Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:06 PM AWST
22/07/2026 7:06 PM AWST
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Develop a soil use map for a property
Develop a soil use map for a property
Unit of competency
National Code
RTE4511A
RTE4511A
State Code
S3474
S3474
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
04/03/2004
Field of Education
050101 - Agricultural Science
Original Release Date
04/03/2004
Nominal Hours
30
Description
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
No information
The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.
What soil may be relevant to this standard?
Soils may include field sites and specialist growing media.
What equipment might be used for a soil sampling?
Equipment may include hand auger, back hoe, equipment for pH testing such as soil test kits or electronic pH testing device, hand held salinity/EC meter, tape measure, sample bags, plastic overlays, aerial photographs, and charts and tables of soil characteristics.
What soil testing agencies might be used?
Soil testing agencies may be government, commercial or private consultants.
What physical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Physical characteristics may include colour, texture, structure, depth of root zone, and depth of water table.
What chemical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Chemical characteristics may include pH, salinity and carbonate content and nutrient (both macro and micro) availability.
What biological characteristics of a soil might be identified?
Characteristics such as decaying plant material, humus content, microbiotic content (fungi, bacteria and protozoa), and macrobiotic content (worms, insects and nematodes).
What particular type of soil classification system will be used?
Soils may be classified according to Unified Soil Classification System.
What soil survey data might be plotted on the property map?
These may include topsoil types, soil profiles and Readily Available Water (RAW).
What maps may be developed?
These may include contour maps and aerial photomaps, and may include the use of overlays to indicate various categories of data.
What areas of concern might be plotted on the map?
These may include saline patches, leaking channels, acid soils, weed infestation, lack of shelter from prevailing winds, awkward paddock size or design, high water table, access problems, herbicide resistance, animal/plant disease problems, and water and wind erosion.
What soil may be relevant to this standard?
Soils may include field sites and specialist growing media.
What equipment might be used for a soil sampling?
Equipment may include hand auger, back hoe, equipment for pH testing such as soil test kits or electronic pH testing device, hand held salinity/EC meter, tape measure, sample bags, plastic overlays, aerial photographs, and charts and tables of soil characteristics.
What soil testing agencies might be used?
Soil testing agencies may be government, commercial or private consultants.
What physical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Physical characteristics may include colour, texture, structure, depth of root zone, and depth of water table.
What chemical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Chemical characteristics may include pH, salinity and carbonate content and nutrient (both macro and micro) availability.
What biological characteristics of a soil might be identified?
Characteristics such as decaying plant material, humus content, microbiotic content (fungi, bacteria and protozoa), and macrobiotic content (worms, insects and nematodes).
What particular type of soil classification system will be used?
Soils may be classified according to Unified Soil Classification System.
What soil survey data might be plotted on the property map?
These may include topsoil types, soil profiles and Readily Available Water (RAW).
What maps may be developed?
These may include contour maps and aerial photomaps, and may include the use of overlays to indicate various categories of data.
What areas of concern might be plotted on the map?
These may include saline patches, leaking channels, acid soils, weed infestation, lack of shelter from prevailing winds, awkward paddock size or design, high water table, access problems, herbicide resistance, animal/plant disease problems, and water and wind erosion.
What soil may be relevant to this standard?
Soils may include field sites and specialist growing media.
What equipment might be used for a soil sampling?
Equipment may include hand auger, back hoe, equipment for pH testing such as soil test kits or electronic pH testing device, hand held salinity/EC meter, tape measure, sample bags, plastic overlays, aerial photographs, and charts and tables of soil characteristics.
What soil testing agencies might be used?
Soil testing agencies may be government, commercial or private consultants.
What physical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Physical characteristics may include colour, texture, structure, depth of root zone, and depth of water table.
What chemical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Chemical characteristics may include pH, salinity and carbonate content and nutrient (both macro and micro) availability.
What biological characteristics of a soil might be identified?
Characteristics such as decaying plant material, humus content, microbiotic content (fungi, bacteria and protozoa), and macrobiotic content (worms, insects and nematodes).
What particular type of soil classification system will be used?
Soils may be classified according to Unified Soil Classification System.
What soil survey data might be plotted on the property map?
These may include topsoil types, soil profiles and Readily Available Water (RAW).
What maps may be developed?
These may include contour maps and aerial photomaps, and may include the use of overlays to indicate various categories of data.
What areas of concern might be plotted on the map?
These may include saline patches, leaking channels, acid soils, weed infestation, lack of shelter from prevailing winds, awkward paddock size or design, high water table, access problems, herbicide resistance, animal/plant disease problems, and water and wind erosion.
What soil may be relevant to this standard?
Soils may include field sites and specialist growing media.
What equipment might be used for a soil sampling?
Equipment may include hand auger, back hoe, equipment for pH testing such as soil test kits or electronic pH testing device, hand held salinity/EC meter, tape measure, sample bags, plastic overlays, aerial photographs, and charts and tables of soil characteristics.
What soil testing agencies might be used?
Soil testing agencies may be government, commercial or private consultants.
What physical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Physical characteristics may include colour, texture, structure, depth of root zone, and depth of water table.
What chemical characteristics of the soil might be identified?
Chemical characteristics may include pH, salinity and carbonate content and nutrient (both macro and micro) availability.
What biological characteristics of a soil might be identified?
Characteristics such as decaying plant material, humus content, microbiotic content (fungi, bacteria and protozoa), and macrobiotic content (worms, insects and nematodes).
