PLANT NURSERY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

Competency Standards Code : A01S001

Source : National Competency Standard

National Certificate at NVQ Levels in the occupation of

PLANT NURSERY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT
will be awarded to those who are competent in

units: 1+2+3 +4 +5 - A01S001Q1L3-NVQ LEVEL-3

units: 1+2+3+4+5+6+7 -A01S00IQ2L4-NVQ LEVEL-4

NATIONAL APPRENTICE AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AUTHORITY,

No.971, Sri Jayawardanapura Mawatha, Welikada,
Rajagiriya.

Telephone. 0112888782-7 Email: [email protected]

 Unit of Elements Module Number Task Number & Task
Competency & Module

01.Perform 1. Select site for required purpose M 01- A-1 Conduct market survey
preliminary Setup plant A-2 Prepare production plan
2. Design lay out of plant nursery
activities for nursery
setting up a 3. Provide protection for nursery A-3 Select site for plant nursery
plant nursery A-4 Plan manpower,material, tools,
4. Supervise/coordinate construction
A01S001U01 machinery and equipment requirements
of structures and buildings A-5 Supervise clearing of site
5.Conserve soil using appropriate A-6 Prepare plan for plant nursery
conservation methods, system/s A-7 Coordinate construction of buildings,
structures and provision of infrastructure
6.Construct irrigation systems facilities
7.Prepare nursery beds A-8 Perform landscaping
A-9 Setup irrigation and drainage systems
A-10 Plan for waste disposal
A-11 Select plants to be grown in the
nursery
M02- B-1 Perform land preparation
Prepare land B-2 Provide drainage and irrigation
and planting
B-3 Prepare potting mixture
media
B-4 Prepare nursery beds
B-5 Prepare nursery pots
2. Establish 1. Produce seeds from parent plants M03 C-1 Plant, mother plants
and maintain Establish C-2 Maintain mother plants
2.Collect seeds
mother plants mother plants
& produce 3.Store seeds /pollens C-3 Plant, stock plants
& stock plants
stock plants C-4 Maintain stock plants
4.Process seeds / treat seeds
A01S001U02
5 Produce seedlings and rooted cutting plants
6.Obtain stocks from seedsand rooted cuttings
7. Select and plant suitable motherPlants
8.Maintain stocks andmother plants
1.Perform Grafting M 04 D-1 Perform pollination
3. Propagate Propagate D-2 Lay seeds on nursery beds / pots
2.Perform air layering
plants plants
A01S001U03 3. Perform ground layering D-3 Maintain seed propagated plants
(through
seeds) D-4 Perform transplanting
4.Perform rooted cuttings
5.Propagate by leaves M 05 E-1 Propagate through budding and grafting
Propagate E-2 Propagate through layering
plants
E-3 Propagate through other vegetative
(through
parts (cuttings, shoots, roots, runners,
vegetative
leaves, tissues)
propagation)
 Elements Module Task Number & Task
Unit of Number &
Competency Module

