NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90155) 2008 — page 1 of 5
Assessment Schedule – 2008
Agricultural Science: Describe management practices used in pasture / crop production
(90155)
Evidence Statement
Q
Achievement
with Merit
Evidence
Code
Achievement
Differences in the cost of production
include:
 Higher capital cost for facilities to
confine feedlot cattle compared with
pasture-reared cattle.
 Proprietary feeds must be transported
to cattle in feedlots on a regular basis.
 Dung must be removed from the pens
of feedlots on a regular basis.
 Veterinary attention and monitoring of
feedlot cattle must be carried out 24
hours a day.
2  A1
Describes
ONE
difference in
the cost of
production.
(ii)
Examples
 Pasture-fed beef has lower production
costs, meaning sales can be achieved
at prices lower than feedlot-reared
cattle. Consumers prefer a lower-cost
product of a high quality.
 Natural conditions and welfare
considerations, such as the ability of
cattle to roam and graze, are seen by
affluent markets as being preferable
to “factory farming”, thereby
increasing demand.
M1
Evidence
toward (a) (i) if
required for
A1.
(b)
(i)
Advantages of white clover include:
A1
Describes
ONE advantage of using
white clover in
pasture.
M1
Evidence
toward (b) (i) if
required for
A1.
Explains the
need for
purchase of
nitrogen fertiliser
that was not
required with
white clover in
pasture.
A1
OR
M1
Describes how
grazed pasture
improves soil
fertility.
Explains how
reduced disease
status/ soil
structure or
nutrient returns
are improved,
and links this to
crop yield.
ONE
(a)
(i)
There are two
opportunities.
 fixation of nitrogen
 high protein value
 high palatability and digestibility.
(ii)
(c)
Examples

A farmer would need to purchase and
apply costly nitrogenous fertilisers to
supply the nitrogen that was provided
free-of-charge when white clover was
present.

Reduced pasture production would
result in the farmer having to buy in
supplementary feed.
Examples

Grazed pasture in a crop rotation can
disrupt the lifecycle of crop diseases
and therefore improve the disease
status in the soil. This allows crops to
be grown in the future with a
decreased risk of disease decreasing
the final yield.
 Grazed pasture returns nutrients via
dung, urine and nitrogen fixation,
returns organic matter via dung and
Explains why
affluent
consumers
overseas prefer
the lower cost,
“naturally”
produced beef
farmed in New
Zealand.
Achievement
with Excellence
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90155) 2008 — page 2 of 5
recycled foliage, and in the process
builds up the soil structure, which
increases crop yield.
 As a restorative crop, grazed pasture
improves soil structure, which leads to
improved air and water movement,
and better root access to nutrients,
thereby enhancing crop yields.
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90155) 2008 — page 3 of 5
Q
Evidence
Code
Achievement
(a)
(i)
Urea is spread in small quantities in
autumn and late winter, early spring,
summer by a spreader on a truck, tractor
or bike. Timing will vary according to soil
temperature, location and grass growth
requirements.
Superphosphate is spread in one
application in autumn or early spring by
air, truck or tractor.
A2
Describes the
timing AND
application of
either urea or
superphosphate.
(ii)
Lost nutrients (from harvesting, leaching
and run-off) must be replaced. Fertiliser
use will mean higher quantities of quality
pasture will be available, which will lead
to increased milk production.
M2
(b)
(i)
Factors include:
A2
Identifies TWO
factors that
affect the
quality of
either hay or
silage
production.
M2
Evidence
toward (b) (i)
available for
A2 grade if
required.
Achievement
with Merit
TWO
 weather conditions
 stages of growth (moisture content /
sugar content / seed-head)
 machinery / labour / contractor
availability
Explains how
fertiliser is used
to replace lost
nutrients;
fertiliser will lead
to increased
pasture growth
and subsequent
increases in milk
production.
 for hay, length is a factor.
(ii)
Examples
Weather:
HAY – Fine weather is necessary to
reduce moisture content quickly, so that
respiration losses are minimal.
Increased moisture will cause the hay to
rot.
SILAGE – The weather does not need to
be as fine (it can be overcast) as for hay,
because silage has a 60% moisture
content.
Stages of growth:
HAY – Seed-head emergence should be
at 50% to optimise bulk, but with
maximum leaf and minimum stem and
dead material.
SILAGE – 10% seed-head emergence.
Machinery / labour / contractor
availability:
HAY and SILAGE – If machinery or
labour are not available then raking / fine
chopping / compaction / baling could be
delayed. Any delay could lead to nutrient
loss and reduced quality through
respiration losses.
Explains how
ONE factor
influences the
quality of either
hay or silage.
Achievement
with Excellence
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90155) 2008 — page 4 of 5
Achievement
with Merit
Achievement
with Excellence
Identifies TWO
important
items of
information
provided on
the certificate.
Explains how a
selected item of
information
would impact on
a turnip crop
sown using the
seed.
Justifies the
order of
importance by
explaining why
the most
important factor
is more
important
compared with
the second
most important.
Achievement
(A2) can be
awarded
where there is
evidence of a
description of
a management
practice that
has not
already been
offered /
gained
elsewhere in
the paper.
Merit (M2) can
be awarded for
an explanation
where there is
evidence of a
management
practice that
gets rid of
gorse.
Justifies the
best
management
practice by
explaining why
it is better
compared with
ONE of the
other
management
practices.
Q
Evidence
Code
Achievement
Two
(c)
Example
Date of test.
Final count.
Not: Inert matter, hard seeds and abnormal
seedlings, testing station.
E
OR
(M2)
OR
(A2)
E
OR
(M2)
OR
(A2)
Turnips are used as a stock feed in winter,
not a seed crop in a multiplication process.
It’s essential that the seeds are viable, that
is can germinate and grow. As the test is
old (more than four years) its accuracy will
be reduced and the actual germination rate
will be much lower.
Some reduction in pure seed should not be
too significant because there is 3% inert
matter, which does not pose a threat in
terms of infestations and germination rates.
Weed seeds could be an issue, but the
type of weed seed would be more
important than the number of weeds.
THREE
Example
The introduction of a biological control
such as the gorse weevil would be better
than aerial spraying because it is viewed
as more environmentally friendly. This is
important when the farmer is about to sell
his stock, particularly if it is destined for
export markets. The gorse weevil is a
specific pest that targets gorse so will not
harm other plants.
Aerial spraying would be an effective
method. However, although it is possible,
because of the steep land the spray may
not be evenly applied. Spraying may be
faster than the weevil but this is not a
concern as the land is to be grazed in the
future.
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90155) 2008 — page 5 of 5
Judgement Statement – 2008
Agricultural Science: Describe management practices used in pasture / crop production
(90155)
Achievement
3  any A1 / M1
Achievement with Merit
2  M1
2  any A2 / M2
Achievement with Excellence
1E
2  M1
plus
1  M2
2 other A1 / M1
plus
2  M2
4 other A1 / A2 / M1 / M2 / E
plus
2 other A2 / M2
Grades in brackets eg (A2) (E2) signal that evidence for another question in the paper has been
recognised.