Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of tending containerised nursery plants and defines the standard required to: establish the requirements of plants; monitor irrigation and temperature control systems; maintain nursery hygiene; monitor plants; maintain nursery records; implement procedures for waste disposal and tool maintenance.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to the process of tending containerised nursery plants in production nurseries. It relates to working under routine supervision with intermittent checking. Responsibility for some roles and co-ordination within a team may be required. Maintenance of nursery plants usually follows established enterprise guidelines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Maintain the nursery environment

1.1. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards in the nursery environment are identified, risks assessed and reported to the supervisor.

1.2. Plant growth and health requirements are clarified with the supervisor.

1.3. Irrigation system components are serviced for basic operational use and basic user serviceable parts are repaired or replaced.

1.4. Performance of the irrigation system is checked to ensure optimum results.

1.5. Temperature controls are monitored to ensure specified levels are maintained.

1.6. Hygiene practices are followed to minimise risk of contamination.

2. Maintain nursery plants

2.1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected, used and maintained.

2.2. Common problems in nursery plants are recognised, and rectified and/or reported to the supervisor.

2.3. Tools and equipment are selected and used for plant maintenance.

2.4. Treatments are applied to assist plant growth as directed by the supervisor.

2.5. Water is applied in the quantity and method specified.

2.6. Nursery operations are undertaken according to OHS requirements.

2.7. Plant quality is maintained.

3. Complete nursery plant maintenance operation

3.1. Workplace information is recorded in the appropriate format.

3.2. Waste is collected and disposed of or recycled.

3.3. Tools and equipment are cleaned and stored.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• recognise common problems in nursery plants
• monitor temperature controls
• apply plant growth treatments as directed
• apply specified watering
• select and use tools and equipment
• check irrigation system performance
• service basic irrigation system components
• repair or replace user serviceable irrigation components
• maintain nursery hygiene
• participate in teams and contribute to team objectives
• read and interpret enterprise work procedures
• communicate effectively with team members and supervisor
• measure quantities and calculate application rates
• minimise environmental disturbance
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• daily water requirements of nursery plants
• botany and plant physiology
• environmental requirements of a range of containerised plants growing in a nursery setting
• applied understanding of the importance of hygiene and quality control when tending nursery plants
• common problems that may occur with containerised plants in a controlled environment and their treatment
• Nursery Industry Water Management Best Practice Guidelines 2005
• principles and operations of a range of irrigation systems used in nurseries
• methods of disposing of waste to minimise damage to the external environment.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• establish the requirements of plants
• monitor irrigation and temperature control systems
• maintain nursery hygiene
• monitor plants
• maintain nursery records
• implement procedures for waste disposal and tool maintenance.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Nursery environments may include:

• glasshouses
• shade houses
• hardening-off areas.

Plants may include:

• plants common in production nurseries and commonly used and produced in the region.

Plant physiological processes may include:

• principles of transpiration
• water intake
• nutrient uptake
• photosynthesis
• respiration
• translocation.

Unit sector 

Nursery

Co-requisite units 

Competency field