Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to cut, sort and set cuttings. The unit includes preparing cuttings and the growing environment. Work is completed in a variety of work settings, including forest environments, farms, nurseries and workshops.
The unit applies to Forestry worker, Arboriculture worker, Farm forestry worker, Nursery worker
Plantation establishment worker, Plantation forest officer, Silviculturist
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. |
1. Prepare for cutting | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Clear and clean work area to eliminate contamination of plants. |
2. Sort and select cuttings for setting | 2.1 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection practices. 2.2 Prepare parent plant and take cutting using method appropriate to species. 2.3 Assess cuttings visually, select and condition for propagation to maintain maximum viability appropriate to species requirements. 2.4 Dispose of discarded cutting material in line with environmental protection practices. |
3. Prepare growing site and set cuttings | 3.1 Prepare growing environment and weed retardents in line with work order, and organisational and environmental requirements 3.2 Set cuttings in growing environment using appropriate tools and equipment 3.3 Control pests and diseases as required in line with organisational safety procedures. 3.4 Record and report cutting, sorting and setting production outcomes to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
select and use cutting and conditioning techniques, prepare the growing environment, and set cuttings according to the individual species and to ensure maximum viability of plants
at the completion of the above:
dispose of discarded cuttings in line with environmental protection practices
compete basic records for production outcomes.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
spoilage and contamination issues for plant cuttings
cleaning techniques, features and uses of cleaning products for plant preparation areas to avoid contamination of plants
for the range of plants propagated by the organisation:
cutting techniques
pre-planting conditioning techniques, nutritional treatments and storage requirements to ensure maximum viability of plants
suitable growing environments to ensure maximum viability of plants
common pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies and visual characteristics
methods of remedial action for plants affected by pests and diseases:
removal of infected material
treatment of site with chemicals
methods used to control weeds:
weed-mat
slatted benches
chemical solutions
purpose, features and safe operation of equipment used to cut, sort and set cuttings
environmental protection practices for disposing of plant cuttings:
recycling material where appropriate
sending pruned to landfill only where it cannot be recycled
organisational procedures specific to cutting, sorting and setting cuttings:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on use of personal protective equipment and handling hazardous substances
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting site production outcomes.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
motorised or electrically-powered automated systems or manually-operated equipment and tools
pest control chemicals
weed retardants
commercial quantities of plants to be propagated
personal protective equipment suitable for cutting, sorting and setting cuttings
safety data sheets for chemicals or plain English equivalent documents
work order with specific instructions for types and quantities of plants to be propagated
relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information
documents, spreadsheets and commonly used proformas documents for recording production outcomes
organisational procedures for cutting, sorting and setting cuttings.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | complete routine measurements for spacing cuttings for propagation calculate routine dilution ratios to prepare pest and weed control chemicals. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders safety data sheets or plain English equivalents for chemicals. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for production outcomes. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of cutting, sorting and setting using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Forest Growing and Management