Elements and Performance Criteria

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 particular training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What instructions may be relevant to this standard?
Instructions may include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), company policy and procedures in regard crop establishment, specifications, work notes, Material Safety Data Sheets, manufacturers instructions, product labels, or verbal directions from the manager, supervisor, or senior operator.

What machinery, equipment and tools are likely to be used for plant maintenance?
Machinery, equipment and tools may include tractors, rotary hoes, cultivators, fertiliser spreaders, surveying and measuring equipment, seeding or planting machinery.

What OHS hazards may be associated with crop establishment?
Hazards may include the use of machinery, moving machinery and machinery parts, falling trees and plant debris, chemicals and hazardous substances, manual handling, solar radiation, dust, and noise.

What are the environmental implications associated with crop establishment?
Negative environmental implications may include the contamination of off-site ground water or soils from solids, debris, nutrients or chemicals; land disturbance, spread of noxious weeds, and water run-off.

What PPE may be required to undertake horticultural crop establishment work?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or face mask, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hardhat.

How may the waste materials be disposed of?
Waste disposal may include disinfestation, ploughing organic waste into the soil, mulching or composting of plant material, bagging and removal of seed heads, and disposing of noxious or poisonous material at approved disposal sights.

What tests may be carried out on soil samples?
Tests may include pH, salinity, water repellence, slaking, proportion of organic matter.

What soil treatments/ amendments may apply to this standard?
Soil treatments/amendments may include gypsum, organic matter, artificial fertilisers or the planting of a temporary or permanent cover crop. It does not include fumigation as this has a licensing requirement in some States.

What type of crop protection may be required for crop establishment?
Crop protection may include wind protection such as artificial structures, permanent shelter belts or temporary plantings of cereals, bana grass or sudax; trellises and stakes; and mulch, including straw, plastic, cover crop or any vegetative material.

What types of planting material may be used to establish a crop?
Planting material may include seeds, seedlings, runners, cuttings or bare rooted trees.

How might planting material be treated before planting?
Pre-plant treatments may include fungicide dips, fungicide dusts for seeds, root trimming, shoot trimming, crown gall dips and anti-transpirants.

What treatments may apply to the care of young plants?
Treatments may include pest and disease prevention and control, weed prevention and control, frost, fertilisers, and mulch.

How might planting material be maintained while waiting to be planted?
Maintaining plants may include keeping seeds and tubers dry and cool, keeping plants and plantlets cool and moist to prevent dehydration.

How may water be applied to plants?
Water may be applied using irrigation systems, which may include drips; overheads, central pivot, micro irrigation, under tree, and flood.

In what way may plants be trained?
Training may involve thinning, trimming, staking or trellising.

What instructions may be relevant to this standard?
Instructions may include Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), company policy and procedures in regard crop establishment, specifications, work notes, Material Safety Data Sheets, manufacturers instructions, product labels, or verbal directions from the manager, supervisor, or senior operator.

What machinery, equipment and tools are likely to be used for plant maintenance?
Machinery, equipment and tools may include tractors, rotary hoes, cultivators, fertiliser spreaders, surveying and measuring equipment, seeding or planting machinery.

What OHS hazards may be associated with crop establishment?
Hazards may include the use of machinery, moving machinery and machinery parts, falling trees and plant debris, chemicals and hazardous substances, manual handling, solar radiation, dust, and noise.

What are the environmental implications associated with crop establishment?
Negative environmental implications may include the contamination of off-site ground water or soils from solids, debris, nutrients or chemicals; land disturbance, spread of noxious weeds, and water run-off.

What PPE may be required to undertake horticultural crop establishment work?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or face mask, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hardhat.

How may the waste materials be disposed of?
Waste disposal may include disinfestation, ploughing organic waste into the soil, mulching or composting of plant material, bagging and removal of seed heads, and disposing of noxious or poisonous material at approved disposal sights.

What tests may be carried out on soil samples?
Tests may include pH, salinity, water repellence, slaking, proportion of organic matter.

What soil treatments/ amendments may apply to this standard?
Soil treatments/amendments may include gypsum, organic matter, artificial fertilisers or the planting of a temporary or permanent cover crop. It does not include fumigation as this has a licensing requirement in some States.

