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Evidence Guide: AHCORG403 - Manage organic soil improvement

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

 

AHCORG403 - Manage organic soil improvement

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

Monitor indicators of soil fertility

  1. Undertake work in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to the principles of organic agriculture, work health and safety requirements and enterprise guidelines
  2. Sample and test soil at reference sites according to organic industry standards to develop baseline data to monitor soil health and fertility
  3. Assess and record soil pH, mineral balances, and organic matter levels
  4. Assess and record soil texture, structure, salinity and sodicity
  5. Assess and record soil biological activity
  6. Assess soil condition for drainage, compaction, aeration and water infiltration in relation to requirements for desired plant growth for selected species
  7. Analyse results to identify trends in soil health and fertility and areas for improvement
Undertake work in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to the principles of organic agriculture, work health and safety requirements and enterprise guidelines

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample and test soil at reference sites according to organic industry standards to develop baseline data to monitor soil health and fertility

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess and record soil pH, mineral balances, and organic matter levels

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess and record soil texture, structure, salinity and sodicity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess and record soil biological activity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess soil condition for drainage, compaction, aeration and water infiltration in relation to requirements for desired plant growth for selected species

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analyse results to identify trends in soil health and fertility and areas for improvement

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess soil-related factors for selected plants

  1. Identify nutritional requirements of selected plant species
  2. Select soil analyses to be conducted using a suitable lab facility
  3. Conduct plant tissue sample collection according to requirements of testing facility if applicable
  4. Combine results of soil or tissue testing with observations of plant vigour and productivity to determine management and input requirements of the farming system
Identify nutritional requirements of selected plant species

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select soil analyses to be conducted using a suitable lab facility

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct plant tissue sample collection according to requirements of testing facility if applicable

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combine results of soil or tissue testing with observations of plant vigour and productivity to determine management and input requirements of the farming system

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select, design and implement allowable systems, techniques and inputs to optimise soil fertility

  1. Identify range of allowable inputs according to requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce
  2. Identify and implement cultural practices to enhance soil fertility, function and health
  3. Calculate appropriate inputs based on soil/plant analyses, crop removal and plant/animal observations
  4. Select and manage cover crop and pasture systems where applicable
  5. Develop, apply and monitor mulching and composting systems where required
  6. Design and implement crop rotations and grazing management systems to optimise soil fertility where appropriate
Identify range of allowable inputs according to requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify and implement cultural practices to enhance soil fertility, function and health

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculate appropriate inputs based on soil/plant analyses, crop removal and plant/animal observations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select and manage cover crop and pasture systems where applicable

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Develop, apply and monitor mulching and composting systems where required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Design and implement crop rotations and grazing management systems to optimise soil fertility where appropriate

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1. Monitor indicators of soil fertility

1.1 Undertake work in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to the principles of organic agriculture, work health and safety requirements and enterprise guidelines

1.2 Sample and test soil at reference sites according to organic industry standards to develop baseline data to monitor soil health and fertility

1.3 Assess and record soil pH, mineral balances, and organic matter levels

1.4 Assess and record soil texture, structure, salinity and sodicity

1.5 Assess and record soil biological activity

1.6 Assess soil condition for drainage, compaction, aeration and water infiltration in relation to requirements for desired plant growth for selected species

1.7 Analyse results to identify trends in soil health and fertility and areas for improvement

2. Assess soil-related factors for selected plants

2.1 Identify nutritional requirements of selected plant species

2.2 Select soil analyses to be conducted using a suitable lab facility

2.3 Conduct plant tissue sample collection according to requirements of testing facility if applicable

2.4 Combine results of soil or tissue testing with observations of plant vigour and productivity to determine management and input requirements of the farming system

3. Select, design and implement allowable systems, techniques and inputs to optimise soil fertility

3.1 Identify range of allowable inputs according to requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce

3.2 Identify and implement cultural practices to enhance soil fertility, function and health

3.3 Calculate appropriate inputs based on soil/plant analyses, crop removal and plant/animal observations

3.4 Select and manage cover crop and pasture systems where applicable

3.5 Develop, apply and monitor mulching and composting systems where required

3.6 Design and implement crop rotations and grazing management systems to optimise soil fertility where appropriate

Required Skills and Knowledge

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1. Monitor indicators of soil fertility

1.1 Undertake work in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to the principles of organic agriculture, work health and safety requirements and enterprise guidelines

1.2 Sample and test soil at reference sites according to organic industry standards to develop baseline data to monitor soil health and fertility

1.3 Assess and record soil pH, mineral balances, and organic matter levels

1.4 Assess and record soil texture, structure, salinity and sodicity

1.5 Assess and record soil biological activity

1.6 Assess soil condition for drainage, compaction, aeration and water infiltration in relation to requirements for desired plant growth for selected species

1.7 Analyse results to identify trends in soil health and fertility and areas for improvement

2. Assess soil-related factors for selected plants

2.1 Identify nutritional requirements of selected plant species

2.2 Select soil analyses to be conducted using a suitable lab facility

2.3 Conduct plant tissue sample collection according to requirements of testing facility if applicable

2.4 Combine results of soil or tissue testing with observations of plant vigour and productivity to determine management and input requirements of the farming system

3. Select, design and implement allowable systems, techniques and inputs to optimise soil fertility

3.1 Identify range of allowable inputs according to requirements of the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce

3.2 Identify and implement cultural practices to enhance soil fertility, function and health

3.3 Calculate appropriate inputs based on soil/plant analyses, crop removal and plant/animal observations

3.4 Select and manage cover crop and pasture systems where applicable

3.5 Develop, apply and monitor mulching and composting systems where required

3.6 Design and implement crop rotations and grazing management systems to optimise soil fertility where appropriate

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:

implement principles of organic agriculture and agroecology

implement knowledge of interrelationships between soil fertility, animals, plants, pests and diseases

devise and implement a soil improvement plan to correct imbalances and maintain soil fertility

sample soils and analyse soil test results for a range of indicators of soil fertility

work with natural processes and allowable inputs to improve and maintain soil fertility

apply enterprise work health and safety policies and guidelines

implement enterprise environmental sustainability practices

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

availability, use and definition of organic fertilisers

structural properties of soils

factors contributing to soil acidity, sodicity and salinity

factors promoting soil and plant water-holding capacity

importance of soil biological activity

major nutrient elements and their role in plant growth

methods and inputs that can be used to correct imbalances and maintain soil fertility

principles of organic agriculture

processes and practices that impact on soil structure, biological activity, water-holding capacity and weed patterns

processes of aggregate and colloid formation

range of soil analyses available and principles of each

relationship between soil structure, water holding capacity and nutrient availability

role of organic matter, humus and micro-organisms

role of livestock in enhancing soil fertility

role of macro and micro-elements in soil and plants

role of weeds

significance of levels and balance of soil fertility indicators

soil food chains and food webs

soil textural types and determinants

when and how to take soil samples to test for indicators of soil fertility

principles, practices and inputs allowable under the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce

Range Statement