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Evidence Guide: AHCSOL303 - Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas

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

 

AHCSOL303 - Implement soil improvements for garden and turf areas

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

Prepare and collect soil samples for testing

  1. Determine reasons for testing of soil
  2. Prepare tools and materials for collecting samples
  3. Take samples according to recognised sampling techniques
  4. Label and record samples
Determine reasons for testing of soil

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare tools and materials for collecting samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take samples according to recognised sampling techniques

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Label and record samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine physical characteristics of sample

  1. Conduct tests for texture and structure on the samples
  2. Determine soil colour and the presence of organic matter
  3. Determine characteristics of soil profile where required
  4. Determine depth of topsoil and determine if sufficient for the requirements of the plants to be installed
  5. Determine the ability of soil to drain or retain water
  6. Assess the physical characteristics of soil and determine improvements needed
Conduct tests for texture and structure on the samples

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine soil colour and the presence of organic matter

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine characteristics of soil profile where required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine depth of topsoil and determine if sufficient for the requirements of the plants to be installed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the ability of soil to drain or retain water

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess the physical characteristics of soil and determine improvements needed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine chemical characteristics of sample

  1. Conduct tests for pH and salinity
  2. Determine the suitability of soil for particular plants
  3. Determine the soil’s fertility and the need for additional fertiliser or other amendments
  4. Determine the chemical characteristics of soil and improvements needed
Conduct tests for pH and salinity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the suitability of soil for particular plants

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the soil’s fertility and the need for additional fertiliser or other amendments

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the chemical characteristics of soil and improvements needed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare soils for planting or replanting

  1. Improve physical characteristics of garden or lawn areas as required
  2. Adjust pH and salinity of soil in garden or lawn areas as required
  3. Incorporate additional soil as needed to establish final levels
  4. Finish soil level and consolidate ready for planting according to planting plans and enterprise procedures
Improve physical characteristics of garden or lawn areas as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjust pH and salinity of soil in garden or lawn areas as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incorporate additional soil as needed to establish final levels

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finish soil level and consolidate ready for planting according to planting plans and enterprise procedures

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. Prepare and collect soil samples for testing

1.1 Determine reasons for testing of soil

1.2 Prepare tools and materials for collecting samples

1.3 Take samples according to recognised sampling techniques

1.4 Label and record samples

2. Determine physical characteristics of sample

2.1 Conduct tests for texture and structure on the samples

2.2 Determine soil colour and the presence of organic matter

2.3 Determine characteristics of soil profile where required

2.4 Determine depth of topsoil and determine if sufficient for the requirements of the plants to be installed

2.5 Determine the ability of soil to drain or retain water

2.6 Assess the physical characteristics of soil and determine improvements needed

3. Determine chemical characteristics of sample

3.1 Conduct tests for pH and salinity

3.2 Determine the suitability of soil for particular plants

3.3 Determine the soil’s fertility and the need for additional fertiliser or other amendments

3.4 Determine the chemical characteristics of soil and improvements needed

4. Prepare soils for planting or replanting

4.1 Improve physical characteristics of garden or lawn areas as required

4.2 Adjust pH and salinity of soil in garden or lawn areas as required

4.3 Incorporate additional soil as needed to establish final levels

4.4 Finish soil level and consolidate ready for planting according to planting plans and enterprise procedures

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. Prepare and collect soil samples for testing

1.1 Determine reasons for testing of soil

1.2 Prepare tools and materials for collecting samples

1.3 Take samples according to recognised sampling techniques

1.4 Label and record samples

2. Determine physical characteristics of sample

2.1 Conduct tests for texture and structure on the samples

2.2 Determine soil colour and the presence of organic matter

2.3 Determine characteristics of soil profile where required

2.4 Determine depth of topsoil and determine if sufficient for the requirements of the plants to be installed

2.5 Determine the ability of soil to drain or retain water

2.6 Assess the physical characteristics of soil and determine improvements needed

3. Determine chemical characteristics of sample

3.1 Conduct tests for pH and salinity

3.2 Determine the suitability of soil for particular plants

3.3 Determine the soil’s fertility and the need for additional fertiliser or other amendments

3.4 Determine the chemical characteristics of soil and improvements needed

4. Prepare soils for planting or replanting

4.1 Improve physical characteristics of garden or lawn areas as required

4.2 Adjust pH and salinity of soil in garden or lawn areas as required

4.3 Incorporate additional soil as needed to establish final levels

4.4 Finish soil level and consolidate ready for planting according to planting plans and enterprise procedures

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:

conduct tests to determine soil physical properties of texture and structure

conduct tests to determine soil chemical properties of pH and salinity

make observations about fertility, mineral and organic matter content based on sample colour

make observations about soil drainage and water holding capacity

make recommendations to improve soils based on results of simple soil tests

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices for providing information on soils or growing media

physical properties of soils and media

chemical properties of soils and media

products and processes for improving soils and media

sample collection, testing and methods used to perform tests

water holding capacity and readily available water

organic matter in soil and media

soil ameliorants and improvement techniques

nutrient availability in soils

Range Statement