Assessor Resource

AHCIRG327A
Implement an irrigation schedule

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This Unit applies to skilled workers in the food and fibre production and amenity horticulture industries. Supervision of others and assessment of the impact of the irrigation program on the irrigated area and surrounding areas are likely to be required.

This Unit covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor available soil moisture and implement a documented irrigation schedule, including consultation with the manager. The Unit requires the ability to: estimate water availability for plants/crops; determine irrigation shifts and rates from the irrigation schedule; test soil moisture levels; monitor and record irrigation data; and evaluate effectiveness of irrigation.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This Unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

estimate water availability for plants/crops

determine irrigation shifts and rates

test soil moisture levels

monitor and record irrigation data

evaluate effectiveness of irrigation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills include:

Ability to:

access and discuss irrigation schedule

interpret the information in an irrigation schedule

liaise with other work areas

consult with appropriate senior personnel or consultants

compare plant health and growth to benchmark requirements

identify irrigation requirements throughout the growing season by monitoring:

soil moisture levels

watertable level

water quality

signs of plant nutrient deficiencies

climatic conditions

frost risk

plant varietal characteristics and requirements

soil type and depth

crop stage and requirements if applicable

symptoms of water stress

effective root depth

implement the irrigation schedule. This may include consideration of:

resources, including operators with appropriate skills

application rates

timing and length

materials, chemicals, services

maintenance programs and supplies

interaction between different irrigation employees or shifts.

instruct irrigation system operator(s) as required

apply sampling techniques

conduct soil moisture tests

monitor irrigation activities. This may include:

identifying soil moisture content and depth to which water will reach

identifying emitter output consistency

take corrective action in response to out-of-specification results or non- compliance

report and/or record problems and/or corrective action taken

monitor the effectiveness of irrigation activities

monitor the environmental impact of irrigation activities

identify, rectify and/or report environmental non-compliance

maintain workplace records

maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

implement and follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental policies and procedures.

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

effect of irrigation techniques on plant growth

visual symptoms of plant nutrient deficiencies, water stress and frost

principles of soil moisture monitoring eg volumetric soil moisture content, percentage compared to soil moisture tension

water budgeting tools

irrigation strategies

sampling techniques and procedures

testing techniques and procedures

interpretation of routine soil moisture tests

procedures and responsibility for reporting problems

resource requirements and availability

recording requirements and procedures

consultation requirements and procedures

OHS hazards and controls

environmental impacts, hazards and controls for irrigation.

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Irrigation schedules may include:

any system that schedules irrigation water through a growing season. Schedules may be based on:

soil-based systems, monitoring soil moisture

climate-based systems

plant-based systems, monitoring the plant

a combination of the above.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Information on plant growing requirements is obtained 
Moisture requirement throughout the growing season is interpreted 
Predicted seasonal moisture deficit and watering requirements are read and checked with management 
Parameters for the irrigation system are recorded 
The irrigated area is subdivided into the smallest units capable of individual irrigation and area, and irrigation equipment characteristics are noted for each 
Each unit is defined for its soil irrigation capability 
The crop/plant water requirement is defined for each unit 
Units requiring similar irrigation are combined to form a shift that does not exceed the water delivery capacity of the property irrigation infrastructure 
Water volume required to meet irrigation needs over specified period is determined 
Resources are coordinated and personnel briefed to deliver requirements 
Watering program is implemented 
Plants and crops are inspected for growth rate and signs of stress 
Frequency of irrigation is recorded 
Water usage is measured and recorded, and does not exceed water allocation for a given period 
Differences between estimated water use and actual water used are calculated 
Water quality is measured according to enterprise OHS policy and procedures 
Plant or crop growth and water use efficiency is assessed 
Soil is measured for readily available water 
Climate and weather conditions are recorded 
Watering program is adjusted in response to rainfall events and changes to evapotranspiration rates 
Plant or crop environment data is recorded 
Water usage is recorded 
Irrigation shifts are recorded 
System process data is recorded 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCIRG327A - Implement an irrigation schedule
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCIRG327A - Implement an irrigation schedule

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: