Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of organic horticultural production

Transcription

1 Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of organic horticultural production version 1 Page 1 of 5 Level 3 Credits 20 Purpose People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of planning requirements for establishment and maintenance of an organic horticultural production system; demonstrate knowledge of organic soil management; describe pest control in organic horticulture; demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect disease control in organic horticulture; demonstrate knowledge of weed management in organic horticulture; and demonstrate knowledge of companion planting in organic horticulture. Subfield Domain Status Horticulture Production Horticulture Registered Status date 27 October 2006 Date version published 27 October 2006 Planned review date 31 December 2011 Entry information Replacement information Accreditation Standard setting body (SSB) Open. This unit standard replaced unit standard 10326, unit standard 10328, unit standard 10331, and unit standard Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider. Primary Industry Training Organisation Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference 0032 This AMAP can be accessed at

2 Page 2 of 5 Special notes The following standards apply to this unit standard: Demeter Standards, Bio Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association, PO Box 39045, Wellington Mail Centre, Phone , Fax , BIO-GRO Standards, BIO-GRO New Zealand, PO Box 9693, Marion Square, Wellington, Phone , Fax , Agriquality New Zealand, Agriquality Organic Standards, The Soil and Health Association of New Zealand (Organic Farm New Zealand), The New Zealand Food Safety Authority, NZS 8410:2003 Organic production, available from Standards New Zealand Elements and performance criteria Element 1 Demonstrate knowledge of planning requirements for establishment and maintenance of an organic horticultural production system. 1.1 Description identifies the importance of the relationship between physical site and crop selection. climate, aspect, distance to markets, past land use, surrounding land use, boundary integrity, existing buildings, irrigation source, fertility, chemical residue in soil. 1.2 Description includes elements important to successful planning of organic horticultural production systems. biological diversity, ecosystem balance and stability, sustainable use of energy, soil protection, fertility management, integrated pest and disease management, annual crop rotation, crop performance monitoring. 1.3 The importance of monitoring in the management of an organic horticultural production system is explained. pest and disease management, corrective action, decision making, crop performance.

3 Page 3 of 5 Element 2 Demonstrate knowledge of organic soil management. 2.1 Important characteristics of soils as they pertain to organic horticultural production are described. top soil, sub-soil, humus, fungi and micro-organisms, organic matter, minerals, soil structure, aeration, drainage. 2.2 Soil management methods used in organic horticulture are described. tillage, crop rotation, mulching, composting, green manure, fallow land, mineral additions. 2.3 Importance of organic matter to soil is explained. soil structure, chelation, moisture retention, nutrient retention, feed source for fungi and bacteria. 2.4 Objectives of crop rotation are described. soil fertility, soil organic matter and structure, nutrient availability and retention, weed management, disease and pest management, biodiversity. 2.5 Benefits of green manures are described. maintenance of nutrient levels; weed, pest, and disease management; organic matter; soil structure; carbon and nitrogen. 2.6 Fertilisers appropriate for organic horticulture production are described. unadulterated minerals, liquid fertilisers, biological activators, compost, micronutrients. Element 3 Describe pest control in organic horticulture. 3.1 Cultivar selection criteria are described. growth habit, pest and disease resistance, market expectation, suitability for growing region.

4 Page 4 of Physical site conditions are described in terms of pest control. may include but is not limited to climate, soil, drainage, shelter, surrounding land use, companion planting, natural habitats. 3.3 Mechanical controls available for controlling pests are described. tillage, use of traps, barriers, drainage, bird scarers. 3.4 Biological forms of pest control are outlined. beneficial organisms including parasitoids and predators, life cycle disruption, companion planting. 3.5 Chemical forms of pest control approved by organic standards, including typical mode of action and appropriate use are outlined. 3.6 Importance of crop rotation for pest control in annual plantings is described. Element 4 Demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect disease control in organic horticulture. 4.1 Causes of disease infestation in horticulture are described. crop selection, moisture levels, airflow, host plants, continuous cropping, pruning, weed management, monoculture. 4.2 Cultural practices used to control diseases in organic horticulture are described. irrigation and soil saturation, pruning, weed management, airflow, grazing, crop rotation, soil management, polyculture, biological controls, crop selection. 4.3 Chemical forms of disease control approved by organic standards, including typical mode of action and appropriate use, are described. Element 5 Demonstrate knowledge of weed management in organic horticulture. 5.1 Characteristics of a weed are identified. 5.2 Positive aspects of weeds in organic horticulture are described. nutrient recycling, environmental indicator, host plants, companion plants, diversity, erosion protection.

5 5.3 Negative aspects of weeds in organic horticulture are described version 1 Page 5 of 5 three of competition, pests and diseases, toxicity, economic impact. 5.4 Accepted weed management techniques in organic horticulture are identified. mechanical techniques, biological techniques, cultural techniques. Element 6 Demonstrate knowledge of companion planting in organic horticulture. 6.1 Knowledge of the reasons for companion planting is demonstrated. environmental manipulation, biodiversity, pest and disease control. 6.2 Knowledge of companion planting strategies for five horticulture crops is demonstrated. Please note Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority, 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 the Qualifications Authority before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards. 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 if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.