Mr Dyke +263788002550

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE

The experimental project/survey must be carried out at the school or the
locality.
It should be carried out from the learning area and be completed within three
terms.

It must be practically done and compiled by the learner, following the

learner’s task guide.
Data collected must be realistic .

RESEARCH PROJECT at ADVANCED

LEVEL Crop Science.
1. Title/Topic
2. Abstract
3. Preliminaries
4. Introduction/Background
4.1 Brief history of the topic
4.2 Aims
4.3 Objectives/Research questions
5.1 Hypothesis
5.2 Justifications

RESEARCH PROCESS at ADVANCED

LEVEL
5.3 Limitations

5.4 Delimitation
5.5 Literature Review
6.1 Materials and Methods
6.2 Experimental design
6.3 Data collection
6.4 Statistics for Data Analysis
7.1 Results

7.2 Result Analysis/Discussion

8.1 Summary/Conclusion
8.2 Recommendations
9. References
1.TITLE/TOPIC

It must be Specific
1. Measurable
MR DYKE CHIPAZ

2. Achievable
3. Realistic
4.Time framed (SMART),
focused,
related to objectives,
TOPIC/TITLE
It should be researchable, that is, it should be written in clear unambiguous
language.

It should be resolved through research. The researcher should make sure that
the problem chosen offers definite sources of information which, when
collected can answer the key questions sufficiently.
It should carefully fit into the broader context of current theory and relevant
research.

It should clearly and logically be related to its sub-problems / research

questions or hypotheses.
EXAMPLES OF SMART TOPICS
1. An investigation onto the effects of using minimum plant density of (10 cm in
row X 70 cm inter row spacing) versus maximum plant density of (2.5 cm in row
X 30 cm inter row spacing) on soybean Bimha variety focusing on growth rate
(measuring stem height), pod clearance level and number of filled pods per
plant, from 20 June to 29 September 2022

2. A comparative study on the effects of seed inoculation versus soil inoculation

of (Rhizobium Leguminosarum) on Green Feast Peas with respect to plant
th th
height, nodulation and yield from the 30 of June to the 26 of September
2017
EXAMPLES OF SMART TOPICS
3. A comparative study on the effects of strip intercropping versus in row
intercropping of maize NTS 41 variety with BIMHA soya beans with specific
reference to growth rate in terms of stem thickness, disease attack (Giberella ear
rot) and final yield over a period of three months.
2. ABSTRACT
It must state your Principal objectives
Summarise your methods, scope of investigation, what research is based on.
conclusion must also be clearly spelt
Recommendations also given
Use a maximum of 200 words

This part is written after you have finished Chapter5 : Discussion of Results and
Recommendations
AN EXAMPLE OF AN ABSTRACT
3.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In this section you appreciate those who offered their assistance to you
Assistance can be in form of finance, comfort, advice, source of Inspiration
or labour

This is also ONE of the last sections to be written

An example of an Acknowledgement
Firstly I would like to thank Christ for the gift of life and guidance in the
writing of this project and for the whole of my studies. Furthermore, I thank
my supervisors Mr Size and Miss Rusere for assistance they offered during the
course of the research project. I would like also to thank the school Carer taker,
Mr White for making sure the school garden is safe during the Holidays. Not
forgetting my friends, Richard, Nyasha, Nicholas, Raymond and many others
who assisted me with watering in my absence.
4.DEDICATION
This is mainly done to the users or beneficiaries of the Research
It is also one of the last sections to be written
AN EXAMPLE

The researcher would like to dedicate this research project to local farmers in my
society. I would also like to dedicate the research project to my colleague Bright
Kadaronga who has great desire of growing soybean.

