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Establish and maintain amenity turf surfaces
Level
2
Credits
7
Purpose
This unit standard is for people working, or intending to work, in amenity
horticulture. People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare soil
for sowing turfgrass seed or laying turf: select appropriate turfgrass species
and cultivar; sow turfgrass seed; lay turf; establish newly laid or sown turf
area; and maintain established turf for twelve weeks.
Subfield
Horticulture
Domain
Amenity Horticulture
Status
Registered
Status date
20 June 2008
Date version published
20 June 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2012
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0032
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
This unit standard is not intended for people who intend to specialise in turf
management. People working, or intending to work, in turf management should refer
to unit standards from the Sports Turf subfield.
2
The amenity turf establishment areas for this unit standard should be no less than
five square metres.
3
Workplace procedures refer to oral or written instructions to staff on procedures for
the worksite and equipment.
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24646 version 1
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4
This unit standard is been based around outcomes previously covered in unit
standard 1673.
5
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Hazardous
Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, and subsequent amendments.
6
Work may involve exposure to chemical, dangerous, or hazardous substances.
Safety procedures are observed in accordance with NZS 8409:2004 Management of
Agrichemicals, available from Standards New Zealand http://www.standards.co.nz.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Prepare soil surfaces for sowing turfgrass seed or laying turf.
Performance criteria
1.1
Weeds are controlled and surface debris is removed to prepare the soil for
cultivation in accordance with workplace procedures.
1.2
Soil is cultivated and consolidated to a depth and tilth suited to the requirements
of the seed or turf and as specified on seed containers, or in accordance with
workplace procedures.
1.3
Seedbed is contoured to meet user needs in accordance with workplace
procedures.
1.4
Nutrient and moisture levels are suitable for seed germination or turf
establishment as specified on seed containers, or in accordance with workplace
procedures.
1.5
Cultivation tools are cleaned and stored after use in accordance with workplace
procedures.
Element 2
Select appropriate turfgrass species and cultivar.
Performance criteria
2.1
Turfgrass species and cultivar selection takes into consideration its suitability for
the local climate and intended use.
Range
2.2
use – full exposure, light shading, heavy shading, occasional use,
heavy use.
Advantages and disadvantages of sowing turfgrass seed and laying turfing are
compared in accordance with workplace procedures.
Range
may include but are not limited to – labour, cost, machinery and
equipment required, time constraints on surface usability.
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Element 3
Sow turfgrass seed.
Performance criteria
3.1
Soil is moist to ensure successful establishment of seed.
3.2
Amount of seed required is calculated in accordance with workplace
procedures.
Range
3.3
Seed is sown uniformly in a prepared seedbed in accordance with workplace
procedures.
Range
3.4
may include but not limited to – recommended sowing rate, area to
be sown.
may include but is not limited to – depth of sowing, seed size.
Newly sown seed is watered in accordance with workplace procedures.
Element 4
Lay turf.
Performance criteria
4.1
Soil is moist to ensure successful establishment of turf.
4.2
Upon receipt, turf is checked in accordance with workplace procedures to
ensure it meets requirements in terms of the order that was placed and its
intended use.
Range
4.3
Turf is laid uniformly on the prepared soil in accordance with workplace
procedures.
Range
4.4
checks for – pests and diseases, species composition, turf mat
and density, thatch, turf moisture content.
may include but is not limited to – butted joints, alternating joints,
turves are tamped down, screened soil used to fill in cracks,
shaped, cut.
Newly laid turf is watered in accordance with workplace procedures.
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Element 5
Establish newly laid or sown turf areas.
Performance criteria
5.1
Conditions for successful establishment of turf are maintained in accordance
with workplace procedures.
Range
may include but are not limited to – moisture, protection, soil
fertility, weed control, light, temperature, wind, mulch,
consolidation.
5.2
At least 85% of sown or 95% of laid turf species is established.
5.3
Turf is first mown at a height appropriate to the species with subsequent
mowings gradually reduced to the desired species optimum cutting range, in
accordance with workplace procedures.
5.4
Area is recommended for use once turf is fully established.
Element 6
Maintain established turf for a period of twelve weeks.
Performance criteria
6.1
Suitable growing conditions are maintained through monitoring soil moisture,
soil aeration, and soil nutrients.
6.2
Turf is kept healthy through maintenance of pest, disease, and weed control
measures.
6.3
Turf height and quality of cut is maintained in accordance with workplace
procedures for turf maintenance.
6.4
Selection of mower is in accordance with turf quality desired.
Range
reel, rotary.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA 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.
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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 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 http://www.primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016