NZQA registered unit standard
28921 version 1
Page 1 of 3
Title
Demonstrate understanding of soil management to increase
production in a primary industry workplace
Level
3
Credits
12
Purpose
This unit standard is intended for people who are required to
apply knowledge of soils and soil management practices to
increase production in a primary industry workplace.
Classification
Agriculture > General Agriculture
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Soil management practices must be sustainable and may include, but are not limited
to: drainage, irrigation, aeration, erosion control, the addition of soil organisms, and
organic matter.
2
Soil properties are defined as the soil forming factors, and physical, biological and
chemical factors. Examples of soil properties include: soil type and classification,
water holding capacity; soil structure and texture; micro and macro organisms,
organic matter.
3
Learners in a dairy farming context must include the use of effluent as a fertiliser.
4
Demonstration of understanding may be assessed in a number of ways, which could
include ability to complete practical tasks, if it is clear that the understanding is
essential underpinning understanding to the task/s, and that the task/s could not be
completed without the candidate having that understanding.
5
In the context of this unit standard, understanding means that there should be
evidence of a learners’ thorough comprehension of a topic. A learner with a good
understanding of a topic should have applied, or should be able to apply what they
have learnt to a workplace situation and will be able to alter their practices to the
different contexts they are applying their learning to. Assessors should be confident
that the learners’ understanding is embedded in their practices and behaviour.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of the management of the physical and biological properties of
soil to increase production.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28921 version 1
Page 2 of 3
Evidence requirements
1.1
Describes the factors that contribute to formation of a soil.
1.2
Explains how soil properties affect production in a primary industry workplace.
Range
1.3
minimum of five properties.
Identifies and explains soil management practices which affect production in a
primary industry workplace.
Range
minimum of 2 practices.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate understanding of the management of soil fertility and pH to increase
production in a primary industry workplace.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Identifies deficiencies and describes remedial action for deficiencies of nitrogen,
phosphorus, sulphur and potassium in plants
2.2
Describes the effect of a one micronutrient deficiency on production
2.3
Explains nutrient losses from a primary industry production system and
describes ways to minimise these losses.
Range
minimum of 2 nutrients.
2.4
Identifies target fertility levels for a soil in a primary industry workplace.
2.5
Describes how fertilisers are used to correct nutrient deficiencies and increase
production.
2.6
Describes how pH affects plant growth and nutrient availability.
2.7
Describes methods of optimising pH.
2.8
Describes soil testing procedures, and how the results are used.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standards 19142 and
24543.
Planned review date
31 December 2020
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28921 version 1
Page 3 of 3
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
16 July 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0052
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
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
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016