HOWEVER SOME CAN DEDICATE TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED

ONES

5.PRELIMINARIES

They should be on separate pages,

Use present tense,

Layout of table of contents and figures

Proper paging of prepared items,
List major divisions as they occur in the text, chapter headings
6. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND OF THE
PROBLEM

Starts from general, moving gradually to the subject

relevant literature must be cited and is supposed to be related to your title,
It creates gap to justify research
The orientation of the problem is best accomplished by providing its background.
One acceptable way to establish the frame of reference for your problem is to quote relevant
authoritative sources.
In this process, you identify the area in which your research is to be found.
In addition, as a basis of undertaking the research project, this background should also
point out that the problem has not been fully studied, so your research would make a useful
contribution.
THIS IS NOW PART OF CHAPTER
7.
AIMS

They must be related to the title

Linked to the Objectives

EXAMPLES OF MAIN /MAJOR AIMS
1.To compare the effects of seed inoculation versus soil inoculation of Rhizobium
leguminosarum on growth rate, nodulation and yield of Green Feast Peas.

2.a. To determine the effect of using minimum and maximum spacing of soybean
on growth rate (in terms of stem height), pod clearance level and number of filled
pods per plant.
2b.To investigate the beneficial plant density between minimum and maximum
densities

THIS ALSO PART OF CHAPTER ONE

8. OBJECTIVES /RESEARCH QUESTIONS
They must be related to the given title
Clearly stated
Measurable
Achievable
within time frame/scope of study.

They must be a least THREE but not more than FIVE

THIS IS PART OF CHAPTER ONE

EXAMPLES OF SMART OBJECTIVES
To compare growth rate of peas between soil inoculation and seed inoculation,
by measuring plant height in centimetres using a string and a ruler at weekly
intervals for a period of eight weeks.

To compare nodulation of peas between soil inoculation and seed inoculation,

by uprooting and counting the average number of root nodules per plant at
mid flowering.

To compare yield of peas between soil inoculation and seed inoculation by

counting average number of filled pods per plant at harvesting.
9.HYPOTHESES
Hypothesis – intelligent guess that is stated in question form or in the form of a
statement.
They must be
Testable
Linked to problem area
Related to real life problem.
Ho – null hypothesis
H1-altenative hypothesis
These should be developed in order to determine and describe the anticipated
relationships between research items or variables.

PART OF CHAPTER ONE

EXAMPLES OF HYPOTHESES

Null hypothesis (H ): soil inoculation of Rhizobium leguminosarum improves

0
growth rate, nodulation and yield of Green Feast Peas.
Alternative hypothesis (H ): seed inoculation Rhizobium leguminosarum
1
improves growth rate, nodulation and yield of Green Feast Peas

Null hypothesis (H ): There is no difference in growth rate, pod clearance level

0
and final yield of soybeans between treatment A and treatment C.

Alternative hypothesis (H ): There is difference in growth rate, pod clearance

1
level and final yield of soybeans between treatment A and treatment C
10. JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

This is where you will be giving the Relevance of your Research to Crop Science
AN EXAMPLE
AN EXAMPLE
Production of Peas in Zimbabwe is increasing especially during the dry season
where it is grown as a winter crop. Peas can fix their own Nitrogen but
additional supply is needed for maximum growth, nodulation, yield and
nutritional composition. This can be added by artificial means through
Nitrogen fertilisers or biological means through Rhizobium inoculants. Since
many farmers are moving towards organic farming with more use of
inoculants, than chemical fertilisers as sources of Nitrogen. Several methods of
inoculation are being used and there is need for use of cheaper and effective
methods of inoculation for efficient Biological Nitrogen Fixation . Seed
inoculation is cheaper on a per acre basis as compared to soil inoculation which
requires large volumes of inoculant Per acre. Apart from that, there is no
calibration of the planter that is needed and it can be a simple method of
inoculation that can be used without facing difficulties of planter calibration.
11.LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

These are conditions beyond the control of the researcher that, place
restrictions on the conclusions of the study and their application to other
situations.
Draw backs to project finding written in past tense.
Unforeseeable events which may have affected the project
I advise you that it is not enough just to state these limitations (weaknesses or
constraints) without suggesting the compensatory factors that ensure that the
research remains valid and reliable

PART OF CHAPTER ONE

EXAMPLE OF LIMITATION OF STUDY
The garden was not secured, dogs destroyed some plants.
Inadequate water supply due to poor electricity supply which used was used to
pump water from the borehole.

