Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCPHT407 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Manage mushroom crop development

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCPHT407 - Manage mushroom crop development
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage mushroom crop development, including the selection, application and management of the mushroom casing and all activities up to the end of the harvesting period.It applies to individuals who analyse information and exercise judgement to complete a range of advanced skilled activities and demonstrate deep knowledge in a specific technical area. They have accountability for the work of others and analyse, design and communicate solutions to a range of complex problems. All work is carried out to comply with workplace procedures.No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Manage casing application
  • Select casing materials and recipe
  • Assess condition and quality of spawn run before casing
  • Where supplement is to be added to substrate at casing, product and its rate of application are selected and instructions are given to appropriate personnel
  • Check casing mixture is checked against farm standards for moisture, structure and depth, and remedial action is taken if required
       
Element: Control environment during casing colonisation growth phase
  • Crop is installed in growing room according to farm procedures
  • Air conditioning system in the growing room is set up and checked for correct functioning
  • Temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content are measured, recorded, and where required, adjusted
  • Mycelium growth is assessed and decisions are made on the timing and quantity of water to be applied
  • Pest and disease status is monitored and recorded and, where required, remedial action is taken
       
Element: Initiate fruit body formation and manage pinning and pre-picking growth phases
  • Assess growth and make changes to temperature and ventilation to initiate fruit body formation according to farm procedures
  • Record and adjust temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content
  • Identify and analyse variations from expected or required ranges of temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content and take appropriate remedial action
  • Assess mycelium development and pin development and determine timing and quantity of water and additives to be applied to water
  • Monitor and record pest and disease status and take remedial action where required
       
Element: Assess crop maturity, flush development and quality, and monitor the harvesting process
  • Assess crop maturity to determine when and what to pick
  • Instruct pickers about tasks to be performed
  • Monitor picking results to ensure instructions continue to be appropriate and are being carried out
  • Consult markets to ensure product meets market needs and specifications
  • Monitor crop quality, recognise disorders stimulated by environmental conditions and implement remedial action if required
  • Monitor and record pest and disease status during this stage and take remedial action where required
  • Plan daily work schedule for waterers and coordinate picking and watering schedules
  • Review harvest process for compliance with quality standards and identify, document and implement areas for improvement where appropriate
  • Provide feedback to pickers on individual and team performance
       


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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Manage casing application

1.1 Select casing materials and recipe

1.2 Assess condition and quality of spawn run before casing

1.3 Where supplement is to be added to substrate at casing, product and its rate of application are selected and instructions are given to appropriate personnel

1.4 Check casing mixture is checked against farm standards for moisture, structure and depth, and remedial action is taken if required

2. Control environment during casing colonisation growth phase

2.1 Crop is installed in growing room according to farm procedures

2.2 Air conditioning system in the growing room is set up and checked for correct functioning

2.3 Temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content are measured, recorded, and where required, adjusted

2.4 Mycelium growth is assessed and decisions are made on the timing and quantity of water to be applied

2.5 Pest and disease status is monitored and recorded and, where required, remedial action is taken

3. Initiate fruit body formation and manage pinning and pre-picking growth phases

3.1 Assess growth and make changes to temperature and ventilation to initiate fruit body formation according to farm procedures

3.2 Record and adjust temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content

3.3 Identify and analyse variations from expected or required ranges of temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content and take appropriate remedial action

3.4 Assess mycelium development and pin development and determine timing and quantity of water and additives to be applied to water

3.5 Monitor and record pest and disease status and take remedial action where required

4. Assess crop maturity, flush development and quality, and monitor the harvesting process

4.1 Assess crop maturity to determine when and what to pick

4.2 Instruct pickers about tasks to be performed

4.3 Monitor picking results to ensure instructions continue to be appropriate and are being carried out

4.4 Consult markets to ensure product meets market needs and specifications

4.5 Monitor crop quality, recognise disorders stimulated by environmental conditions and implement remedial action if required

4.6 Monitor and record pest and disease status during this stage and take remedial action where required

4.7 Plan daily work schedule for waterers and coordinate picking and watering schedules

4.8 Review harvest process for compliance with quality standards and identify, document and implement areas for improvement where appropriate

4.9 Provide feedback to pickers on individual and team performance

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

develop work schedules

maintain environment within parameters for production

monitor and manage growing room conditions, watering and flush development of mushroom crops

identify stages of growth and development, and factors impacting on yields and mushroom quality

identify the interdependency of stages of growth and impact of early stages of production cycle on production results

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of mushroom crop development

available options of additives to irrigation water to promote mushroom quality and the main considerations of their use

basic understanding of air conditioning principles, particularly relative humidity

casing function, application and depth and surface structure requirements

desirable physical, biological and chemical characteristics of casing

farm standards and procedures, including those relating to OHS, food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), quality systems, emergency procedures, organisational structure and workplace communication channels and protocols

goals and sub-stages of Phase II substrate preparation and impact of Phase II on yields and quality

growth phases of a mushroom crop and interactions that occur between the compost, casing, environmental factors (such as temperature, water, relative humidity and carbon dioxide) and growth of the mushroom

how nature of casing and the appearance and quantity of mycelium growth in casing affect the number, distribution and quality of fruit bodies formed

impact of mushroom numbers and size on picking and quality

industry and workplace awards and conditions

management impacts of supplementing at spawning or casing

management requirements of casing - Compost Added at Casing (CAC) and/or Casing Inoculums (CI)

OHS and environmental legislation, industry codes of practice and enterprise procedures

overview of Phase I substrate production and its impact on yields and quality

site quarantine protocols

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, 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.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Manage casing application

1.1 Select casing materials and recipe

1.2 Assess condition and quality of spawn run before casing

1.3 Where supplement is to be added to substrate at casing, product and its rate of application are selected and instructions are given to appropriate personnel

1.4 Check casing mixture is checked against farm standards for moisture, structure and depth, and remedial action is taken if required

2. Control environment during casing colonisation growth phase

2.1 Crop is installed in growing room according to farm procedures

2.2 Air conditioning system in the growing room is set up and checked for correct functioning

2.3 Temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content are measured, recorded, and where required, adjusted

2.4 Mycelium growth is assessed and decisions are made on the timing and quantity of water to be applied

2.5 Pest and disease status is monitored and recorded and, where required, remedial action is taken

3. Initiate fruit body formation and manage pinning and pre-picking growth phases

3.1 Assess growth and make changes to temperature and ventilation to initiate fruit body formation according to farm procedures

3.2 Record and adjust temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content

3.3 Identify and analyse variations from expected or required ranges of temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content and take appropriate remedial action

3.4 Assess mycelium development and pin development and determine timing and quantity of water and additives to be applied to water

3.5 Monitor and record pest and disease status and take remedial action where required

4. Assess crop maturity, flush development and quality, and monitor the harvesting process

4.1 Assess crop maturity to determine when and what to pick

4.2 Instruct pickers about tasks to be performed

4.3 Monitor picking results to ensure instructions continue to be appropriate and are being carried out

4.4 Consult markets to ensure product meets market needs and specifications

4.5 Monitor crop quality, recognise disorders stimulated by environmental conditions and implement remedial action if required

4.6 Monitor and record pest and disease status during this stage and take remedial action where required

4.7 Plan daily work schedule for waterers and coordinate picking and watering schedules

4.8 Review harvest process for compliance with quality standards and identify, document and implement areas for improvement where appropriate

4.9 Provide feedback to pickers on individual and team performance

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
Select casing materials and recipe 
Assess condition and quality of spawn run before casing 
Where supplement is to be added to substrate at casing, product and its rate of application are selected and instructions are given to appropriate personnel 
Check casing mixture is checked against farm standards for moisture, structure and depth, and remedial action is taken if required 
Crop is installed in growing room according to farm procedures 
Air conditioning system in the growing room is set up and checked for correct functioning 
Temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content are measured, recorded, and where required, adjusted 
Mycelium growth is assessed and decisions are made on the timing and quantity of water to be applied 
Pest and disease status is monitored and recorded and, where required, remedial action is taken 
Assess growth and make changes to temperature and ventilation to initiate fruit body formation according to farm procedures 
Record and adjust temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content 
Identify and analyse variations from expected or required ranges of temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide content and take appropriate remedial action 
Assess mycelium development and pin development and determine timing and quantity of water and additives to be applied to water 
Monitor and record pest and disease status and take remedial action where required 
Assess crop maturity to determine when and what to pick 
Instruct pickers about tasks to be performed 
Monitor picking results to ensure instructions continue to be appropriate and are being carried out 
Consult markets to ensure product meets market needs and specifications 
Monitor crop quality, recognise disorders stimulated by environmental conditions and implement remedial action if required 
Monitor and record pest and disease status during this stage and take remedial action where required 
Plan daily work schedule for waterers and coordinate picking and watering schedules 
Review harvest process for compliance with quality standards and identify, document and implement areas for improvement where appropriate 
Provide feedback to pickers on individual and team performance 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCPHT407 - Manage mushroom crop development
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

AHCPHT407 - Manage mushroom crop development

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: