Fertcare® training program is owned by Fertilzer Australia. The training lifts the skills and knowledge of anyone involved in the supply of fertiliser and soil ameliorant products and ensures that high quality advice is passed on to farmers, allowing them to optimise productivity while minimising environment and food safety risks
The Fertcare Accredited Advisor qualification has many overlaps with RSP-Soil Management. Therefore, if you have gained the Fertcare qualification in the last 10 years and can provide a copy of the certificate when applying, you do not have to provide evidence against all the RSP-Soil Management Standards.
Below shows the RSP-Soil Management Standards mapped against the Fertcare qualification. Applicants using the Fertcare pathway will only need to provide evidence of competency against the Standards marked “not met”.
Good news is that successful completion of the Soil Management Quiz will provide the evidence needed of Standards 1.1.1 through to 1.4.2.
| Section 1 – Basics of soil science |
Fertcare mapping |
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| Section 1.1 – Soil functions and ecosystem services | ||
| 1.1.1 | Demonstrated knowledge of soil functions critical in the landscape. |
Not met Can be met by successfully completing the soil management quiz
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| 1.1.2 | Demonstrated knowledge of ecosystem services delivered by soil. | |
| Section 1.2 – Soil formation, composition and distribution | ||
| 1.2.1 | Demonstrated basic knowledge and practical experience with regards to describing a soil profile, including the ability to find and describe relevant factors of soil formation and distribution. | |
| Section 1.3 – Soil degradation | ||
| 1.3.1 | Demonstrated understanding of the impacts of degradation on soil function and potential productivity and/or environmental impact | |
| 1.3.2 | Demonstrated understanding of causes, key impacts and mitigation of soil degradation processes such as soil erosion, acidification, fertility decline, salinisation and compaction. | |
| Section 1.4 – Basic soil properties | ||
| 1.4.1 | Demonstrated knowledge of basic soil properties including physical properties, chemical properties and biological properties. | |
| 1.4.2 | Demonstrated ability to explain the agronomic impact of basic physical, chemical and biological soil properties. | |
| Section 2 – Soil Field Analysis and Site Interpretation | ||
| Section 2.1 – Site selection | ||
| 2.1.1 | Demonstrated knowledge of the key factors that determine fit-for-purpose site selection for sampling. | 1.1 Planned Sampling; 1.2 Sampling Hazards, OH&S and Quarantine Requirements |
| 2.1.2 | Demonstrated ability to assess a landscape to determine site locations for sampling and to explain and justify why this is suitable. | 1.2 Sampling Hazards, OH&S and Quarantine Requirements; 1.5 Sampling Records and Observations |
| Section 2.2 – Soil testing | ||
| 2.2.1 | Demonstrated understanding of when soil testing should take place. | 1.1 Planned Sampling |
| 2.2.2 | Demonstrated understanding of which soil tests are suitable and why. | 1.1 Planned Sampling |
| Section 2.3 – Soil classification | ||
| 2.3.1 | Demonstrated familiarity with the current Australian Soil Classification and ability to use it in the field. |
Not met |
| Section 3 – Soil sampling for analysis | ||
| Section 3.1 – Sampling design | ||
| 3.1.1 | Demonstrated understanding of soil sampling design, and the ability to explain this decision with regards to the sampling purpose and the site specifics. | 1.1. Planned Sampling |
| 3.1.2 | Demonstrated understanding and experience with the equipment required for soil sampling. | 1.1 Planned Sampling, 1.2 Sampling Hazards, OH&S and Quarantine Requirements |
| Section 3.2 – Sample management | ||
| 3.2.1 | Demonstrated understanding of the protocols to collect samples for laboratory analysis. | 1.1 Planned Sampling; 1.2 Sampling Hazards, OH&S and Quarantine Requirements |
| 3.2.2 | Demonstrated ability to identify laboratories that conduct suitable soil analysis. | 1.4 Sample Handling and Dispatch |
| Section 3.3 – Record keeping | ||
| 3.3.1 | Demonstrated understanding of the role of record keeping. | 1.5 Sampling Records and Observations |
| 3.3.2 | Demonstrated experience in fundamental record keeping and information management of sampling procedure and subsequent sample analysis. | 1.5 Sampling Records and Observations |
| Section 4 – Data interpretation and application | ||
| Section 4.1 – Soil and agronomy | ||
| 4.1.1 | Demonstrated broad experience of physical, chemical, and biological soil testing and interpretation in an agronomic setting. | 1.1 Planned Sampling; 1.5 Sampling Records and Observations; 3.1 Validated Interpretation criteria; 3.2 Local knowledge Interpretation Criteria; 4.1 Specific Recommendations; 4.2 Recommendation Options Recommendation Options; 4.6 Written Report |
| 4.1.2 | Demonstrated knowledge of nutrient cycles, specifically in relation to nutrient availability and how this supports plant production in the soil. |
Not met |
| 4.1.3 | Demonstrated understanding of the role and influence of soil biology on agricultural production. | |
| 4.1.4 | Demonstrated understanding of the capacity of the soil to store, cycle and exchange nutrients and water for plant production and determine management options. | |
| 4.1.5 | Demonstrated ability to communicate to clients how key physical, chemical and biological soil properties influence soil fertility and nutrient availability. |
Not met |
| Section 4.2 Reporting soil data | ||
| 4.2.1 | Demonstrated ability to assess data quality and interpret data in a soil test report, relating this to both the soil characteristics and the management implications. | 3.1 Validated Interpretation criteria; 3.2 Local knowledge Interpretation Criteria; 4.1 Specific Recommendations; 4.2 Recommendation Options Recommendation Options; 4.6 Written Report |
| 4.2.2 | Demonstrated understanding of the limitations of soil test data and how these limitations can affect management recommendations. | 4.1 Specific Recommendations; 4.2 Recommendation Options; 4.5 Consider and Address Environmental Risks; |
| Section 4.3 Reporting soil data | ||
| 4.3.1 | Demonstrate, using a case study or other means, the expertise to identify test and site limitations, and suggest recommendations for how to address the limitations | 4.1 Specific Recommendations; 4.2 Recommendation Options; 4.5 Consider and Address Environmental Risks; 4.6 Written Report |
| 4.3.2 | Understand both chemical and technical methods for amelioration |
Not met |