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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Fertilise soil and attend to basic plant nutrition 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116206  Fertilise soil and attend to basic plant nutrition 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Primary Agriculture 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner achieving this unit standard will be able to apply soil nutrient preparations in a safe, effective and responsible manner to the benefit of plant/crop growth.

Learners will gain specific knowledge and skills in soil fertilisation and plant nutrition and will be able to operate in a plant production environment implementing sustainable and economically viable production principles.

They will be capacitated to gain access to the mainstream agricultural sector, in plant production, impacting directly on the sustainability of the sub-sector. The improvement in production technology will also have a direct impact on the improvement of agricultural productivity of the sector. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
No learning is assumed. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Whilst range statements have been defined generically to include as wide a set of alternatives as possible, all range statements should be interpreted within the specific context of application.

Range statements are neither comprehensive nor necessarily appropriate to all contexts. Alternatives must however be comparable in scope and complexity. These are only as a general guide to scope and complexity of what is required. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Apply appropriate nutrient substances to soils or crops under close supervision. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Soil nutrition includes but is not limited to soil nutrients (lime, liquid fertiliser, chemical fertilisers [single and mixtures], trace elements) and can include organic soil improvement methods and substances and techniques (compost, organic teas, and mulching).

The methods and techniques of applications can include manual, broadcast, liquid methods, leaf nutrition and slurry, depending on what is required in the specific context. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The ability to apply a pre-measured amount of the correct soil nutrition substance on an indicated area of soil is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The ability to identify nutrients that will be applied is demonstrated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Understand how to make compost and when to use it. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Basic understanding of Carbon-Nitrogen ratios, familiarity with the value of common local sources of organic waste; understanding of the importance of soil organic matter and its role in holding soil nutrients and water, and in combating soil acidity. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
How to store manure so that nutrients are not lost is shown. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Making a compost heap, mixing manure (or other nitrogen source) with organic matter, adding appropriate amounts of water is demonstrated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The composting process is managed and it is recognised when compost is ready to use, and the nutrient-loss dangers of leaving the heap too long is recognised. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Identify basic symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in different crops. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Magnesium deficiencies. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The colour change on plant leaves, and/or fruit/ plant abnormalities, compared with healthy plants is recognised. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The position of the discoloured leaves is described. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Demonstrate a basic understanding of soil properties. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Soil properties refer to the texture and structure, water holding and drainage capacity, and soil composition in terms of silt/clay/gravel ratios. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Soil structure and texture are identified using simple tests/ observations. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Composition of soil based on simple tests and observations is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The advantages and disadvantages of different soil types in a specific context are described. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Apply soil preparation tasks that require hand-held tools and low-technology ploughing implements. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Soil preparation refers to low-technology plough implements and hand-held tools such as picks, shovels, forks and/or animal drawn tools for soil preparation. Soil preparation refers to the application of tools to prepare a piece of ground to achieve appropriate tilth, texture and friability. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The advantages and disadvantages of effective and ineffective soil preparation are described, as well as their effects on plant roots. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The function and correct use of simple ploughing tools in soil preparation are explained and demonstrated. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established assessment principles.

It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the qualifying learners are working. These activities and tools may include an appropriate combination of self-assessment and peer assessment, formative and summative assessment, portfolios and observations etc.

The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes; critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge are assessed.

The specific outcomes must be assessed through observation of performance. Supporting evidence should be used to prove competence of specific outcomes only when they are not clearly seen in the actual performance.

Essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in its own right, through oral or written evidence and cannot be assessed only by being observed.

The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a qualifying learner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a qualifying learner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, then they should not be assessed as competent.

Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

Performance of specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of qualifying learners, not unfairly discriminate against them. Qualifying learners should be able to justify their performance in terms of these values.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The person achieving this unit standard is able to:
  • Use specific types of nutrient substances.
  • Work within identified safety standards.
  • Measure accurately.
  • Apply specified substances.
  • Have a basic understanding of soil profiles, structure and texture, about the physical components of soil, the biological components of soil, how soil is formed, how nutrients are absorbed by plants.
  • How to conduct simple soil tests and observations in order to make basic soil assessments based on texture, colour, vegetative cover, and smell.
  • How seeds germinate and what kind of environment is needed to achieve maximum and effective germination and early root growth.
  • What tools to achieve with which soil preparation results.
  • The learner must know the difference between wanted and unwanted vegetation.


    Essential Embedded Knowledge

    The person is able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of:
  • Application methods of nutrients.
  • Need for nutrients for plants.
  • Basic soil preparation.
  • Basic soil conservation. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem Solving: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Teamwork: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self-management: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Interpreting Information: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use Science and Technology: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The world as a set of related systems: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Self-development: relates to all outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48971   National Certificate: Mixed Farming Systems  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Core  48972   National Certificate: Plant Production  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.