. Examination paper.
2. Examination script.
3. Calculator

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Question 1
1.1. One of the Main resources on earth is natural resources, fully describe it and further
explain its diverse
[8]
1.2. One of Namibia's top contributors to the GDP is sourced from Non-renewable natural
resources, indicate what resources are these, furthermore, explain if this scenario is
sustainably sound for the country or not.
[4]
1.3. Artificial infrastructures such as borehole, canals and fences are a major environmental
degradation causer. Elaborate more on this issue
[10]
1.4. One of the solutions to overcome habitat fragmentation is through implementation of
TFCs.Explain what TFCsare, and give a real example of this, which Namibia is part of and how
it works, in terms of ecology
[10]
1.5. You are contracted by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to conduct
a game census in the Bwabwata national park (West Zambezi region) park. Indicate the
method you will implement for this task and explain why.
[4]
1.6. Discussthe role of Namibian conservancies in improving agroecosystems.
[10]
1.7. In your own words, distinguish between permaculture and organic farming
[4]
{SO)
Question 2
2.1. Identify and explain the main benefits of permaculture
[8]
2.2. Given the slow adoption of permaculture by various communities in the country, what
do you think are some of the reasons for such a situation? elaborate on your reasons [6]
2.3. Suggest the missing management approaches to land use in Table below.
Problem (symptom)
Common solution
Eco-friendly solution
[10]
;,
Lowering ground water A)
Harvest rainwater to store in sand
dams and reduce consumption,
e.g. by converting to wild animals
that need less water than cattle
Outbreak of pests
Poison the pests
B)

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Outbreak of weeds
Plough weeds into the soil C)
or poison with herbicide
Outbreak of livestock D)
diseases
Convert to wild animals that are
resistant to these diseases
Poor soil structure
Plough
E)
Salinisation
F)
Minimise soil evaporation through
mulch and underground irrigation
Reduced availability of G)
firewood
Convert to solar energy,
encourage and plant more trees
Reduced availability of H)
wood for fencing
Convert to living fences
Reduced availability of Convert to imported I)
wood for building
building materials
High labour costs
Mechanise
J)
2.4. Name and describe the Permaculture principals with relation to sustainable land
management and property design?
[16]
(42)
Question 3
3.1 Suppose that during a 24hr waterhole count you recorded 58 elands. Their drinking
frequency is 0.55 times per day. Estimate the number of elands that make use of that
waterhole
[2]
3.2. Suppose that an ecologist wants to estimate the population of elephant shrews in an area
of 100m2• Captured and marked individuals= 35. Recapture= 40. Recaptured individuals not
marked= 15
(a) Estimate the population size?
[2]

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(b) Calculate the population density
[2]
3.3 Suppose you record 50 bird calls along a route of your daily walk in a park. Then you
harvest 20 birds from the park. Next day your repeat the census in the same way, this time
you record 25 calls.
(a) Estimate the number of birds there were in the park before you harvest 20?
[2]
(b) Estimate the current number of birds remaining in the park?
[2]
(10)
TOTAL MARKS [100]