Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for soil sampling
- Identify the soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors
- Select tools, equipment and machinery as required by the testing agency requirements
- Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery
- Identify areas of homogeneous soil types for sampling
- Locate services in consultation with the supervisor
- Identify work and safety hazards, assess risks and implement controls
- Select and use suitable safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Maintain a clean and safe work area throughout and on completion of work
- Determine soil characteristics by performing soil sampling
- Determine the density and depth for a representative sampling of the area
- Excavate holes at identified sampling sites
- Collect and prepare, label, package and dispatch samples for off-site testing
- Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil
- Clean and store sampling and testing tools and equipment
- Record results
- Interpret results of soil analysis
- Classify the soil types of the sample area according to standards for soil classification
- Determine, from published data and records, the acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant
- Compare collected analytical results with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant
- Evaluate soil characteristics to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs
- Determine the Readily Available Water values for irrigation sites