Assessor Resource

AHCMER406A
Provide information on fertilisers and soil ameliorants

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit applies to employees in a sales role in an agricultural or horticultural support enterprise who provide information on fertilisers, soil ameliorants and related environmental information to primary producers and the provision of services and products that improve the nutrition and benefit the physical, biological and chemical nature of a soil.

This unit covers the processes required to: provide information on fertilisers and soil ameliorants and defines the standard required to: take soil, plant tissue and water samples; use and explain use of nutrient management tools; provide information on the relationship between soil types, water, crops, fertiliser and soil ameliorant use; describe legislative requirements relating to use of fertiliser and soil ameliorants.

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

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:

take soil, plant tissue and water samples

use and explain use of nutrient management tools

provide information on the relationship between soil types, water, crops, fertiliser and soil ameliorant use

describe legislative requirements relating to use of fertiliser and soil ameliorants.

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

taking soil, water and plant tissue samples

analysing soil and plant tissue tests to determine nutrient requirements

using safe and environmentally responsible work practices

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

crop nutrient requirements - both macro and micro nutrients

effect of soil ameliorants in dispersion and adjustment for acidity or alkalinity (pH)

fertiliser and soil ameliorant application methods, including timing and frequency of fertiliser and soil ameliorant application to minimise losses

fertiliser and soil ameliorants availability and relative costs

industry production regimes and fertiliser practices

sources of technical information

major nutrient management risks of leach, run-off, load, blow, mine and how these impact on the environment

nutrient management advisory tools and processes used by advisers in making a crop nutrition recommendation

organisational OHS and environmental procedures, practices and policies in operating sampling equipment

packaging and dispatch procedures for samples

physical, chemical and biological properties related to a healthy soil and environment, including texture, structure, slaking, dispersion, organic matter and pH

rainfall patterns in local area

sampling tools and methods, including soil, plant tissue and water tests; yield monitoring; and electrical conductivity survey

environmental impacts such as soil structural decline, fertility decline, acidification and salinity, erosion, loss of organic matter, water quality, fertiliser and soil ameliorant impurities, and greenhouse gas emissions

transport, handling and storage requirements of fertiliser and soil ameliorants in terms of legislation, codes of practice, environmental stewardship and human safety.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Fertiliser or soil ameliorants may include:

the range of fertiliser or soil ameliorants that form part of a nutrient management plan covering inorganic or organic solids and fluids applied directly to soil or plant via foliar sprays.

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
Basis of customer's fertiliser or soil ameliorant requirement is identified. 
Planned use of fertiliser or soil ameliorant is evaluated against legislative requirements, local productivity and environmental guidelines and food safety regulations. 
Individual soil, plant tissue and water samples are taken for each customer. 
Where appropriate, customer is provided with relevant sampling kits and advice on required sampling processes to be followed. 
Information and referrals about the fertiliser and soil ameliorant product are provided to customer, with particular reference to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), food safety and environmental issues and according to industry codes of practice. 
Use of nutrient management tools is recommended where necessary. 
Changes to application method and/or timing are suggested if necessary. 
Customer is referred to an appropriately qualified specialist adviser if required. 
Customer is supplied with information and recommendations regarding transporting, storing and handling fertiliser and soil ameliorants in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. 
Where required by customer, the transport, handling and storage of fertiliser and soil ameliorants in a safe and environmentally responsible manner are arranged. 
Fertiliser and soil ameliorants are supplied that meet legislative requirements and productivity, food safety and environmental guidelines. 
Details of transaction are recorded according to enterprise and industry guidelines. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCMER406A - Provide information on fertilisers and soil ameliorants
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

AHCMER406A - Provide information on fertilisers and soil ameliorants

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: