R2113 UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION OF OUTDOOR VEGETABLES & FRUIT

Transcription

1 Including Examiners Comments R113 UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION OF OUTDOOR VEGETABLES & FRUIT Level Tuesday 1 June :30 14:0 Written Examination Candidate Number: Candidate Name: Centre Number/Name:.. IMPORTANT Please read carefully before commencing: i) The duration of this paper is 50 minutes; ii) iii) iv) ALL questions should be attempted; EACH question carries 10 marks; Write your answers legibly in the lined space provided. It is NOT necessary that all lined space is used in answering the questions; v) Use METRIC measurements only; vi) vii) viii) Use black or blue ink only. Pencil can be used for drawing purposes only; Where plant names are required, they should include genus, species and where appropriate, cultivar; Where a question requires a specific number of answers; only the first answers given that meet the question requirement will be accepted, regardless of the number of answers offered; ix) Please note, when the word distinct is used within a question, it means that the items have different characteristics or features. Ofqual Unit Code A/601/064 1 Please turn over/..

2 Q1 a) b) c) ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS State SIX reasons for providing shelter for an outdoor food production area. Name TWO distinct plants suitable for use as a living windbreak. Name FOUR types of non-living permeable windbreak Total Mark Please see over/..

3 Q a) b) Describe the ideal time of year to cultivate EACH of the following types of soil: i) sandy; ii) clay. i).. ii). Describe TWO NAMED methods used to extend the productive season of outdoor food crops. 6 Total Mark Please turn over/.. 3

4 Q3 Describe how to harvest and store a NAMED cultivar of EACH of the following fruit crops by completing the table below. Named cultivar Harvesting Store Raspberries 5 Plums 5 Total Mark 4 Please see over/..

5 Q4 Describe the production of a crop of carrots, (excluding soil preparation), under EACH of the following headings: i) sowing; ii) thinning; iii) irrigation i).. ii). iii) Total Mark Please turn over/..

6 Q5 a) Define the term successional cropping. b) Describe how successional cropping can be achieved for a NAMED crop under EACH of the following headings: i) named crop; ii) sowing and planting dates; iii) choice of cultivars. 1 5 i). ii) iii) 6 Total Mark Please see over/..

7 Q6 Describe the effect that formative and maintenance pruning has on the tree shape and yield of apple trees, by completing the table below. Formative pruning Maintenance pruning 6 Yield Tree shape 4 Total Mark ******* 7

8 These questions are the property of the Royal Horticultural Society. They must not be reproduced or sold. The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU3 6QB. Charity Registration Number: 879/SC0386 8

9 R113 UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION OF OUTDOOR VEGETABLES & FRUIT Level Tuesday 1 June 016 Candidates Registered 848 Total Candidates Passed % Candidates Entered % Passed with Commendation % Candidates Absent/Withdrawn % Passed % Candidates Deferred % Failed % Senior Examiner s Comments: 1 Candidates should be able to demonstrate a good range of plant knowledge and be able to give accurately named plant examples where appropriate. Common names and generic names are often too vague and cannot be rewarded in the positive manner that genus, species and where appropriate, variety/cultivar can. This is particularly important when answering questions relating to particular (named) plant(s). Marks can only be awarded for these narratives where the example(s) are correctly and fully identified. Candidates must be able to display accurate knowledge of the technical terms and concepts detailed in the syllabus, in the context of horticulture and also be aware that wider interpretation will not be rewarded. The examination should be regarded as a possible introduction to higher level studies, which will only be open to those who are in possession of a clear understanding of the horticultural terms and concepts which are current. 3 The introductory rubric given on the first page of each question paper should be read carefully by candidates. At each examination there are a significant number of candidates who ignore or misread the instructions given and consequently may not perform as well as they could have done. 9

