Purpose
Achievement Criteria
Explanatory Note 1
Demonstrate understanding of how soil properties are managed in a primary production system involves:
- describing the primary production system
- describing soil properties
- describing a management practice that modifies soil.
Explain how soil properties are managed in a primary production system involves:
- explaining how soil properties are managed by soil management practice in the primary production system.
Evaluate how soil properties are managed in a primary production system involves:
- evaluating how soil properties are managed using soil management practice to optimise production.
Explanatory Note 2
As part of the evidence provided, students must demonstrate understanding of a Māori value in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system.
Examples of a Māori value include:
- tūhononga
- manaakitanga
- tiakitanga.
Explanatory Note 3
Soil properties refer to physical, chemical, or biological properties.
Examples of physical, chemical, biological properties include:
- physical properties – structure and composition, drainage and aeration, temperature
- chemical properties – nutrient retention, soil pH
- biological properties – those influenced by living organisms and organic matter, such as decomposition of organic matter and disease status.
Explanatory Note 4
A soil management practice is carried out by the grower to improve or modify plant growing conditions.
Examples of soil management practice include:
- fertiliser application
- liming
- adding compost material
- cultivation
- crop rotation
- drainage
- irrigation
- effluent application.
Explanatory Note 5
A primary production system is a sum of all components, including the growing environment and management practices, that work together in the production of a primary product.
Examples of a primary production system include:
- an orchard
- an aquaculture farm
- a family, community, or market garden
- a dairy farm.
Shared Explanatory Note
Refer to the NCEA glossary for Māori, Pacific, and further subject-specific terms and concepts.
This achievement standard is derived from the Science Learning Area at Level 6 of The New Zealand Curriculum: Learning Media, Ministry of Education, 2007.
External Assessment Specifications
Assessment Format
Candidates will be required to answer three questions related to their understanding of soil properties in a primary production system. In their response, candidates will be required to discuss how at least two specified soil properties are managed.
Candidate responses will draw on their knowledge of familiar primary production contexts.
Candidates should refer to at least two soil properties in the examination. These may be selected from the list below:
• composition and structure
• drainage and aeration
• temperature
• nutrient retention
• soil pH
• decomposition
• disease status.
As part of the evidence provided, candidates should include in their response an awareness of an appropriate te ao Māori concept, such as tūhononga, manaakitanga, or tiakitanga, in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system.
Candidates are encouraged to write about 250 words for each question.
Candidates will be required to answer three questions related to their understanding of soil properties in a primary production system. In their response, candidates will be required to discuss how at least two specified soil properties are managed.
Candidate responses will draw on their knowledge of familiar primary production contexts.
Candidates should refer to at least two soil properties in the examination. These may be selected from the list below:
• composition and structure
• drainage and aeration
• temperature
• nutrient retention
• soil pH
• decomposition
• disease status.
As part of the evidence provided, candidates should include in their response an awareness of an appropriate te ao Māori concept, such as tūhononga, manaakitanga, or tiakitanga, in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system.
Candidates are encouraged to write about 250 words for each question.
Conditions of Assessment
Candidates must complete their assessment individually under examination conditions in accordance with the NZQA Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards, and Candidates 2023 (NCEA Rules and Procedures).
Candidates must complete their assessment individually under examination conditions in accordance with the NZQA Assessment Rules for Schools, TEOs assessing against Achievement Standards, and Candidates 2023 (NCEA Rules and Procedures).
Unpacking the Standard
Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.
We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.
Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.
We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.
The intent of the Standard
This Standard assesses the following item of Significant Learning:
- explore the interrelationship between primary production and soil properties.
Primary producers are stewards of the soil. The manner in which they nurture their soils will improve health and productivity. An understanding of soil as a living entity, with interrelated microorganisms as important soil components, is a basis of good understanding of soil health.
Primary producers understand that the viability and sustainability of primary production systems rely heavily on the quality, health, and maintenance of soil. Soil quality can be modified in a variety of ways for different purposes.
Ākonga must demonstrate knowledge of a Māori value in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system. Examples include tūhononga, manaakitanga, and tiakitanga.
Demonstrating knowledge of tūhononga may be showing an understanding that plants and animals are connected to the environment, which includes people and the land. Demonstrating knowledge of manaakitanga or reciprocity may be showing an understanding of how nurturing of the land, will provide sustenance, health and wellbeing for the people, plants, and animals. Demonstrating knowledge of tiakitanga may be showing understanding of how caring for and protecting people, the land, and the environs enable intergenerational sustainability.
At Level 1, the focus is on local production systems such as a family or community garden, marae, small holding, or local farm, but production may include commercial systems.
