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Evidence Guide: AHCSOL401 - Sample soils and interpret results

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

AHCSOL401 - Sample soils and interpret results

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Prepare for soil sampling

  1. Identify the soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors
  2. Select tools, equipment and machinery as required by the testing agency requirements
  3. Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery
  4. Identify areas of homogeneous soil types for sampling
  5. Locate services in consultation with the supervisor
  6. Identify work and safety hazards, assess risks and implement controls
  7. Select and use suitable safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  8. Maintain a clean and safe work area throughout and on completion of work
Identify the soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select tools, equipment and machinery as required by the testing agency requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify areas of homogeneous soil types for sampling

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locate services in consultation with the supervisor

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify work and safety hazards, assess risks and implement controls

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select and use suitable safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain a clean and safe work area throughout and on completion of work

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine soil characteristics by performing soil sampling

  1. Determine the density and depth for a representative sampling of the area
  2. Excavate holes at identified sampling sites
  3. Collect and prepare, label, package and dispatch samples for off-site testing
  4. Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil
  5. Clean and store sampling and testing tools and equipment
  6. Record results
Determine the density and depth for a representative sampling of the area

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excavate holes at identified sampling sites

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collect and prepare, label, package and dispatch samples for off-site testing

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean and store sampling and testing tools and equipment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record results

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interpret results of soil analysis

  1. Classify the soil types of the sample area according to standards for soil classification
  2. Determine, from published data and records, the acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant
  3. Compare collected analytical results with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant
  4. Evaluate soil characteristics to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs
  5. Determine the Readily Available Water values for irrigation sites
Classify the soil types of the sample area according to standards for soil classification

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine, from published data and records, the acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare collected analytical results with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate soil characteristics to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the Readily Available Water values for irrigation sites

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare for soil sampling

1.1 Identify the soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors

1.2 Select tools, equipment and machinery as required by the testing agency requirements

1.3 Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery

1.4 Identify areas of homogeneous soil types for sampling

1.5 Locate services in consultation with the supervisor

1.6 Identify work and safety hazards, assess risks and implement controls

1.7 Select and use suitable safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.8 Maintain a clean and safe work area throughout and on completion of work

2. Determine soil characteristics by performing soil sampling

2.1 Determine the density and depth for a representative sampling of the area

2.2 Excavate holes at identified sampling sites

2.3 Collect and prepare, label, package and dispatch samples for off-site testing

2.4 Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil

2.5 Clean and store sampling and testing tools and equipment

2.6 Record results

3. Interpret results of soil analysis

3.1 Classify the soil types of the sample area according to standards for soil classification

3.2 Determine, from published data and records, the acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

3.3 Compare collected analytical results with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

3.4 Evaluate soil characteristics to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs

3.5 Determine the Readily Available Water values for irrigation sites

Required Skills and Knowledge

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare for soil sampling

1.1 Identify the soils to be surveyed, surveying activity and contractors

1.2 Select tools, equipment and machinery as required by the testing agency requirements

1.3 Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on tools, equipment and machinery

1.4 Identify areas of homogeneous soil types for sampling

1.5 Locate services in consultation with the supervisor

1.6 Identify work and safety hazards, assess risks and implement controls

1.7 Select and use suitable safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.8 Maintain a clean and safe work area throughout and on completion of work

2. Determine soil characteristics by performing soil sampling

2.1 Determine the density and depth for a representative sampling of the area

2.2 Excavate holes at identified sampling sites

2.3 Collect and prepare, label, package and dispatch samples for off-site testing

2.4 Determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil

2.5 Clean and store sampling and testing tools and equipment

2.6 Record results

3. Interpret results of soil analysis

3.1 Classify the soil types of the sample area according to standards for soil classification

3.2 Determine, from published data and records, the acceptable soil physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

3.3 Compare collected analytical results with acceptable physical and chemical parameters for a specified plant

3.4 Evaluate soil characteristics to determine whether they can be altered to meet plant needs

3.5 Determine the Readily Available Water values for irrigation sites

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

collect soil and media samples using appropriate sampling methodology

file and record analytic results for future use

implement a nutrient and nutrition program

prepare soil and media samples for dispatch to soil analysis laboratory

receive and interpret analytic results

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

principles and practices of soils sampling

environmental implications associated with soil surveying activities and the application of analytical results

practical understanding of the range of sample collection, testing and analytical methods that may be used to perform soil surveys, and the association of surveying methods with site conditions, environmental implications and intended horticultural use of the surveyed site

soil ameliorants and soil improvement techniques for addressing site limitations identified through surveying

the capacity of soils to provide water to plants

the importance of organic matter in soil in relation to the intended horticultural use

the physical and chemical properties of soils in relation to their ability to support specified horticultural production

Range Statement