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 crop/plant water might be monitored?
These may include growth phase, evapotranspiration, variety, rootstock, plant vigour, plant size, crop load and stress.

What irrigation distribution systems might be relevant to this standard?
Micro-irrigation systems may include those with emitters of any type that are external to the tubing, low pressure sprinklers that are fitted to stakes and/or tubing, droplines with integrated emitters whether thin, medium or thick wall products, droplines for sub-surface applications, together with foggers and misting spays
Spray irrigation systems may include permanent overhead, semi-permanent, as well as travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type), centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Surface irrigation systems may 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. Systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What performance data might be recorded on the irrigation system?
Data may include pressures, flow rates, distribution uniformity, depth of irrigation, and soil moisture at root zone. Data may be recorded on graphs and charts on paper and/or electronically.

What crop/plant water might be monitored?
These may include growth phase, evapotranspiration, variety, rootstock, plant vigour, plant size, crop load and stress.

What irrigation distribution systems might be relevant to this standard?
Micro-irrigation systems may include those with emitters of any type that are external to the tubing, low pressure sprinklers that are fitted to stakes and/or tubing, droplines with integrated emitters whether thin, medium or thick wall products, droplines for sub-surface applications, together with foggers and misting spays
Spray irrigation systems may include permanent overhead, semi-permanent, as well as travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type), centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Surface irrigation systems may 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. Systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

What performance data might be recorded on the irrigation system?
Data may include pressures, flow rates, distribution uniformity, depth of irrigation, and soil moisture at root zone. Data may be recorded on graphs and charts on paper and/or electronically.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in scheduling irrigations requires evidence that a person can determine water budgets and irrigation units or areas, and schedule irrigation shifts to meet crop or plant needs and environmental requirements.
The skills and knowledge required to schedule irrigations must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if irrigations are scheduled for spray irrigation of a crop, it should be evident that irrigations could be scheduled for gravity fed irrigation systems for a different crop in a different location.
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:

inter-relationship between plant, soil and the aerial environments in the determination of water budgets
plant/crop response to moisture stress at different stages of growth
possible adverse impacts on the crop and environment from inefficient scheduling or unpredictable weather effects
recognition of moisture stress effects (sometimes desired) on plants
physical soil characteristics such as infiltration rate, water holding capacity and wetted volume in the root zone
weather forecasting of extreme weather events such as heat waves, frosts and storms, and appropriate contingency tactics to minimise impacts
in-field irrigation reticulation performance and its capacity limits
water quality monitoring methods and acceptable quality limits
water authority standards and procedures
enterprise and environmental policies and procedures.

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:

use and maintain in-field equipment that monitors the plant environment
incorporate data from monitoring sources (such as in-field equipment and remote sources) into scheduling systems that compute irrigation requirement
monitor crop/plant water use
apply a measured amount of water
assess efficacy of irrigation and repeat cycles of irrigation
record irrigation and scheduling parameters
plan for extremes of weather
follow relevant enterprise 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:

inter-relationship between plant, soil and the aerial environments in the determination of water budgets
plant/crop response to moisture stress at different stages of growth
possible adverse impacts on the crop and environment from inefficient scheduling or unpredictable weather effects
recognition of moisture stress effects (sometimes desired) on plants
physical soil characteristics such as infiltration rate, water holding capacity and wetted volume in the root zone
weather forecasting of extreme weather events such as heat waves, frosts and storms, and appropriate contingency tactics to minimise impacts
in-field irrigation reticulation performance and its capacity limits
water quality monitoring methods and acceptable quality limits
water authority standards and procedures
enterprise and environmental policies and procedures.

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:

use and maintain in-field equipment that monitors the plant environment
incorporate data from monitoring sources (such as in-field equipment and remote sources) into scheduling systems that compute irrigation requirement
monitor crop/plant water use
apply a measured amount of water
assess efficacy of irrigation and repeat cycles of irrigation
record irrigation and scheduling parameters
plan for extremes of weather
follow relevant enterprise 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 irrigation schedules. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Documenting irrigation schedules. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Gathering and analysing crop, soil and irrigation information. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Gathering and analysing crop, soil and irrigation information. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Scheduling irrigation shifts. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Scheduling irrigation shifts. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Documenting irrigation schedules for others. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Documenting irrigation schedules for others. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Interpreting data and performing moderately complex calculations to determine irrigation units or areas. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Interpreting data and performing moderately complex calculations to determine irrigation units or areas. (2)

Solving problems
Using raw data to determine irrigation shifts. (2)

Solving problems
Using raw data to determine irrigation shifts. (2)

Using technology
Using software and irrigation technology where necessary. (2)

Using technology
Using software and irrigation technology where necessary. (2)