Geography Notes Form 4

Geography Notes Form 4

Geography Notes Form 4

Form 4 Geography

Land Reclamation

Land reclamation is the process of converting wasteland into farm land for growing of crops and keeping of animals while land rehabilitation is the process of restoring land to its former productive state.

Importance

1. Intensify food production to feed the ever increasing population

2. To overcome land shortage and pressure.

Methods of Land Reclamation Irrigation

– Artificial method of supplying water to a region which doest receive adequate rainfall or to ensure continuous crop production.

– Done in dry areas with low rainfall and regions experiencing dry periods to sustain growth of crops.

– Dams are used to store water.

Advantages

(a) Can be used for HEP generation

(b) For fish farming

(c) Supply water for domestic use

(d) Control floods.

Negative effects

a) Can be a cause of deaths by drowning

b) Breeding ground for mosquitoes which transmit Malaria.

c) breakage can cause destruction of life and property

Factors Determining the Amount of Water Required for Irrigation

a) Climate: Areas receiving low rainfall require more water.

b) Soils: Sandy soils require more water than clays due to low water retention ability.

c) Crop: Paddy rice requires water logged soils while vegetables require wet and well drained soils.

d) Size of fields: Small plots require small amounts of water while large plots require large amount of water.

Methods of Irrigation

(a) Water lifting method

– Lifting water from a source by using a bucket or watering can and pouring it on the crops.

– Used widely in market gardens and on farms adjacent to the water.

(b) Flood/basin irrigation

– Diverting river water into a canal then to plots where it’s flooded.

– Commonly used in irrigation schemes.

(c) Sprinkler or overhead irrigation

– Taking water to the fields by pipes and applying it on crops by rotating sprinklers mounted on vertical pipes.

– Used on golf courses and market gardening.

(d) Trickle irrigation

– Plastic pipes with holes laid in the fields through which water trickles to the base of plant.

– Popular where fruits and flowers are grown.

(e) Canal irrigation

– Directing water through canal to farms.

– Commonly used in areas experiencing low rainfall e.g. Yatta in Machakos

(f) Drip irrigation

– Inverting bottles filled with water into the roots of a plant.

– Used in low rainfall areas to grow trees, fruits and flowers.

Drainage of Swamps

– Process of draining excess water from the land.

– Problems of land with excess water are:

a) Is breeding ground for disease causing vectors.

b) Is water logged and unsuitable for agriculture.

c) Is prone to flooding which destroys life and property.

Processes Involved

(a) Digging ditches for water to ooze into and flow away by gravity

(b) Planting eucalyptus which takes up a lot of water e.g. at Kakuzi in Makuyu.

(c) Laying perforated pipes in ditches which water will seep into and flow away by gravity.

– Areas in Kenya with have been reclaimed by draining are:

(a) Yala on lower courses of R.Yala

(b) Bunyala on lower courses of R.Nzoia.

– The project was conceived in 1970.

Objectives of the Project of Draining Them

(a) Free the area of pests.

(b) Prepare land for settlement and agriculture.

(c) Ease population on Kano plains.

(d) Reduce flooding and associated hazards.

(e) Develop the otherwise remote area.

Achievements

(a) Flooding has been controlled.

(b) About 800 hectares are available for agriculture and settlement.

(c) Water borne diseases have been brought under control.

Control of Pests

Mosquitoes

(a) Fumigation

(b) Draining of stagnant water

(c) Spraying

(d) Clearing of bushes near settlements.

Rodents, birds, squirrels and porcupines

(a) trapping

(b) poisoning

(c) hunting

(d) Scaring away

Tsetse flies

– They thrive in damp areas with high temperatures and prefer bushy vegetation as breeding grounds.

– Examples of tsetse fly infested areas are Lambwe valley in Kenya and Miombo woodland in Tanzania.

– The control of tsetse fly at Miombo woodland was aimed at:

– The control was done by The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).

a) Eliminating the pest to obtain land for agriculture.

b) To treat the sick people and animals to check the spread of resultant diseases.

Measures Taken

Bush Clearing

– Selective clearing of bushes was applied to prevent soil degradation.

– Caused tsetse fly to lack a place to breed and killed adult flies and pupae due to low humidity.

Bush Spraying

– Spraying from the ground or from a low flying aircraft.

– Doesn’t affect other organisms.

Disadvantages

a) Some insecticides such as DDT have serious environmental effects.

b) The fly develops resistance and a high dose of chemicals has to be used.

c) Kills other useful organisms.

Sterilisation males

– Making the insect unable to reproduce by obstructing its reproductive organs.

