Elements and Performance Criteria
- Interpret the irrigation schedule
- Determine work requirements and identify hazards, assess risks and implement control measures
- Select required tools and equipment and check for safe operation
- Select and use suitable personal protective equipment
- Access information on plant growing requirements
- Interpret moisture requirement throughout the growing season
- Read the predicted seasonal moisture deficit and watering requirements and check with management
- Record parameters for the irrigation system
- Determine irrigation shifts
- Subdivide the irrigated area into the smallest units capable of individual irrigation and note area and irrigation equipment characteristics for each
- Define each unit for its soil irrigation capability
- Define the crop and plant water requirement for each unit
- Combine units requiring similar irrigation to form a shift that does not exceed the water delivery capacity of the property irrigation infrastructure
- Determine the water volume required to meet irrigation needs over specified period
- Implement irrigation schedule
- Monitor irrigation
- Inspect plants and crops for growth rate and signs of stress
- Record frequency of irrigation
- Measure and record water usage and confirm water allocation is not exceeded for a given period
- Calculate the differences between estimated water use and actual water used
- Measure water quality
- Assess plant and crop growth and water use efficiency
- Measure soil for readily available water
- Record climate and weather conditions
- Adjust watering program in response to rainfall events and changes to evapotranspiration rates
- Record irrigation information and activities