Long distance from home to school thus few visits were made during the holiday
Shortage of space which reduced the number of replicates per each treatment.
12.DELIMITATIONS
Geographical set up of an area under study

natural regions
Rainfall
Temperature
soil type
The delimitation of your research problem is the precise limit of the issues you
are to cover.
They warn that you cannot investigate all aspects of any problem.
Your delimitation is where your problem ends. Without stating your boundaries
/ borders you can be accused of not having included a wide range of issues
closely or distantly related to your research.
EXAMPES OF DELIMITATIONS
Availability of space encouraged the Researcher to have replicates which
improved accuracy of the results.
Highly textured soil which were well drained.

Presents of mulching material helps the Researcher with reducing the frequency
of watering.
Availability of tools and pesticides.
The garden was well fenced to secure crops from theft as well as animals which
might be attracted by the vegetative colour.

There was also tank with a capacity of 10000 litres which provide enough water for
irrigation.
The garden was near enough such that l visit enough to it without walking long
distance.
13.BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

An assumption is a condition which is taken for granted without which the

research effort would be impossible.
OR assumptions are statements of what the researcher believes to be facts but
these cannot be verified.
You should remember that assumptions are not the object of the research but
strengthen the basis of your research.

For you to be able to carry out the study, you should hold certain facts about
the study as given.
EXAMPLES OF BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

That finances are available to carry out the study;

That the study would be completed in good time;

That the research subjects would cooperate during the investigations;

That research subjects are willing to take part in the study;

That respondents know enough about the issues under investigation;

That the views and perceptions of college lecturers, administrators, and

college students are important for the study
13.CHAPTER TWO BEGINS HERE:
LITERATURE REVIEW)
 The purpose of reviewing literature is to expand upon what has been called the
context or background of the study.

The review helps you to further define the problem and to provide a basis for
developing hypothesis, or research questions.
The review must be organized through the use of Sub-headings reflecting the
major issues in the question.
It must have an INTRODUCTION AND CONCLUSION
EXAMPLES OF SUBHEADINGS THAT ARE
FOUND IN LR
Plant morphology and classifictation
Bilogical Nitrogen Fixation
Factors affecting Nitrogen Fixation
Population densities
Climatic requirements
Soil requirements
14.CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY(METHODS AND MATERIALS)
Materials related to the project.

List of materials and quantity.

Measurable scales.

How much used.

Cleary described to achieve objectives.

Study site
Sowing
Watering
Weeding
Harvesting
Fertilizer application
Tools used
EXAMPLES OF MATERIALS USED
Sugar 50 grams
Water 1 litre
Rhizobium leguminosarum 50 grams
Green Feast Pea seeds 200 grams
EXAMPLE OF TOOLS WHICH CAN BE USED
TOOL USE
Hoe Researcher used a hoe for weeding, shallow digging and
ridging.
Shovel For mixing and removing soil from the plots.
Garden rake For levelling, breaking for big clods and gathering of waste
material.
Watering can For water application
Scale To measure the quantity of fertilizer and seeds needed
for each plot as well as final yield per plot.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Research layout, randomization and replication. Explain
the design, layout, dimensions, labels/blacks.
- Design
- Randomisation
- Replication
- Layout of project
- Dimensions

- Assignments
EXAMPLES
Randomization.
The Researcher cut off six cards and write them X , X ,Y , Y , Z and Z .
121212

These cards were placed in a card box.

Cards were picked at Random and respective beds were named.

This was done to prevent bias in naming treatments.

