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

What irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These may be pressurised irrigation systems such as micro-irrigation systems and spray irrigation systems, or gravity fed irrigation systems.
Micro-irrigation systems include mains pressure, low pressure, below or above ground, sprays systems, drip emitter trickle, t-tape, mini-sprinklers, capillary, ebb and flow, and flood systems.
Spray irrigation systems include travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type), centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Gravity fed irrigation systems include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding, and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another.
Irrigation systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What water delivery components might be selected to deliver water efficiently?
These may include channels, canals, contours, furrows and pipes (polythene, mild steel, UPVC, stainless steel, nylon, copper, aluminium).

What flow direction and control components might be selected to deliver water efficiently?
These components may include fittings (tees, elbows, nipples) and valves (gate, float, ball, foot valves, non-return valves, pressure limiting valves).

What irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These may be pressurised irrigation systems such as micro-irrigation systems and spray irrigation systems, or gravity fed irrigation systems.
Micro-irrigation systems include mains pressure, low pressure, below or above ground, sprays systems, drip emitter trickle, t-tape, mini-sprinklers, capillary, ebb and flow, and flood systems.
Spray irrigation systems include travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type), centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Gravity fed irrigation systems include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding, and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another.
Irrigation systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What water delivery components might be selected to deliver water efficiently?
These may include channels, canals, contours, furrows and pipes (polythene, mild steel, UPVC, stainless steel, nylon, copper, aluminium).

What flow direction and control components might be selected to deliver water efficiently?
These components may include fittings (tees, elbows, nipples) and valves (gate, float, ball, foot valves, non-return valves, pressure limiting valves).

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in determining hydraulic parameters for an irrigation system requires evidence that a person can confirm water delivery specifications, determine the pressures needed to deliver a required amount of water over a specified area, analyse technical drawings to determine pressure losses through the system, and select system components for efficient water delivery.
The skills and knowledge required to determine hydraulic parameters for an irrigation system must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if hydraulic parameters are determined for a manual, gravity fed irrigation system, it should be evident that parameters could be determined for a pressurised irrigation system that is fully automated with computer control and monitoring.
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:

intermediate hydraulic principles such as static and dynamic pressure, pressure loss, friction loss, flow rate and velocity, effect of gradient on flow rate, contact time and drainage
irrigation system components
types and pressure ratings for pipes, fittings and outlets
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
enterprise and environmental requirements.

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:

read contour maps and interpret elevations and distances
calculate pressures, flows, velocities and friction losses
determine efficiency of the system with varying system components
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
apply hydraulic principles to manual and computerised irrigation systems
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:

intermediate hydraulic principles such as static and dynamic pressure, pressure loss, friction loss, flow rate and velocity, effect of gradient on flow rate, contact time and drainage
irrigation system components
types and pressure ratings for pipes, fittings and outlets
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
enterprise and environmental requirements.

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:

read contour maps and interpret elevations and distances
calculate pressures, flows, velocities and friction losses
determine efficiency of the system with varying system components
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
apply hydraulic principles to manual and computerised irrigation systems
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

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
Documenting system specifications and parameters. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Documenting system specifications and parameters. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Analysing crop, soil and system data. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Analysing crop, soil and system data. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Selecting system components to deliver water efficiently. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Selecting system components to deliver water efficiently. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Confirming plant/crop requirements and soil characteristics. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Confirming plant/crop requirements and soil characteristics. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating pressures, losses, velocities, flows, and determining hydraulic parameters for an irrigation system. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating pressures, losses, velocities, flows, and determining hydraulic parameters for an irrigation system. (2)

Solving problems
Selecting water delivery components to achieve the most efficient delivery rate and pressure. (2)

Solving problems
Selecting water delivery components to achieve the most efficient delivery rate and pressure. (2)

Using technology
Using equipment to test hydraulic parameters. (2)

Using technology
Using equipment to test hydraulic parameters. (2)