Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for soil sampling
- The soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors are identified according to site plans and enterprise work procedures.
- Tools, equipment and machinery are selected according to site conditions, testing agency requirements and enterprise work procedures.
- If required, pre-operational and safety checks are carried out on tools, equipment and machinery according to manufacturers specifications and enterprise work procedures.
- Areas of homogeneous soil types are identified for sampling.
- Services are located using site plans and in consultation with the supervisor.
- Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, risks assessed, controls implemented and reported to the supervisor.
- Suitable safety equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are selected, used and maintained.
- A clean and safe work area is maintained throughout and on completion of work.
- Determine soil characteristics by performing soil sampling
- The density and depth for a representative sampling of the area are determined according to enterprise work procedures.
- Holes are excavated at identified sampling sites according to enterprise work procedures, OHS requirements and with due consideration of the environmental implications.
- Samples for off-site testing are collected and prepared, packaged, accurately labelled and dispatched according to testing agency requirements and enterprise work procedures.
- The physical and chemical characteristics of the soil are determined according to investigative requirements and best practice guidelines.
- Sampling and testing tools and equipment are cleaned of all residues and returned to storage according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise work procedures.
- Results are recorded in an established format according to enterprise work procedures.
- Interpret results of soil analysis
- The soil types of the sample area are classified according to standards for soil classification.
- The acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant are determined from published data and historical records.
- Collected analytical results are compared with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant.
- Soil characteristics are evaluated to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs.
- The Readily Available Water (RAW) values for irrigation sites are determined according to industry standards and enterprise work procedures.