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Evidence Guide: AHCIRG321A - Operate low volume irrigation systems

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

AHCIRG321A - Operate low volume irrigation systems

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Carry out pre-start checks

  1. Checks of water, power, fuel and lubricants ensure that all are available and the control system is operational
  2. Pumps are primed, if necessary, and valves and controls are open or closed as directed
  3. Pressure and flow testing equipment are calibrated and available as required
  4. Other pre-start system checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements and enterprise procedures
Checks of water, power, fuel and lubricants ensure that all are available and the control system is operational

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumps are primed, if necessary, and valves and controls are open or closed as directed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pressure and flow testing equipment are calibrated and available as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other pre-start system checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s requirements and enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspect and operate the system

  1. Start up sequence is implemented in accordance with enterprise procedures
  2. Emitter spacing is checked against the irrigation plan
  3. Water pressure is adjusted as required
  4. Filters are kept clear and replaced as required
  5. All malfunctions, leaks and blockages are corrected or repaired immediately and reported in accordance with enterprise procedures
Start up sequence is implemented in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emitter spacing is checked against the irrigation plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water pressure is adjusted as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filters are kept clear and replaced as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All malfunctions, leaks and blockages are corrected or repaired immediately and reported in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitor low volume irrigation system performance

  1. Emitters are checked for output
  2. Application rate of water is calculated
  3. The water distribution pattern in the irrigated area is checked
  4. Moisture levels in the root zone are monitored
  5. Environmental impacts of the operation are minimised
Emitters are checked for output

Completed
Date:

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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Application rate of water is calculated

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The water distribution pattern in the irrigated area is checked

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moisture levels in the root zone are monitored

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental impacts of the operation are minimised

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shut down irrigation system

  1. Water is applied for sufficient time to achieve required soil moisture levels in accordance with irrigation schedule, environmental considerations and allowing for weather conditions
Water is applied for sufficient time to achieve required soil moisture levels in accordance with irrigation schedule, environmental considerations and allowing for weather conditions

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

System components are shut down and drained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and enterprise procedures

  1. Irrigation activities are recorded and reported in accordance with regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures
Irrigation activities are recorded and reported in accordance with regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

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:

carry out pre-start checks

operate and monitor the system

measure and interpret flow rates and pressures

identify environmental hazards

shut down in response to irrigation indicators.

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.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills include:

Ability to:

read and follow operations manual and procedures

start up system and carry out operational checks

monitor system effectiveness

application rates

irrigation times

emitter output

pressure variations and blockages

salinity levels and water quality

depth of irrigation

measure and interpret flow rates and pressures

perform shut down procedures

assess soil moisture levels

carry out measurements for output and distribution

record data.

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

principles of irrigation and the water cycle

general irrigation methods for low volume systems

main components of low volume irrigation systems

pump types used in low volume irrigation systems and their operation

shutdown sequence and flushing procedures

energy efficiency indicators/ benchmarks for low volume irrigation

soil characteristics

soil/plant/water relationships

water requirements of plants/crops consistent with sound environmental management

critical measures for moisture availability

readily available water

water holding capacity

wilting point

field capacity

infiltration rates

evapotranspiration

environmental impacts of irrigation using water from any ground or underground source.

Range Statement

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.

Low volume irrigation systems may include:

systems that operate under comparatively low volume and pressure including micro irrigation, pop-ups at less than 0.1 litres/second, and drippers.

System components may include:

pump (flow rate and head requirement)

filter system

pressure gauges

backflow preventer

pressure regulator valves

fertiliser injector

flowmeter

block valve

air and vacuum release valves

main and sub-main lines

flushing manifold

connectors

lateral lines or tapes

emitters

controllers.