10 4 Candidates should pace themselves during each paper. The most successful candidates allow sufficient time to read the question thoroughly before answering it and also take time to read through their answers. They should take care to write as legibly as possible, so that the examiner is in no doubt about what is intended. 5 Candidates need to interpret key words within questions, particularly those such as state, list and describe. Questions requiring descriptions or explanations obviously require a more detailed answer than those requiring a list. 6 It is important to ensure that responses to questions are to the point. Candidates should bear in mind that small sketches might be used to convey information more succinctly than words. 7 Successful candidates ensure that their answers are focused and to the point. It is disappointing when they cannot be rewarded for their efforts because the answer is irrelevant to the particular question. Candidates should take note of the mark allocation for specific sections and allocate their time and efforts accordingly. 8 Diagrams can enhance an answer and where appropriate can replace detailed descriptions. They should be large, clear and well annotated, ensuring that labels are properly attached to the features they describe. Diagrams should preferably be in pencil. Colour may be used successfully but only where it is relevant to the answer. 9 In each examination it is clear that some candidates are ill prepared to answer papers of the type set. It is essential that candidates have the opportunity to practice questions. Ideally some papers should be answered in a time constrained situation. Appropriate feedback must, in any case be provided. 10

11 Q1 a) b) c) State SIX reasons for providing shelter for an outdoor food production area. Name TWO distinct plants suitable for use as a living windbreak. Name FOUR types of non-living permeable windbreak. 6 Q1a) Candidates who gave suitable reasons for providing shelter for an outdoor food production area gained full marks. These included: Wind reduction can increase vegetable crop production by 0-30% Wind damages branches of fruit trees Wind blows over tall crops or supports Wind blows fruit from trees Wind can uproot trees Shelter helps to create a microclimate Shelter prevents soil erosion Shelter encourages pollinators to fly which increases the potential for pollination Candidates who gave examples of protected cropping as shelter, e.g. cloches and greenhouses, could not be awarded any marks as this is not shelter for outdoor food production. Q1b) The majority of candidates named plants, e.g. Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, Taxus baccata and Alnus incana as suitable for use as a living windbreak and gained full marks. Q1c) Candidates who named paraweb, trellis, woven hurdles, hit and miss fencing and open patterned brick walls as suitable types of non-living permeable windbreaks, were awarded full marks. 11

12 Q a) b) Describe the ideal time of year to cultivate EACH of the following types of soil: i) sandy; ii) clay. Describe TWO NAMED methods used to extend the productive season of outdoor food crops. 6 Qa) The best candidates described the ideal time of year to cultivate each of the following soil types. Suitable answers included: i) Sandy soil can be cultivated all year round due to its free draining properties or in the spring as it dries out more quickly ii) Clay soil is normally cultivated in the autumn to allow the frost to break down the clods Qb) Many candidates were able to describe named methods used to extend the productive season of outdoor food crops. Suitable examples included: cloches, cold frames, low tunnels, black polythene and fleece. These are used to protect crops from the wind, allowing the sun to warm the soil, enable earlier sowing/planting of crops and as barriers to pests. Hot beds and forcing pots were also accepted. Candidates who described raising plants under glass for transplanting were also awarded marks but growing plants to maturity under glass was not accepted as this is protected cropping. 1

13 Q3 Describe how to harvest and store a NAMED cultivar of EACH of the following fruit crops by completing the table below. Named cultivar Harvesting Store Raspberries 5 Plums 5 Q3) Most candidates were able to describe how to harvest and store cultivars of specific fruits, and gained full marks. Suitable answers included: Raspberries e.g. Autumn Bliss or Glen Ample are harvested every few days when they are dry and by hand. They should have a good colour and de-plug easily. Raspberries can be frozen, bottled, made into jam or stored in a refrigerator for a short period. Plums e.g. Victoria or Czar are harvested when they are dry and by hand. They should be fully coloured and just soft. The fruits are gently lifted (not twisted) so the stalk is left intact. Harvesting may take several sessions. Plums can be frozen, bottled, made into jam or stored in a refrigerator for a short period. Diseased/damaged fruits should not be stored. Candidates who named damsons, e.g. Merryweather Damson and greengages, e.g. Cambridge Gage were also awarded marks as they are both cultivars of Prunus domestica. 13

