NZQA Expiring unit standard / 21955 version 2
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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of frosts, and frost protection methods for viticulture
Level / 4 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working in the viticulture industry. People credited with this unit standard are able to: explain how climatic and landform conditions cause radiation and advection frosts; demonstrate knowledge of cultural methods for reducing frost risk in viticulture; describe the methods available for frost prediction and monitoring; and describe the operation and principles of frost protection methods.
Classification / Horticulture > Viticulture
Available grade / Achieved

Explanatory notes

None.

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1

Explain how climatic and landform conditions cause radiation and advection frosts.

Evidence requirements

1.1The climatic and landform conditions that cause radiation frosts are described.

Rangerelative humidity, dewpoint, aspect, airflow, topography and surrounding land features.

1.2The climatic and landform conditions that cause advection frosts are described.

Rangerelative humidity, dewpoint, aspect, airflow and surrounding land features.

Outcome 2

Demonstrate knowledge of cultural methods for reducing frost risk in viticulture.

Evidence requirements

2.1Factors that determine the frost risk of a site are identified and described.

Range altitude, topography, surrounding land features, mesoclimate and macroclimate.

2.2Vineyard cultural practices that reduce the frost risk are identified and described.

Outcome 3

Describe the methods available for frost prediction and monitoring.

Evidence requirements

3.1Frost prediction methods are described.

Range local historical data, weather forecasts, meteorological information.

3.2Frost monitoring methods are described.

Outcome 4

Describe the operation and principles of frost protection methods.

Evidence requirements

4.1The operation and principles of overhead sprinklers, including start up procedures and requirements, are described.

Rangehydraulic requirements, protective mechanisms, critical temperature points.

4.2The operation and principles of air movement frost protection, including start up requirements, are described.

Rangepositioning within the vineyard, use with diesel heaters, protective mechanisms, critical temperature points.

4.3The operation and principles of heating methods for frost protection are described.

Rangemobile gas fired units, frost pots, electrical methods.

4.4Limitations of each method of frost protection are identified.

Rangetype of frost event, severity of frost event, causes of failure, maintenance, effective coverage, local authority regulations.

Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standards 19228, and 19941 were replaced by unit standard 29900.

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 Assessment
Registration / 1 / 25 September 2006 / 31 December 2020
Review / 2 / 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 Organisation
SSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut