NZQA registered unit standard
22175 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate understanding of soil properties and their effect on
plant growth
Level
3
Credits
6
Purpose
This unit standard is for people working in a horticulture
context.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
understanding of: the effects of soil composition and structure
on plant growth; soil water properties of soil; the role of
fertilisers and lime in plant health and growth; and the effects of
chemical and biological properties of soil on plant growth, and
sustainable soil management practices.
Classification
Horticulture > Production Horticulture
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
2
Evidence requirements must be consistent with:
 Workplace procedures
 Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
In the context of this unit standard, understanding means that there should be
evidence of a learner’s thorough comprehension of a topic. A learner with a good
understanding of a topic should have applied, or should be able to apply what they
have learnt to a workplace situation and will be able to alter their practices to the
different contexts they are applying their learning to. Assessors should be confident
that the learner’s understanding is embedded in their practices and behaviour.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of the influence of soil composition and structure on plant
growth.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Describe plant growth in terms of the influence of major soil components.
Range
1.2
mineral particles, organic material, water, air.
Describe plant growth in terms of the effect of the main soil horizons.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
NZQA registered unit standard
22175 version 2
Page 2 of 4
1.3
Describe plant growth in terms of the influence of soil texture and structure.
1.4
Describe plant growth in terms of the major factors affecting soil suitability.
Range
at least four factors.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate understanding of the soil water properties of soil.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Describe water properties of soil in terms of the effects of soil texture and
structure.
Range
at least five effects.
2.2
Describe soil structure in terms of the effects of excess soil water.
2.3
Describe plant growth in terms of the effects of excess and insufficient water.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate understanding of the effects of chemical properties of soil on plant growth.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Describe soil nutrient availability in terms of the influencing factors.
Range
at least five factors.
3.2
Identify macronutrients and micronutrients vital to plant growth in terms of a
given plant type.
3.3
Describe the effect of macronutrients and micronutrients in terms of plant health
and growth.
3.4
Describe common nutrient deficiencies of New Zealand soils in terms of the
symptoms and/or effects on plant growth.
Range
five macronutrients, and three micronutrients.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate understanding of the effects of biological properties of soil on plant growth.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Describe organic matter in terms of the factors that promote its formation.
4.2
Describe physical and chemical properties of soil in terms of the effects of
organic matter.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
NZQA registered unit standard
Range
4.3
22175 version 2
Page 3 of 4
at least five effects.
Describe soil organisms and beneficial micro-organisms in terms of their
functions and effects on plant growth.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate understanding of the role of fertilisers and lime in plant health and growth.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Describe plant health and growth in terms of the influence of fertilisers and lime.
Range
at least two fertilisers.
Outcome 6
Describe how modifying soil properties in a horticulture sector can influence plant growth,
and sustainable soil management practices.
Evidence requirements
6.1
Describe plant growth in terms of the practices that modify the physical,
chemical and biological properties of soil for maintaining and improving soil
suitability.
Range
6.2
at least five practices.
Describe sustainable soil management in terms of the practices used.
Range
at least four practices.
Planned review date
31 December 2021
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
25 July 2006
31 December 2018
Review
2
19 January 2017
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0052
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017
NZQA registered unit standard
22175 version 2
Page 4 of 4
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR 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 ITO [email protected] if you wish to suggest
changes to the content of this unit standard.
Primary Industry Training Organisation
SSB Code 101558
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2017