14 Q4 Describe the production of a crop of carrots, (excluding soil preparation), under EACH of the following headings: i) sowing; ii) thinning; iii) irrigation Q4) Candidates who were able to describe the production of a crop of carrots giving specific details were awarded full marks. The best answers included: i) Sowing Early carrots can be sown under cloches in February to March while main crops are sown from April to June. Carrots are sown thinly (seed can be mixed with sand to enable thin sowing) in drills (which can be watered) 1-1.5cm deep and 15-30cm apart. The seeds are covered and watered. ii) iii) Thinning Early carrots are thinned to 3-10cm intervals and main crop carrots are thinned to 5cm intervals. Minimum thinning is ideal to avoid carrot root fly and is carried out in the evening where all thinnings are removed from the site immediately, again to avoid carrot root fly. It is important to avoid bruising the foliage of the remaining plants as this will attract carrot root fly. Watering the carrots after thinning helps to re-firm the remaining plants. Irrigation Carrots require even watering at the germination stage and then regular watering to avoid the soil drying out and to enable the roots to swell. Excessive watering causes too much leaf growth at the expense of root growth and irregular watering can cause the roots to split. 14

15 Q5 a) Define the term successional cropping. b) Describe how successional cropping can be achieved for a NAMED crop under EACH of the following headings: i) named crop; ii) sowing and planting dates; iii) choice of cultivars. 1 5 Q5a) The best candidates defined successional cropping correctly as the sowing of crops at regular intervals to ensure the continuity of supply of a crop, e.g. carrots, lettuce and radish. Successional cropping is also when different varieties of the same crop, e.g. potatoes, are planted to mature at different times to extend the cropping season. Q5b) Candidates who were able to give specific details how successional cropping can be achieved gained full marks. Acceptable answers included: i) Named crop beetroot, carrot, lettuce, pea, radish, spinach, spring onion and potatoes. ii) iii) Sowing and planting dates sowing in situ or direct sowing to include earliest and latest sowing/planting months. Regular sowing every -3 weeks is then carried out or after the first sowing has germinated. Cloches or low tunnels can be used to enable early sowing to take place. Successional sowing can extend the cropping season by four times that of a single sowing. Choice of cultivars important to state whether the cultivars given are early, mid or late cultivars and sown at the appropriate time to ensure cropping over an extended season, e.g. carrot Nantes Express, an early cultivar, can be sown from February to March whereas a main crop cultivar, e.g. carrot Berjo, can be sown from April to June. 15

16 Q6 Describe the effect that formative and maintenance pruning has on the tree shape and yield of apple trees, by completing the table below. Formative pruning Maintenance pruning Tree shape 6 Yield 4 Q6) To gain full marks candidates were required to describe the effect of different types of pruning on the tree shape and yield of apple trees. The best answers included: Tree Shape Formative pruning of bush trees aims to create an open-centred goblet shaped tree with a well-balanced framework of strong main branches which is capable of carrying heavy crops of fruit. If formative pruning is not carried out the tree will tend to be weak, of poor shape with drooping branches and bare wood. Maintenance pruning controls the shape of the tree by removing crossing and congested branches as well as those growing into the centre of the tree. The removal of dead, diseased and damaged growth will also affect tree shape. Maintenance pruning can also control tree size and vigour which is important for trained forms of apple trees. The promotion of fruiting spurs/growth is important in maintenance pruning as this affects tree shape as well as yield. Yield Formative pruning is carried out in the early years to produce a strong framework of main branches to support future heavy yields of fruit. There is little or no yield at this early stage of growth. Maintenance pruning aims to improve air circulation and light penetration to ripen wood and encourage fruit bud production. A well pruned tree will produce regular crops of good quality fruit with a higher yield. It also promotes the development of fruiting spurs and fruit growth. Thinning the fruiting spurs will result in fewer but larger fruits. ******* 16