3004 version 4
28-Jun-16
1 of 3
HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT
Use soil-less growing media in
horticulture
level:
4
credit:
4
planned review date:
June 2008
sub-field:
Horticulture
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard will be able to –
identify and use a range of growing media other than soil in
horticulture activities; define the characteristics of the media;
determine its constituents; identify and apply modifications
needed to meet a defined requirement; and carry out
disposal or reconditioning of the media after use.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and
teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by the Primary Industry Training
Organisation.
special notes:
None.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Identify soil-less growing media used in horticulture.
performance criteria
1.1
Soil-less growing media used in New Zealand are listed by type, and the
common uses of each type are described.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
3004 version 4
28-Jun-16
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HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT
Use soil-less growing media in
horticulture
1.2
Description of each media type listed defines characteristics and constituents
against common criteria.
Range:
1.3
biological, chemical, physical.
Economic factors to be considered in the selection of a soil-less growing
medium are identified and defined for each type of medium listed.
Range:
set-up costs, availability, life, management costs.
element 2
Grow crops and specimens in soil-less media.
performance criteria
2.1
Preparation of media meets requirements of defined crop or specimen.
2.2
Plant nutrients are selected to meet crop or specimen requirements, and are
applied using methods which maximise their effectiveness in the growing media
used.
2.3
Hygiene procedures adopted prevent contamination of the growing medium.
2.4
Monitoring of crop or specimen health provides early recognition of a growing
medium based problem and implementation of pre-defined procedures for
dealing with that problem.
2.5
Methods adopted for disposal of unwanted growing media ensure site hygiene
and environmental requirements specified by the local authority are met.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Primary Industry Training Organisation http://www.primaryito.ac.nz if you
wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Please Note
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority or a delegated interinstitutional body before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards
or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
3004 version 4
28-Jun-16
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HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT
Use soil-less growing media in
horticulture
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before
they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for providers wishing to
develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and
assessors, and special resource requirements.
This unit standard is covered by AMAP 0032
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/site/framework/search.html.
which can
be
accessed at
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016