Making reliable judgements
For this Standard, ākonga will have had opportunity to investigate soil modification in a primary production system throughout the teaching and learning programme.
With a focus on local soils, ākonga will identify two specific properties, from either composition and structure, drainage and aeration, temperature, nutrient retention, soil pH, decomposition, and disease status.
Ākonga will select a manner to describe how soil properties are modified and how soil management is carried out, but a stepwise method is not required. They will be able to link the modification of soil properties to soil management practice.
At higher levels of achievement, ākonga are able to evaluate how soil properties have been modified using soil management practice to optimise production. Ākonga may compare and contrast, or evaluate a strength and a weakness of soil management practice. The evaluation may show that soil modification will improve production, but potentially at a cost.
As this subject is multidisciplinary, ākonga will be able to transfer knowledge, understanding, and skills to and from other subject areas.
Possible contexts
Kaiako will provide ākonga with a local primary production system as a context of study, or ākonga could select this themselves.
Ākonga will be able to develop practical skills and participate in hands-on experiences alongside this assessment but will not be directly assessed on their practical expertise.
The intent of the Standard
This Standard assesses the following item of Significant Learning:
- explore the interrelationship between primary production and soil properties.
Primary producers are stewards of the soil. The manner in which they nurture their soils will improve health and productivity. An understanding of soil as a living entity, with interrelated microorganisms as important soil components, is a basis of good understanding of soil health.
Primary producers understand that the viability and sustainability of primary production systems rely heavily on the quality, health, and maintenance of soil. Soil quality can be modified in a variety of ways for different purposes.
Ākonga must demonstrate knowledge of a Māori value in the context of soil properties that are managed in a primary production system. Examples include tūhononga, manaakitanga, and tiakitanga.
Demonstrating knowledge of tūhononga may be showing an understanding that plants and animals are connected to the environment, which includes people and the land. Demonstrating knowledge of manaakitanga or reciprocity may be showing an understanding of how nurturing of the land, will provide sustenance, health and wellbeing for the people, plants, and animals. Demonstrating knowledge of tiakitanga may be showing understanding of how caring for and protecting people, the land, and the environs enable intergenerational sustainability.
At Level 1, the focus is on local production systems such as a family or community garden, marae, small holding, or local farm, but production may include commercial systems.
Making reliable judgements
For this Standard, ākonga will have had opportunity to investigate soil modification in a primary production system throughout the teaching and learning programme.
With a focus on local soils, ākonga will identify two specific properties, from either composition and structure, drainage and aeration, temperature, nutrient retention, soil pH, decomposition, and disease status.
Ākonga will select a manner to describe how soil properties are modified and how soil management is carried out, but a stepwise method is not required. They will be able to link the modification of soil properties to soil management practice.
At higher levels of achievement, ākonga are able to evaluate how soil properties have been modified using soil management practice to optimise production. Ākonga may compare and contrast, or evaluate a strength and a weakness of soil management practice. The evaluation may show that soil modification will improve production, but potentially at a cost.
As this subject is multidisciplinary, ākonga will be able to transfer knowledge, understanding, and skills to and from other subject areas.
Possible contexts
Kaiako will provide ākonga with a local primary production system as a context of study, or ākonga could select this themselves.
Ākonga will be able to develop practical skills and participate in hands-on experiences alongside this assessment but will not be directly assessed on their practical expertise.
Standard Exclusions
This Standard has exclusion(s). Standards that recognise the same or similar learning outcomes as other Achievement or Unit Standards need to be excluded to prevent 'double dipping'. Where two or more Standards assess the same learning outcome, those Standards are specified in the Exclusions List. You can only use credits gained from one of these Standards towards your NCEA qualification.
Click here for the exclusions list for the new NCEA Level 1 pilot Standards.
Standard Exclusions
This Standard has exclusion(s). Standards that recognise the same or similar learning outcomes as other Achievement or Unit Standards need to be excluded to prevent 'double dipping'. Where two or more Standards assess the same learning outcome, those Standards are specified in the Exclusions List. You can only use credits gained from one of these Standards towards your NCEA qualification.
Click here for the exclusions list for the new NCEA Level 1 pilot Standards.
Literacy and Numeracy Requirements
This Achievement Standard has been tagged for literacy meaning that it can be used for the 2023 NCEA Level 1 Pilot to meet the NCEA corequisite requirements. More information on the refined list of Standards to meet the corequisite from 2024 will be available soon.
Literacy and Numeracy Requirements
This Achievement Standard has been tagged for literacy meaning that it can be used for the 2023 NCEA Level 1 Pilot to meet the NCEA corequisite requirements. More information on the refined list of Standards to meet the corequisite from 2024 will be available soon.