What particular type of soil classification system will be used?
Soils may be classified according to Unified Soil Classification System.
What soil survey data might be plotted on the property map?
These may include topsoil types, soil profiles and Readily Available Water (RAW).
What maps may be developed?
These may include contour maps and aerial photomaps, and may include the use of overlays to indicate various categories of data.
What areas of concern might be plotted on the map?
These may include saline patches, leaking channels, acid soils, weed infestation, lack of shelter from prevailing winds, awkward paddock size or design, high water table, access problems, herbicide resistance, animal/plant disease problems, and water and wind erosion.
What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in developing soil survey maps requires evidence that a person can perform a soil survey, analyse survey results, determine soil characteristics, and plot topography and soil survey data on a property map.
The skills and knowledge required to develop soil survey maps must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different soil types, environments, and enterprise procedures.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:
methods and techniques of soil sampling
relevant enterprise OHS and environmental requirements including the use of personal protective equipment
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
soil types and profiles
physical and chemical properties of soils
nutrient availability in soils
soil analyses results
biodiversity habitats
cultural sites
soil quality factors
soil water retention testing techniques
water table and salinity
Readily Available Water (RAW).
What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?
To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:
collect and analyse data
read and apply testing agency procedures
label information for off-site testing
interpret soil analyses results
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
interpret published data and historical records to identify acceptable soil parameters
plot information on a map
use soil and water testing techniques
follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.
Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard
Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:
methods and techniques of soil sampling
relevant enterprise OHS and environmental requirements including the use of personal protective equipment
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
soil types and profiles
physical and chemical properties of soils
nutrient availability in soils
soil analyses results
biodiversity habitats
cultural sites
soil quality factors
soil water retention testing techniques
water table and salinity
Readily Available Water (RAW).
What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?
To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:
collect and analyse data
read and apply testing agency procedures
label information for off-site testing
interpret soil analyses results
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
interpret published data and historical records to identify acceptable soil parameters
plot information on a map
use soil and water testing techniques
follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.
Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard
Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about
Communicating ideas and information
Documenting soil sampling data. (2)
Communicating ideas and information
Documenting soil sampling data. (2)
Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting and analysing soil sampling data. (2)
Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting and analysing soil sampling data. (2)
Planning and organising activities
Developing soil use maps. (2)
Planning and organising activities
Developing soil use maps. (2)
Working with others and in teams
Using off-site assessment of samples. (2)
Working with others and in teams
Using off-site assessment of samples. (2)
Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating RAW values, topographical data, and analysing comparative statistical data. (2)
Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating RAW values, topographical data, and analysing comparative statistical data. (2)
Solving problems
Identifying and analysing areas of concern on a property. (2)
Solving problems
Identifying and analysing areas of concern on a property. (2)
Using technology
Using electronic testing equipment. (2)
Using technology
Using electronic testing equipment. (2)
Competence in developing soil survey maps requires evidence that a person can perform a soil survey, analyse survey results, determine soil characteristics, and plot topography and soil survey data on a property map.
The skills and knowledge required to develop soil survey maps must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different soil types, environments, and enterprise procedures.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:
methods and techniques of soil sampling
relevant enterprise OHS and environmental requirements including the use of personal protective equipment
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
soil types and profiles
physical and chemical properties of soils
nutrient availability in soils
soil analyses results
biodiversity habitats
cultural sites
soil quality factors
soil water retention testing techniques
water table and salinity
Readily Available Water (RAW).
What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?
To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:
collect and analyse data
read and apply testing agency procedures
label information for off-site testing
interpret soil analyses results
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
interpret published data and historical records to identify acceptable soil parameters
plot information on a map
use soil and water testing techniques
follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.
Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard
Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:
methods and techniques of soil sampling
relevant enterprise OHS and environmental requirements including the use of personal protective equipment
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
soil types and profiles
physical and chemical properties of soils
nutrient availability in soils
soil analyses results
biodiversity habitats
cultural sites
soil quality factors
soil water retention testing techniques
water table and salinity
Readily Available Water (RAW).
What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?
To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:
collect and analyse data
read and apply testing agency procedures
label information for off-site testing
interpret soil analyses results
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
interpret published data and historical records to identify acceptable soil parameters
plot information on a map
use soil and water testing techniques
follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.
Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard
Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about
Communicating ideas and information
Documenting soil sampling data. (2)
Communicating ideas and information
Documenting soil sampling data. (2)
Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting and analysing soil sampling data. (2)
Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting and analysing soil sampling data. (2)
Planning and organising activities
Developing soil use maps. (2)
Planning and organising activities
Developing soil use maps. (2)
Working with others and in teams
Using off-site assessment of samples. (2)
Working with others and in teams
Using off-site assessment of samples. (2)
Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating RAW values, topographical data, and analysing comparative statistical data. (2)
Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating RAW values, topographical data, and analysing comparative statistical data. (2)
Solving problems
Identifying and analysing areas of concern on a property. (2)
Solving problems
Identifying and analysing areas of concern on a property. (2)
Using technology
Using electronic testing equipment. (2)
Using technology
Using electronic testing equipment. (2)
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7246 | AHCSOL402A | Develop a soil use map for a property | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| S350 | RTF40103 | Certificate IV in Horticulture | Qualification |
| S352 | RTF40303 | Certificate IV in Horticulture (Floriculture) | Qualification |
| S399 | RTE40503 | Certificate IV in Production Horticulture | Qualification |