This document maps the features of the AHCNSY207 · Tasmanian Native Propagation · CEM Learning Resource to the requirements of the AHCNSY207 unit of competency from the AHC Training Package.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit Code | AHCNSY207 |
| Unit Title | Undertake propagation activities |
| Application | This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and undertake propagation activities in a nursery environment. The unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy. It is commonly undertaken as part of a Certificate III in Horticulture or Conservation and Ecosystem Management. |
| Prerequisite Unit | Nil |
The key evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit is the ability to prepare for, carry out, and complete propagation activities. The following table maps how the learning resource supports the development and assessment of these skills.
| Performance Evidence Requirements | How the Resource Addresses This |
|---|---|
| Prepare for propagation activities (1.1 - 1.5) | |
| Identify, select, and prepare propagation resources, tools, equipment, and materials. | Tab 2 (Planning & Ethics): Covers parent plant selection criteria, hygiene protocols, and work plan components. Tab 3 (Techniques & Tools): Details the specific tools (secateurs, grafting knives) and equipment (misting systems, heat beds) and their maintenance. Tab 7 (Species Database): Provides species-specific information on required pre-treatments and media, enabling students to select the correct resources for the job. |
| Assess and select parent plants and propagation material according to organisational work procedures. | Tab 2 (Planning & Ethics): Includes a dedicated card on Parent Plant Selection, outlining qualities such as vigorous growth, health, and true-to-type characteristics. The scenario in Tab 6 reinforces this by asking students to choose the best parent material. |
| Prepare propagation media and containers to suit the propagation method and plant requirements. | Tab 3 (Techniques & Tools): Features a card on Media Mixes by Application, detailing specific recipes for seed raising, cuttings, and tube stock. It also covers container types (tubes, cells, root trainers) and their applications. |
| Carry out propagation activities (2.1 - 2.5) | |
| Apply propagation techniques (e.g., seed sowing, cuttings, division, grafting, layering) according to the propagation plan and plant requirements. | Tab 1 (Propagation Methods): Provides a comprehensive overview of all five core methods with detailed, species-specific instructions. Tab 7 (Species Database): Contains species-specific Method and Treatment columns, guiding the user on the appropriate technique for each plant. |
| Use tools, equipment, and materials correctly and safely. | Tab 3 (Techniques & Tools): Includes a section on Tool Maintenance & Storage, covering correct usage and care. The Records & Logs tab implicitly encourages the safe and documented use of equipment by tracking environmental conditions like temperature and misting. |
| Complete propagation activities (3.1 - 3.5) | |
| Monitor propagation environment and adjust to optimise conditions for plant growth and development. | Tab 4 (Aftercare & Monitoring): Contains a Daily Greenhouse Checks table with target ranges for temperature, humidity, and light, and instructions on what action to take if these are out of range. The Environmental Monitoring Log in Tab 8 allows students to practice recording and monitoring these conditions. |
| Implement aftercare procedures including watering, nutrition, weed, pest, disease and environmental control. | Tab 4 (Aftercare & Monitoring): Covers nutrient application stages, common pests and diseases (with IPM strategies), and waste disposal. The Workplace Scenarios in Tab 6 (e.g., Scenario 2 on Botrytis) directly test this knowledge. |
| Maintain records of propagation activities according to workplace procedures. | Tab 8 (Records & Logs): This entire tab is a functional implementation of this requirement. It includes a Propagation Record Sheet and an Environmental Monitoring Log with fields for all key data (species, source, method, date, temps, humidity, etc.). Data is saved locally, mimicking a digital record-keeping system. |
The following table maps the critical knowledge components to the specific sections of the learning resource.
| Knowledge Evidence Requirements | How the Resource Addresses This |
|---|---|
| Propagation techniques including seed, cutting, division, layering, and grafting. | Tab 1 (Propagation Methods): Dedicated cards for each method with explanations, suitable species, and step-by-step guidelines. The Species Database (Tab 7) reinforces which technique is best for which species. |
| Propagation structures, equipment, and tools used in the propagation environment. | Tab 3 (Techniques & Tools): Detailed sections on Heat Bed & Misting Systems, Tool Maintenance & Storage, and Containers for Cuttings & Seedlings. |
| Propagation media and additives and their physical and chemical properties. | Tab 3 (Techniques & Tools): Includes a Media Mixes by Application section. Tab 1 also mentions specific media requirements (e.g., low phosphorus for Proteaceae). |
| Plant physiology and growth requirements for successful propagation. | Tab 1 (Propagation Methods): Explains the science behind seed dormancy (scarification, stratification) and cutting physiology (rooting hormones, node importance). Tab 4 (Aftercare & Monitoring) discusses nutrient requirements and deficiency symptoms. |
| Workplace health and safety hazards associated with propagation activities and methods of control. | Tab 2 (Planning & Ethics): Includes a Risk Assessment component in the work plan. Tab 3 mentions safety practices for using rooting hormone (wear gloves). Hygiene protocols are also linked to disease risk control. |
| Environmental protection measures relating to propagation activities, including biosecurity and waste disposal. | Tab 2 (Planning & Ethics): Covers Ethical Collection Guidelines & Permits, including the 20% rule, legislation, and biosecurity measures. Tab 4 includes a card on Nursery Waste Disposal. The Phytophthora Scenario (Tab 6) directly tests this knowledge. |
| Recording and reporting requirements. | Tab 8 (Records & Logs): Fully functional record sheets that demonstrate the type of data (dates, species, methods, environmental conditions, actions taken) that must be collected and maintained. The Export function simulates reporting. |
| Assessment / Foundation Skill | How the Resource Addresses This |
|---|---|
| Reading | The resource is text-heavy but structured with clear headings, tables, and bullet points. Key terms are defined in the glossary. |
| Writing | The Records & Logs tab requires the user to input data (writing) in a structured, workplace-relevant format. |
| Numeracy | The resource uses numerical data extensively: recording temperatures (°C), humidity (%), misting intervals (sec/hr), light levels (lux), and rooting percentages (%). The Records & Logs tab requires the input and interpretation of these values. |
| Oral Communication | While not directly addressed, the Workplace Scenarios in Tab 6 are designed to be discussed in a classroom or group setting, promoting oral communication about solutions. |
| Navigate the world of work | The Hero Badges and Tab 0 (CEM Context) outline the industry relevance, employment pathways, and legislative context (permits, the 20% rule), helping students understand the broader professional environment. |
| Interact with others | The Workplace Scenarios (Tab 6) present collaborative problem-solving tasks that reflect real teamwork in a nursery setting (e.g., coordinating a response to a disease outbreak). |
| Get the work done | The structured workflow of the tabs (from planning to aftercare to record-keeping) models the logical sequence of a propagation project. The Records & Logs tab provides tools for planning, monitoring, and reviewing work. |
| Assessment Conditions | The resource is designed to support both formative and summative assessment. It can be used for self-study, classroom activities, and as a reference during practical assessments. The data entry logs can be used as evidence of record-keeping skills for assessment portfolios. |
The AHCNSY207 · Tasmanian Native Propagation · CEM Learning Resource has been meticulously designed to align with the requirements of the AHCNSY207 unit of competency. It comprehensively addresses the required performance evidence, knowledge evidence, and foundation skills, while contextualising the content for the Conservation and Ecosystem Management sector in Tasmania.