4. Protect 1.Maintain healthy plants M 06 F-1 Perform hardening

plants from Maintain F-2 Perform watering
2.Identify pests and diseases
pests and plants
diseases 3.Control pests and diseases F-3 Perform pruning
A01S001U04 F-4 Perform weeding
4. Follow safety measures in
F-5 Control pests and diseases
application of chemicals
F-6 Perform fertilizing
F-7 Perform repotting and refilling
F-8 Perform grading of plants
5. Implement 1.Perform potting M 07
miscellaneou 2. Maintain propagators Maintain G-1 Assess maintenance requirements
s activities at 3. Perform grading of plants farmmachiney, G-2 Follow up servicing of machinery, tools
plant nursery tools & and equipment
4. Perform watering
A01S001U05 equipment
5. Apply fertilizers, plant regulators G-3 Follow up repairing of machinery, tools
6. Perform mulching and equipment
7. Perform pruning G-4 Follow up replacement of machinery,
8. Maintain potting sheds,green house, plant tools and equipment
houses,stores
9. Make plants adapt todifferent climatic
conditions /hardening
10.Arrange plants for transportation
11. Keep records/accounts
6. Conduct 1 Prepare sales plan M 09 J-1 Prepare plants, cuttings and flowers for
sales Conduct sales sale
2. Educate plant growers/buyers
A01S001U06 J-2 Make sales
3 Obtain certification for plants
J-3 Promote sales
4. Promote sales
M 10 K-1 Make stores requisitions
5.Organize transportation Maintain K-2 Store machinery, tools, equipment and
6. Perform packing stores spare parts
K-3 Store planting material, chemicals and
fertilizers
K-4 Maintain stores records
7. Manage 1.Assign work to staff M 08
nursery staff Perform H-1 Prepare activity schedules
2.Provide leadership
A01S001U07 administrative H-2 Handle workforce
3. Establish and maintain quality activities
H-3 Safeguard belongings of the nursery
4.Maintain safety at workplace
H-4 Maintain files, registers and progress
5. Review performance at charts
nursery
01.Perform preliminary activities for setting up a 1.17 Irrigation and drainage systems.
plant nursery A01S001U01 1.18 Advantages and disadvantages of each system.
M 01 1.19 Availability and prices of building materials.
1.1 Techniques in market survey. 1.20 Types of soils.
1.2 Preparation of forms and formats. 1.21 Conditions of each soil type.
1.3 Methods of analyzing data and information. 1.22 Regulations and legislations of Central
1.4 Methods and techniques in developing production Environmental Authority.
plan. 1.23 Application of fertilizers and chemicals through
1.5 Methods of preparing cost estimates. micro irrigation systems.
1.6 Environmental factors applicable to selected 1.24 Use of pH. meters.
location. 1.25 Environmental pollution.
1.7 Knowledge on material specifications. 1.26 Rules and regulations pertaining to environmental
1.8 Basic planning techniques. pollution.
1.9 Use of labour. 1.27 Climatic factors in given area.
1.10 Respective skills of labour. 1.28 Ecological factors in given area.
1.11 Signs and symbols used in basic layout plans. 1.29 Growth patterns of different plants.
1.12 Basic knowledge in construction technology. 1.30 Price of each variety of plants.
1.13 Building material and material specifications. 1.31 Knowledge on latest productions.
1.14 Reading and interpreting plans.
1.15 Basic principles in landscaping.
1.16 Construction technology.

M 02
1.32 Contours. 1.46 Storage of potting mixture – emphasis on retaining
1.33 Reading and interpreting plans and diagrams. the quality of the potting mixture.
1.34 Use of basic leveling instruments. 1.47 Climatic conditions in selected area.
1.35 Soil erosion prevention measures. 1.48 Types of nursery beds (Elevated beds, Sunken beds,
1.36 Drainage systems. Dapog beds, Neridoco beds, Trays and other types, Sand
1.37 Irrigation systems. beds, Coir dust beds).
1.38 Calculations related to water pressure, capacity. 1.49 Traditional agricultural practices used for plant
1.39 Reading and interpreting drainage and irrigation protection.
plan. 1.50 Growth of plants (types and growth of root
1.40 Types and structure of soil. systems).
1.41 Ingredients in a potting mixture. 1.51 Planting media necessary for different varieties of
1.42 Plant nutrients. plants.
1.43 Organic and inorganic fertilizer. 1.52 Compaction of potting mixture.
1.44 Soil treatment. 1.53 Standards of material used for preparation of pots.
1.45 Water holding capacity. 1.54 Performance capacity of labor.

2. Establish and maintain mother plants & produce stock plants A01S001U02
M 03
2.1 Knowledge of mother plant varieties. 2.11 Seed treatment
2.2 Demand for each variety of mother plants. 2.12 Use of chemicals
2.3 Knowledge about Seed Act. 2.13 Seasons during which seeds should be obtained
2.4 Soil mixture relevant to mother plant. 2.14 Mulching
2.5 Planting spaces and dimensions of planting holes. 2.15 Propagators
2.6 Knowledge on chemicals, fertilizers 2.16 Plant nutrients
2.7 Pests and diseases 2.17 Use of fertilizers
2.8 Pruning systems
2.18 Grading and hardening of stock plants
2.9 Plant nutrient deficiencies
2.10 Viability of seeds
3. Propagate plants A01S001U03 M 05
M 04
3.16 Plant families.
3.1 Flowers / inflorescences 3.17 Varieties that can be budded / grafted.
3.2 Varieties and characteristics 3.18 Stocks successfully adaptable to a given locality.
3.3 Self-pollination and cross pollination 3.19 Budding methods – Patch bud, H bud, “T / ” bud,
3.4 Fruit maturity time of different varieties Chip bud, etc.,
3.5 Fruit and seed storage 3.20 Grafting methods –
3.6 Characteristics of seeds Wedge,Approach,Innachi,Pocket, Side,Tongue and
whip,Stone graft, Saddle,etc.,
3.7 Seed treatment methods
3.21 Basis of plant anatomy and Plant physiology.
3.8 Watering methods used for nursery beds and pots
3.22 Plants that can be propagated through layering.
3.9 Soilless culture (hydroponics)
3.23 Basis of layering methods.
3.10 Germination of seeds – Time required for
germination 3.24 Layering media.
3.11 Knowledge on chemicals, fertilizers 3.25 Vegetative parts of plants-classification.
3.12 Pest and disease control 3.26 Specific method/s of propagation as per different
plants.
3.13 Plant nutrient deficiencies
3.27 Vegetative propagation methods-budding, grafting,
3.14 Propagator and its function
layering, basis of tissue culture, propagation through
3.15 Transpiration process in plants
vegetative parts.
3.28 Rooting hormones.
3.29 Botanical aspects relevant to vegetative propagati