What type of crop protection may be required for crop establishment?
Crop protection may include wind protection such as artificial structures, permanent shelter belts or temporary plantings of cereals, bana grass or sudax; trellises and stakes; and mulch, including straw, plastic, cover crop or any vegetative material.

What types of planting material may be used to establish a crop?
Planting material may include seeds, seedlings, runners, cuttings or bare rooted trees.

How might planting material be treated before planting?
Pre-plant treatments may include fungicide dips, fungicide dusts for seeds, root trimming, shoot trimming, crown gall dips and anti-transpirants.

What treatments may apply to the care of young plants?
Treatments may include pest and disease prevention and control, weed prevention and control, frost, fertilisers, and mulch.

How might planting material be maintained while waiting to be planted?
Maintaining plants may include keeping seeds and tubers dry and cool, keeping plants and plantlets cool and moist to prevent dehydration.

How may water be applied to plants?
Water may be applied using irrigation systems, which may include drips; overheads, central pivot, micro irrigation, under tree, and flood.

In what way may plants be trained?
Training may involve thinning, trimming, staking or trellising.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in establishing crops requires evidence that a person can interpret a site map, clear the site of old plantings, prepare the soil and site for plantings, prepare the plants, plant the crop and maintain the new crop.
The skills and knowledge required to establish crops must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if a person can establish a citrus crop in South Australia they should be able to establish a mango crop in Queensland following a period of induction.
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:

principles of sustainable horticultural practices
importance of field hygiene and quality control in regard to crop establishment
principles and operations of a range of irrigation systems used for field crops
nutritional, water and other requirements of the crop
the importance of correct timing and procedures for crop planting
range of pre-planting soil treatments and their importance
methods of waste disposal causing minimal impact on the environment.

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:

participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
communicate with team members and supervisor
read and interpret a range of workplace information
calibrate equipment
measure quantities of treatment
calculate spacings and planting patterns
operate machinery to manufacturers specifications and enterprise procedures
safely apply appropriate agricultural chemicals.

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:

principles of sustainable horticultural practices
importance of field hygiene and quality control in regard to crop establishment
principles and operations of a range of irrigation systems used for field crops
nutritional, water and other requirements of the crop
the importance of correct timing and procedures for crop planting
range of pre-planting soil treatments and their importance
methods of waste disposal causing minimal impact on the environment.

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:

participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
communicate with team members and supervisor
read and interpret a range of workplace information
calibrate equipment
measure quantities of treatment
calculate spacings and planting patterns
operate machinery to manufacturers specifications and enterprise procedures
safely apply appropriate agricultural chemicals.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Ideas and information relating to preparation, planting and crop care, and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Ideas and information relating to preparation, planting and crop care, and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures, such as a daily planting plan, mulching, fertilising and water requirements of crops, should be consulted, interpreted and applied to crop establishment activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures, such as a daily planting plan, mulching, fertilising and water requirements of crops, should be consulted, interpreted and applied to crop establishment activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Materials, tools, equipment and work activities for crop establishment routines may need to be arranged around seasonal requirements, and there may be some responsibility for co-ordinating work activities with other members of the work team. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Materials, tools, equipment and work activities for crop establishment routines may need to be arranged around seasonal requirements, and there may be some responsibility for co-ordinating work activities with other members of the work team. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Crop establishment activities may involve working with other members of a team to complete operations within the daily work routine. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Crop establishment activities may involve working with other members of a team to complete operations within the daily work routine. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calibrating spray equipment and determining quantities and application rates for treatment. Fertiliser or mulching of crops will require mathematical application. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calibrating spray equipment and determining quantities and application rates for treatment. Fertiliser or mulching of crops will require mathematical application. (1)

Solving problems
Problems relating to site preparation, crop planting, treatments, watering, machinery and equipment, workplace safety, and other team members may arise during the establishment of crops, which may require problem-solving skills. (1)

Solving problems
Problems relating to site preparation, crop planting, treatments, watering, machinery and equipment, workplace safety, and other team members may arise during the establishment of crops, which may require problem-solving skills. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the preparation, use and maintenance of horticultural equipment and machinery used for spreading of fertiliser or other crop treatments. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the preparation, use and maintenance of horticultural equipment and machinery used for spreading of fertiliser or other crop treatments. (1)