NZQA Expiring unit standard
24543 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of the formation, and factors which
influence properties, of soils on-farm
Level
3
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
knowledge of: the formation of soil; and the factors which
influence the physical, chemical, and biological properties of
soils on-farm.
Classification
Agriculture > General Agriculture
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Reference
Code of Practice for Nutrient Management, New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturer’s
Research Association Incorporated (NZFMRA), 2007, available from
http://www.fertresearch.org.nz.
2
Definition
C:N ratio – Carbon Nitrogen ratio.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
This unit standard is
Demonstrate knowledge of the formation of soil.
expiring
Evidence requirements
Outcome 1
1.1
Soil formation is described in terms of major contributing factors.
Range
contributing factors – parent material, climate, topography,
organisms, age, organic matter, texture.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of the factors which influence the physical properties of soils onfarm.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Soils are described in terms of the factors which influence water holding
capacity.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
2.2
includes but is not limited to – farm management practices, soil
texture.
Soils are described in terms of the factors which influence organic matter
content (C:N ratio).
Range
2.4
includes but is not limited to – structure, organic matter content,
texture.
Soils are described in terms of the factors which influence structure.
Range
2.3
24543 version 2
Page 2 of 4
includes but is not limited to – natural processes, farm
management practices.
Soils are described in terms of the factors which influence temperature.
Range
includes but is not limited to – cover, organic matter, texture, soil
moisture.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the factors which influence the chemical properties of soils onfarm.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Soils are described in terms of the factors which influence nutrient cycles.
Range
3.2
3.3
evidence is required for at least two factors.
This unit standard is
Range
evidence is required for at least two soil nutrients.
expiring
Soils are described in terms of the effects of chemical properties on plant
Soils are described in terms of the impact of pH on the availability of soil
nutrients.
growth.
Range
3.4
Soils are described in terms of the macro and micro nutrient requirements for
plant growth.
Range
3.5
evidence is required for at least two chemical properties.
evidence is required for at least two macro and two micro nutrient
requirements.
Soils are described in terms of the factors that influence nutrient transfer in a
farm system.
Outcome 4
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
24543 version 2
Page 3 of 4
Demonstrate knowledge of the biological properties of soils on-farm.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Soils are described in terms of the importance of the presence of organic
matter.
Range
4.2
living organic matter, dead decomposing organic matter.
Soils are described in terms of the roles of macro and micro soil organisms.
macro organisms include but are not limited to – worms, beetles,
insects;
micro organisms include but are not limited to – bacteria, fungi,
algae.
Range
4.3
Soils are described in terms of the benefits of roots for soil health.
Replacement information
This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard
28921.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
20 May 2008
31 December 2018
Review
2
16 July 2015
31 December 2018
This unit standard is
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0052
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
expiring
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
24543 version 2
Page 4 of 4
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
This unit standard is
expiring
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016