4. Protect plants from pests and diseases A01S001U04

M 06

4.1 Structure of the leaf, transpiration, evaporation, 4.17 Preparation of pesticides and fungicides
photosynthesis. 4.18 Use of machinery and equipment in pest and
4.2 Criteria for selection of successful plants. disease control
4.3 Resistance of different plants to the environment. 4.19 Safety precautions
4.4 Creation of suitable environment specific to given 4.20 Storage of chemicals
plant. 4.21 Nutrient deficiencies in relevant plants
4.5 Crop water requirements for relevant plants. 4.22 Organic and inorganic fertilizers
4.6 Quality of water. 4.23 Specific fertilizers used for production of flowers
4.7 Irrigation systems. and fruits
4.8 Principles of water management. 4.24 Production of compost
4.9 Pruning methods. 4.25 Application of fertilizers- quantity, time, watering
4.10 Root baling-purpose and method. after application
4.11 Identification of weeds. 4.26 Knowledge about the root system
4.12 Characteristics of weeds. 4.27 Method of refilling and repotting without damaging
4.13 Weeding methods. the plant
4.14 Common pests and diseases in plants 4.28 Identification of healthy plants
4.15 Basic knowledge on pesticides and fungicides 4.29 Departmental recommendations and criteria for
4.16 Pest and disease control methods grading and labeling
5. Implement miscellaneous activities at plant nursery A01S001U05
M 07
5.1 Preventive maintenance of farm machinery, tools and equipment.
5.2 Corrective maintenance of farm machinery, tools and equipment.
5.3 Documentation of maintenance requirements of farm machinery, tools and equipment.
5.4 Basic mechanics.
5.5 Reading and interpreting of service manuals.
5.6 Reading and interpreting of operation manuals.

6. Conduct sales A01S001U06

M 09

6.1 Criteria for selection of plants, cuttings and flowers for sale.
6.2 Chemicals and materials used in preparing plants, cuttings and flowers.
6.3 Packing materials and methods.
6.4 Record of market survey.
6.5 Preparation of instructional material
6.6 Basic accounting
6.7 Methods of providing after sales service
6.8 Maintaining close relationship with buyers / customers
6.9 Sales promotional campaigns / activities
6.10 Principles of advertising

M 10
6.11 Introduction to Production plan, Nursery plan.
6.12 Different types of forms used in making stores requisitions.
6.13 Procedures applied in making stores requisitions.
6.14 Principles of stores management.
6.15 Common Theories applicable in stores management.
6.16 Maintenance of records in stores – Importance.
6.17 Favorable conditions (Temperature, Light, Ventilation) to be considered.
6.18 In storing different planting material.
6.19 Physical and chemical properties of common chemicals and fertilizers.
6.20 Factors to be considered in storing different categories of chemicals and fertilizers.
6.21 Different types and purpose of each type of stores records / documents.
6.22 Recording of each type of stores records / documents.

7. Manage nursery staff A01S001U07

M 08
7.1 Planning techniques.
7.2 Work scheduling.
7.3 Reviewing of progress - Techniques and procedures applied in reviewing.
7.4 Motivation of workforce.
7.5 Inventory control.
7.6 Security measures applicable to agricultural sites.
7.7 Formats of respective registers.
7.8 Procedures applied in maintaining each type of register.