*WAEC AGRIC SPECIMEN & GUIDELINES* ▪️ *SPECIMEN A* – Ammonium Sulphate (Labelled) *Description:* A white crystalline inorganic fertilizer. *Importance/Uses* : i. Supplies nitrogen to plants, essential for leaf and stem growth. ii. Improves soil fertility, especially in alkaline soils (it’s slightly acidic). iii. Commonly used in vegetables, cereals, and pastures. ▪️ *SPECIMEN B* – Muriate of Potash (Labelled) *Description:* Also known as potassium chloride (KCl), a reddish or white salt. *Importance/Uses* : i. Rich in potassium, essential for fruit development and disease resistance. ii. Promotes root development and water regulation. iii. Used in root crops like cassava and potatoes. ▪️ *SPECIMEN C* – Cow Dung *Description:* Animal waste excreta, often used in raw or composted form. *Importance/Uses* : i. Acts as organic manure, improving soil structure and microbial activity. ii. ncreases water retention and fertility in poor soils. iii. Used in biogas production and organic farming. ▪️ *SPECIMEN D* – Compost (Labelled) *Description* : Decomposed organic matter from plant and animal remains. *Importance/Uses* : i. Serves as natural fertilizer, returning nutrients to the soil. ii. Enhances soil texture and moisture-holding capacity. iii. Encourages sustainable farming by reducing chemical input. ▪️ *SPECIMEN E* – Cutlass *Description:* A handheld cutting tool with a broad blade. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used for clearing bushes, weeding, and harvesting crops. ii. Essential in manual farm operations, especially in small-scale farms. iii. Aids in land preparation before planting. ▪️ *SPECIMEN F* – Spade *Description:* A digging tool with a flat, broad blade and long handle. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used for digging, turning, and lifting soil. ii. Helps in planting, transplanting, and soil amendment. iii. A key tool in nursery and garden maintenance. ▪️ *SPECIMEN G* – Wheelbarrow *Description:* A one-wheeled cart for transporting loads. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used for carrying soil, manure, tools, and harvested crops. ii. Reduces manual labor and increases efficiency. iii. Essential in construction and landscaping on farms. ▪️ *SPECIMEN H* – Yam Beetle *Description:* A destructive insect pest that bores into yam tubers. *Importance/Uses:* i. Demonstrates pest damage symptoms on crops. ii. Aids in teaching integrated pest management (IPM). iii. Important for studying post-harvest loss in yams. ▪️ *SPECIMEN I* – Cowpea Weevil *Description:* A beetle that infests cowpea seeds in storage. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used to study storage pests and infestation. ii. Helps in learning preventive and control measures like airtight storage. iii. Demonstrates effects of poor storage practices on legumes. ▪️ *SPECIMEN J* – Centrosema pubescens *Description:* A creeping leguminous cover crop with purple flowers. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used for soil cover and erosion control. ii. Improves soil nitrogen content through nitrogen fixation. iii. Serves as forage for livestock. ▪️ *SPECIMEN K* – Spear Grass *Description:* A common perennial weed with spear-like sharp tips. *Importance/Uses:* I. Used to teach weed identification. ii. Helps in understanding weed control strategies. iii. Demonstrates competition between crops and weeds. ▪️ *SPECIMEN L* – Gizzard (Chicken) *Description:* A muscular part of a bird’s digestive system. *Importance/Uses:* i. Shows adaptations of poultry for grinding food. ii. Helps in explaining mechanical digestion in birds. iii. Important in comparative anatomy with mammals. ▪️ *SPECIMEN M* – Goat Skin (Fresh, With Hairs Intact) *Description:* Skin from a goat, unprocessed, with hair. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used to explain structure and functions of animal skin. ii. Demonstrates adaptations to the environment (e.g., hair for protection). iii. Used to teach about hide and leather processing. ▪️ *SPECIMEN N* – Horn *Description:* A hard, pointed projection from the head of animals like goats or cattle. *Importance/Uses:* i. Used to explain animal adaptations and defense mechanisms. ii. Helps in discussing sexual dimorphism and maturity in livestock. iii. Can be linked to breed identification and classification.