1157 version 8
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Demonstrate knowledge of sports turf soil water management
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
This unit standard is for people working or intending to work in the sports turf
industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the hydrological
cycle, soil water storage and movement, and sources of water for sports turf;
describe, and determine the requirements for, sports turf irrigation; and
describe components of sports turf irrigation systems.
Subfield
Sports Turf
Domain
Sports Turf Management
Status
Registered
Status date
17 October 2008
Date version published
17 October 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
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
0037
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
Refer to Unit 1156, Drain sports turf areas and Unit 1166, Irrigate sports turf areas for
assessment relating to management of soil water by irrigation and drainage.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
1157 version 8
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Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Describe the hydrological cycle, soil water storage and movement, and sources of water
for sports turf.
Performance criteria
1.1
The hydrological cycle is described in terms of its components.
Range
1.2
Soil water is described in terms of storage and movement.
Range
1.3
saturation, field capacity, permanent wilting point, available water,
unavailable water, capillarity, infiltration rate, percolation rate.
The movement of water through the soil is described in terms of soil and water
characteristics.
Range
1.4
evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, precipitation,
atmospheric water, surface run-off, infiltration, interception, soil
water, groundwater, percolation.
texture, structure, porosity, macropores, micropores, water table.
Sources of available water are identified in terms of their suitability for sports
turf irrigation.
Range
rainfall, ground water, recycled water, streams, rivers, lakes.
Element 2
Describe, and determine the requirements for, sports turf irrigation.
Performance criteria
2.1
Turf species are described in terms of their water requirements.
Range
2.2
warm season grasses, cool season grasses, Leptinella species,
starweed.
The methods of collecting soil water storage and plant rooting depth information
are described in terms of their procedures.
Range
methods – core sampling; tensiometer – in-situ, quick-draw; soil;
fences – in-situ, automated irrigation systems.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
1157 version 8
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2.3
Sports turf irrigation requirements are described by weather data analysis and
determination of soil water balance.
Range
2.4
rainfall, evapotranspiration, soil water storage, soil water infiltration
rate, plant rooting depth.
Irrigation scheduling techniques are described for sports turf.
Range
soil water measuring devices, turf feel and appearance, soil feel
and appearance, soil water budget.
Element 3
Describe components of sports turf irrigation systems.
Performance criteria
3.1
Irrigation pumps and headworks structures are described in terms of their
application.
Range
3.2
Irrigation pipes and associated fittings are described in terms of their properties.
Range
3.3
pipes – medium density polyethelene (MDPE), polyvinyl chloride
(PVC).
Irrigation sprinkler heads and valves are compared in terms of their function and
operation.
Range
3.4
pumps – centrifugal, submersible centrifugal, positive
displacement;
headworks structures – water meter, suction pump filter, filtration
unit.
sprinkler heads – gear drive, valve-in-head (VIH);
valves – solenoid, quick coupler (QCV), pressure and air release,
back-flow prevention.
Control systems are compared in terms of their function and operation.
Range
central controller, satellite controller, decoder.
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.
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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 standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016