Replication
The Researcher prepared two beds per treatment.
This was done to improve accuracy of the results.
Sampling procedure
The Researcher sampled the plants at Random from respective treatments for
data collection.
Four samples were selected at random for growth rate, nodulation and eight were
selected for yield.
Description of treatments/beds
The Researcher made six beds and named them X X , Y Y , Z Z .
121212
In each bed Green Feast Peas were planted using spacing of 30cm inter-row and
10 cm in-row. Each bed was 4 X 1 metres.
In treatment Y(seed inoculation) the Researcher planted inoculated seeds, in
treatment X(soil inoculation) the researcher planted seeds which were not
inoculated and in treatment Z(control) the Researcher planted seeds which were
not inoculated. In each bed the Researcher planted 26 plants in each bed.
The beds were designed as shown below
DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES
Description of instructions reproducible,
objectives addressed,
timing clearly stated,
appropriateness of tools used in collecting data
DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURE
How to analyse data for each objective.
Criteria/statistics for data analysis for each objective,
Appropriateness.
EXAMPLE OF DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURE

For objective 1 (growth rate), the Researcher used line graphs to compare
growth rate of treatment X (soil inoculation), Y (seed inoculation) and Z
(control).
For objective 2 (nodulation), the Researcher used bar graphs to compare
nodulation of treatments X (soil inoculation), Y (seed inoculation) and Z
(control).

Finally a pie chart was used for the third objective (yield) to compare yield of
treatments X (soil inoculation), Y (seed inoculation) and Z (control).
CHAPTER FOUR :PRESENTATION OF
RESULTS(RESULT ANALYSIS AND DICUSSION)
How figures were arrived at,
How figures were obtained, address each objective,
realistic; objectives, tables/graphs correctly titled,
correct units/parameter measured; unit of measurement
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Claims relate to literature, implication,
sound of the arguments,
author’s stand point,
statistics mentioned,
scientific explanation to the trend given
EXAMPLE OF ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
The results showed a slight difference in the yield in terms of average number of
filled pods of treatment Y (seed inoculation) and X (soil inoculation).
The difference was due to uneven distribution of Rhizobium leguminosarum in the
beds of treatment X (soil inoculation) since soil inoculation requires larger
amounts of inoculant.

Treatment Z (control) had poor yield as evidenced by the pie chart above.
This was due to poor Nitrogen supply as a result of limited Biological Nitrogen
Fixation, therefore Nitrogen deficiency resulted in leaf chlorosis and low shoot-
to-root ratio.

These resulted in reduced Photosynthesis thereby low food production for the
crop.
Therefore treatments X and Y had high growth rates due to a good supply of
Nitrogen and other nutrients which were made available by Nitrogen.
CHAPTER 5:SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS

Answers to objectives,

implication for further research

answers the 3 objectives, reasons,

implication for further research.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on findings, logically presented, and based on findings to justify
further research.

Give statement for further research.

EXAMPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS
To maximise the production of Peas in Zimbabwe, farmers are recommended to use
inoculants prior to planting.
 Inoculants are very beneficial to farmers as they cut costs of fertiliser.
The use of inoculants is also beneficial to subsequent crops in a rotation since their
residual Nitrogen remains in the soil to benefit other crops grown in the same field.
Farmers should not grow peas without inoculants, this promotes poor growth and make
the crops more susceptible to diseases.
However after adopting the use of inoculants, farmers are encouraged to use the seed
inoculation method than the soil inoculation method.
This is because seed inoculation method requires less labour and it is effective.
Farmers are discouraged from using soil inoculation method because it requires a lot of
labour for example it requires planter calibration and it also requires large amounts of
inoculants.
REFERENCES
All cited references, in alphabetic order,
starting with author, year, title, publisher, town of publication, titles
underlined/italised cited from website.
EXAMPLES OF REFERENCES
Dalta, S.C 1994: Plant physiology
Wiley Eastern limited, New Dehli

Marshner H 1985: Mineral Nutrition of Higher

Plants

Academic press, London

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