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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of nursery production systems
Level / 3 / Credits / 6
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: nursery production methods on a specific nursery property; the preparation of a production plan for a twelve month period; how costs impact on nursery crop production; marketing and distribution methods of nursery plants; and describe the nursery ownership and management structure for a specific nursery property.
Classification / Horticulture > Nursery Production
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
A specific nursery property should be used as the basis for this unit standard. The specific nursery property must be real and can be a property that the candidate works on, or any other nursery property that the candidate has access to.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe nursery production methods on a specific nursery property.
Evidence requirements
1.1Significant factors affecting the location of the nursery are identified.
Rangemay include – site topography and aspect, land use zoning, soil, drainage, climate, water supply, market location, transport, labour supply, costs, wastage.
1.2The nursery production methods used are described in terms of buyer or user requirements, and the types of plants grown.
Rangemay include – in the field, in containers, in plant houses, outdoors.
1.3The setting and implementation of quality standards for the plants grown are described.
Outcome 2
Describe the preparation of a production plan for a twelve month period.
Evidence requirements
2.1The information needed to prepare a production plan, and its sources, are listed.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – plant species or cultivars, plant numbers to achieve saleable plants target, the space required and when needed, labour requirements and when needed, materials and equipment required, best practice techniques, nursery hygiene, costs.
2.2The preparation of the production plan is outlined.
2.3The monitoring of the plant progress against the production schedule and the managing of any variations are described.
Outcome 3
Describe how costs impact on nursery crop production.
Evidence requirements
3.1Costs involved in producing a nursery crop for sale are described in terms of how they impact on the final plant costs.
Rangedirect costs, labour costs, soil and media, plants, materials, wastage, time, yields and deaths, indirect costs.
Outcome 4
Describe marketing and distribution methods of nursery plants.
Evidence requirements
4.1Methods used to market nursery plants to users or buyers are described in terms of current industry practices.
Rangemay include – wholesale selling, contract growing, direct to public sales.
4.2Marketing and promotional material to aid the sales of nursery plants is described, and its use or not is justified.
Rangemay include – labelling, container branding, sleeves, posters, website, advertisements in publications.
4.3Methods used to distribute nursery plants to users or buyers are described with reasons.
Rangemay include – road transport contractor, nursery owned vehicle, courier service, gate sales.
Outcome 5
Describe the nursery ownership and management structure for a specific nursery property.
Evidence requirements
5.1Nursery ownership structures are described in terms of the advantages and disadvantages to the operation.
Rangemay include – public company, private company, sole trader, partnership; two advantages, two disadvantages.
5.2The nursery management structure is outlined in terms of the specific nursery property.
5.3The specific nursery’s management procedures are described in terms of their effects on the sustainable use of resources.
Rangemay include – soil use, soil-less growing media ingredients, fuel, electricity, water, disposal of both plant and non-plant waste material.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 29888.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 23 February 2004 / 31 December 2014
Revision / 2 / 24 February 2006 / 31 December 2014
Review / 3 / 19 April 2012 / 31 December 2020
Review / 4 / 16 February 2017 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0052
This CMR can be accessed at
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.
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.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut