21049 version 1
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Demonstrate and apply knowledge of vermiculture
Level
3
Credits
5
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
vermiculture; apply the principles of vermiculture and describe the use of
products of vermiculture.
Subfield
Horticulture
Domain
Production Horticulture
Status
Registered
Status date
27 October 2006
Date version published
27 October 2006
Planned review date
31 December 2011
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry
and teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
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
The following standards apply to this unit standard:
Demeter Standards, Bio Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, PO Box
39045, Wellington Mail Centre, Phone 04 589 5366, Fax 04 589 4365,
http://www.biodynamic.org.nz;
BIO-GRO Standards, BIO-GRO New Zealand, PO Box 9693, Marion Square,
Wellington, Phone 04 801 9741, Fax 04 801 9742, http://www.bio-gro.co.nz;
Agriquality New Zealand, Agriquality Organic Standards, http://www.agriquality.co.nz;
The Soil and Health Association of New Zealand (Organic Farm New Zealand),
http://www.organicnz.org;
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/organics;
NZS 8410:2003 Organic production, available from Standards New Zealand
http://www.standards.co.nz.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
21049 version 1
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2
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to: Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992; Resource Management Act 1991; and Hazardous
Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
3
Workplace procedures refer to verbal or written instructions to staff on procedures for
the worksite and equipment.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Demonstrate knowledge of vermiculture.
Performance criteria
1.1
Production of vermicast or worm compost using worms as digesters is
described.
Range
1.2
Feed habit of worms and feed materials are identified.
Range
1.3
vertical feeding, preferred feed materials, feed materials to avoid.
Conditions for optimal worm activity are described.
Range
1.4
digestion, lifecycle, establishment of a worm farm, suitable types
of worms.
temperature, moisture, pH, physical environment.
Certification issues related to worm composting are described.
Element 2
Apply the principles of vermiculture.
Performance criteria
2.1
Worm farm is maintained so that worm activity is sustained.
Range
2.2
appropriate feeding, pH management, proper functioning of worm
farm is checked and maintained, removal of excess liquid.
Finished casts are harvested according to organic standards and workplace
procedures.
Range
casts are harvested without causing inappropriate disturbance of
worm farm.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
21049 version 1
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Element 3
Describe the use of products of vermiculture.
Performance criteria
3.1
The use of vermicast in the production of organic horticultural products is
described.
Range
3.2
seed raising mix, liquid preparation, soil amendments.
Liquid vermicast is diluted to appropriate strength for foliar and fertigation
applications.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority, 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 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 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 www.primaryito.ac.nz if you
wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016