21049 version 1 Page 1 of 3 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 Page 2 of 3 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 Page 3 of 3 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