NZQA registered unit standard
Title
Care for nursery crops
Level
2
20571 version 3
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Credits
10
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify the
growing environment requirements of nursery crops; monitor a
specific nursery crop and its growing environment; and
maintain a specific nursery crop.
Classification
Horticulture > Nursery Production
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
Nursery Crop refers to a crop of no less than 50 plants.
Workplace procedures refer to oral or written instructions to staff on procedures for
the worksite and equipment.
2
It is intended that the candidate care for a specific crop of either: annuals or woody
perennials, durations for monitoring and maintaining these crops differ due to the
differing growing durations of these crops.
3
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and
Safety in Employment Act 1992, the Resource Management Act 1991, and their
subsequent amendments.
4
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://standards.co.nz, or the
NZ Agrichemical Education Trust http://growsafe.co.nz/.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify the growing environment requirements of nursery crops.
Range
may include light levels, temperature, moisture, humidity, growing media,
protected growing environments.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Environmental growing requirements for nursery plants are outlined in general
terms.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.2
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Methods for meeting the environmental growing requirements are identified in
terms of workplace procedures.
Range
for plants grown – indoors, outdoors, in containers, in the field.
Outcome 2
Monitor a specific nursery crop and its growing environment.
Range
annuals for a minimum of four weeks;
woody perennials, container grown, or field grown for a minimum of three
months.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The growing environment required to ensure growth expectations are met for a
specific crop is identified in accordance with the plants requirements.
2.2
Plants are monitored regularly for growth development and plant health, and
reported in accordance with workplace procedures.
2.3
The manual or automatic systems controlling a protected growing environment
are operated to maintain the required environment.
2.4
The growing environment conditions are monitored and recorded and any
variation reported, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Range
2.5
may include maximum and minimum temperatures, humidity,
shading, light, ventilation, irrigation.
The importance of regular monitoring is explained in accordance with workplace
procedures.
Outcome 3
Maintain a specific nursery crop.
Range
annuals for a minimum of four weeks;
woody perennials, container grown, or field grown, for a minimum of three
months.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Plants are watered by hand and/or irrigation system to maintain optimum water
amount in the growing medium, in accordance with the requirements identified
for the crop.
3.2
Spacings of container grown plant are adjusted as required in response to plant
development.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3.3
Plants are examined regularly and unwanted material is removed from plants
and the media or soil surface.
Range
3.4
20571 version 3
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may include dead or damaged plant parts, spent flowers, fallen
leaves, diseased plant parts, weeds.
The development stages when plants need attention are identified and
necessary tasks are carried out in accordance with workplace procedures.
may include include but not limited to – move container plants into
larger containers or line out, apply additional fertiliser, trim, prune,
train, harden off, move to shelter or shade, control weeds.
Range
3.5
Plants are handled so as to minimise damage in accordance with workplace
procedures.
3.6
Plant maintenance records are kept, in accordance with workplace procedures.
Range
may include irrigation dates and times; plant maintenance, such as
spacing, potting on, fertiliser application, pruning.
Planned review date
31 December 2017
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
23 February 2004
31 December 2014
Revision
2
24 February 2006
31 December 2014
Review
3
19 April 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0032
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
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
20571 version 3
Page 4 of 4
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