 

  • Luring the male flies to some chemical substance which sterilises them. 
  • When they mate with the females fertilisation doesn’t occur which reduces insect population.Traps

    (a) Square of black cloth coated with glue on which the insects stick.

    (b) Traps impregnated with insecticides which kills the insects.

    Creation of Buffer Zones

    -Belt of 5 km wide with dense cultivated vegetation to create barrier which the fly couldn’t cross.

    Killing of the Hosts

    Wild animals which the fly fed were selectively hunted and killed.

    Methods of Land Rehabilitation

    Afforestation and Reafforestation

    – Improve the productivity of land in the following ways:

    a) Controls soil erosion by:

    – Acting as wind breakers

    – Leaves reduce impact of raindrops on the soil

    – Roots hold/bind the soil particles together.

    b) Vegetation reduces runoff and increases the rate of infiltration of rain water ensuring there is a complete water cycle.

    c) Decayed vegetation provides humus which restores soil fertility.

    d) Roots help moisture to percolate deeply into the ground.

    e) Modifies the climate of an area by moisture being released to the atmosphere causing higher rainfall and lowering the temperature.

    Bush Fallowing

    – Cultivating a field for a period of 2-3 years then abandoning it for another so that it may regain fertility naturally by wild vegetation adding humus into the soil.

    Grass Strips and Cover Crops

    – Grass and cover crops e.g. sweet potato vines, beans and peas reduce the speed of running water thus helping to check soil erosion.

    Mulching

    – Covering the soil using crop residues or artificial materials such as polythene sheets.

    – Helps to conserve the soil in the following ways:

    a) Reduces evaporation helping to conserve moisture in the soil.

    b) Help to check the speed of running water.

    c) Reduces the splashing effect of rain drops.

    d) Reduces runoff and increases infiltration ensuring more moisture is going to be available for plants growth.

    e) Mulch from crop residues decomposes releasing nutrients into the soil.

    f) Controls weeds.

    Application of Manure and Fertilizer

    – Replenishing nutrients depleted from the soil by constant application of manure or chemical fertilizers.

    Controlled Grazing

    To solve the problem of overgrazing:

    a) The government is advising the farmers through extension officers on the importance of matching the number of livestock with the carrying capacity of land.

    b) Emphasizing on quality than quantity by introducing exotic breeds and cross breeds.

    c) Establishing ranches in livestock farming regions e.g. Kaptuei group ranch.

    d) The land should be subdivided into paddocks so that different sections have time to regain pasture at different intervals.

    Filling Quarries

    – Filling the pits with rocks and topping with fertile soils e.g. Bamburi Nature Trail where trees have been planted and animals introduced.

    Drainage Trenches Flooded areas can be rehabilitated by:

    – Digging trenches to drain off excess water to rehabilitate flooded areas.

    – Another method is to construct dams across rivers.

    Planting Drought Resistant Crops

    – Planting in Arid and Semi Arid Lands drought resistant and quick maturing crops which take advantage of the short wet season e.g. Pigeon peas, cassava, millet, sorghum, Katumani maize etc.

    Irrigation Schemes in Kenya

    Mwea Irrigation Scheme

    – Located in Kirinyaga district in central province in Mwea plains on the foot of Mt. Kenya.

    – Started by the colonial government in 1954.

    Objectives

    a) To reclaim the unproductive land from semi-arid conditions.

    b) To occupy detainee labour since Mwea was a detention camp for political detainees during 1952s state of emergency.

    c) To settle former detainees and the landless.

    d) To create employment for former detainees.

    e) To increase agricultural production.

    Factors Which Influenced the Location of the Scheme

    Physical Factors

    a) Availability of extensive land which made created room for future expansion.

    b) Black cotton soils with high water retention capacities suitable for rice growing.

    c) Freely draining clay loamy soils suitable for growing of other cash and food crops.

    d) Gently sloping land which allows use of tractors and allows water to flow by gravity reducing the cost of pumping it to the fields.

    e) Availability of plenty of water from permanent rivers Thiba and Nyamindi draining the area.

    f) Experiences warm weather during the second part of the year suitable for rice growing.

    Human Factors

    a) The land was not inhabited due to its arid conditions therefore there was no displacement of people from the area.

    b) Availability of labour for rice growing to presence of former detainees.

    c) Desire by the colonial government to start a project that could occupy detainees.

    d) Location near major urban centres such as Nairobi, Embu, Nyeri and Kerugoya which provide immediate market for rice.

2024 FORM 1 2 3 4 REVISION RESOURCES

  1. FORM 1 2 3 4 TERM 1 2 3 OPENER , MID AND END TERM EXAMS
  2. 1995-2024 KCSE KNEC PAPERS QUESTIONS,ANSWERS AND REPORT
  3. 2008-2024 KCSE FORM 4 COUNTY MOCKS
  4. FORM 1 2 3 4 SCHEMES OF WORK
  5. FORM 1 2 3 4 LESSON PLANS
  6. FORM 1 2 3 4 CLASS REVISION NOTES
  7. FORM 1 2 3 4 TERM 1 2 3 HOLIDAY ASSISNMENTS
  8. FORM 3 4 SETBOOKS STUDY GUIDES
  9. FORM 1 2 3 4 TOPICAL TESTS
  10. FORM 1 2 3 4 REVISION BOOKLETS
  11. LIFE SKILLS NOTES
  12. FORM 1 2 3 4 SYLLABUS
  13. KENYA SCHOOL CODES
  14. HOW TO REVISE AND PASS EXAMS
  15. GUIDANCE AND CONSELLING NOTES

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL LATEST 2024 KCSE REVISION MOCKS

KCSE COUNTY MOCKS DOWNLOADS 2024

2023 KCSE COUNTY MOCKS DOWNLOADS

  1. 2023 KAPSABET BOYS POST MOCK
  2. PANGANI MOCK KCSE 2023
  3. KCSE 2023 LAINAKU II FORM 4 JOINT MOCK
  4. KENYA HIGH POST MOCK
  5. KALA MOCK =Password is- subjectcodeKALA2023
  6. KCSE 2023 SAMIA JOINT MOCK
  7. LANJET 2023 EVALUATION MOCK
  8. 2023 EVALUATION MOCK nyandarua trial 4
  9. 2023 EVALUATION MOCK nyandarua trial 3
  10. KCSE 2023 MOCKS NYARIRA CLUSTER EXAMS
  11. KCSE 2023 CEKANA MOCKS
  12. KCSE 2023 ACHIEVERS JOINT MOCK
  13. KAPSABET 2 MOCK 2023
  14. MOKASA 2 MOCK 2023
  15. 2023 Mang’u high revision mock
  16. FORM 4 TERM 2 BAKALE EXAM

  17. CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF KAKAMEGA MOCK

  18. BSJE JOINT MOCK EXAM 2023
  19. MARANDA HIGH SCHOOL MOCK JUNE
  20. KCSE 2023 mock Nginda girls
  21. 2023 Kcse mock Wahundura
  22. 2023 Kcse mock set 22
  23. KCSE 2023 KASSU MOCK EXAMS
  24. 2023 KCSE EAGLE TRIAL 1 MOCK
  25. 2023 lainaku revision mock
  26. 2023 FORM 4 evaluation exams set 18
  27. 2023 FORM 4 evaluation exams set 17
  28. 2023 FORM 4 evaluation exams set 16

  29. LUGARI CONSTITUENCY -MOCK 1

  30. 2023 KCSE FORM 4 EVALUATION TEST

  31. 2023 mokasa mocks revision exams

  32. SUKELLEMO JOINT PRE-MOCK EXAMS
  33. Mumias west pre mock kcse exams
  34. 2023 SUNRISE PRE-MOCK
  35. 2023 kcse arise and shine pre-mock
  36. MECS CLUSTER JOINT MOCK EXAM
  37. Chogoria murugi zone pre-mock
  38. MOMALICHE 2 EXAMS PRE MOCK
  39. ASUMBI PRE MOCK EXAMS 2023
  40. 2023 MARANDA HIGH PRE-MOCK
  41. KAPSABET INTERNAL TRIAL 1 2023
  42. FORM 4 EVALUATION TEST 2023
  43. 2023 FORM 4 evaluation exams

Mock exams and pre-mock exams are practice tests that are taken before the actual exams.

  1. 2022 COUNTY MOCKS 38 EXAMS

  2. 2021-22 COUNTY MOCKS 36 EXAMS

  3. 2020-21 COUNTY MOCKS 24 EXAMS

  4. 2019 COUNTY MOCKS 44 EXAMS

  5. 2018 COUNTY MOCKS  23 COUNTIES EXAMS

  6. 2017 COUNTY MOCKS  25 COUNTIES EXAMS

  7. 2016 COUNTY MOCKS 16 COUNTIES

  8. 2015 COUNTY MOCKS 20 COUNTIES

  9. 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013, 2014 COUNTY MOCKS 25 COUNTIES 

2023 KCSE COUNTY MOCKS Mock exams and pre-mock exams are practice tests that are taken before the actual exams.

 

They are designed to help students get a sense of what to expect in the real exam and to identify areas where they need to improve.

The purpose of taking mock exams is to help students build confidence, develop test-taking strategies, and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Pre-mock exams are usually taken a few weeks or months before the actual exam, while mock exams are usually taken closer to the exam date.