NZ Scholarship Agricultural and Horticultural Science case studies
NZ Scholarship Agricultural and Horticultural Science · Put your knowledge to work in context.
This page is an independent study guide for candidates preparing for the New Zealand Scholarship Agricultural and Horticultural Science assessment, administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Scholarship is a separate award available to secondary students in New Zealand, sitting above NCEA Level 3 and designed for candidates who want to extend themselves beyond their assessed coursework. The NZ Scholarship Agricultural and Horticultural Science case studies are 5 cases and about 5,159 words.
1Meeting a nitrogen loss limit on a Waikato milking platform
Whitikahu is a 112 ha effective milking platform near Te Awamutu carrying 285 crossbred cows (2.5 cows/ha) at 410 kg MS/cow, with 180 kg N fertiliser/ha/yr and 40 ha of winter crop grazed in situ. The regional plan requires nitrogen loss no greater than 45 kg N/ha/yr by 2028; the farm's modelled loss is 58 kg N/ha/yr.
1,035 words, about 5 min2Converting a green kiwifruit block to gold under Psa pressure
At Te Puke, a 5.0 ha Hayward green kiwifruit orchard on free-draining volcanic soil yields 8,600 trays/ha sold at 6.80/tray orchard gate, with on-orchard costs of 42,000/ha. The owner holds an offer to convert the whole block to a gold cultivar: licence at 95,000/ha, conversion (uprooting, redevelopment, structures) at 120,000/ha, and three years before full production at 11,500 trays/ha and 10.20/tray, with on-orchard costs of 68,000/ha.
974 words, about 5 min3Herbicide-resistant ryegrass in a Canterbury arable rotation
A 380 ha Canterbury arable farm on medium-stoniness soil runs wheat–ryegrass seed–peas–barley. Wheat yields 9.2 t/ha at 375/t with variable costs of 1,850/ha; ryegrass seed yields 1,700 kg/ha at 2.30/kg with variable costs of 2,100/ha.
1,039 words, about 5 min4Retiring erodible hill country: carbon forestry, mānuka or status quo
A 640 ha East Coast hill-country property runs 2,450 ewes and 220 weaner cattle on 420 ha effective, with 25 ha of winter crop and 90 ha of class 7e steep, erosion-prone land currently grazed only in summer. Debt is 2.1 million at 7%.
1,032 words, about 5 min5Replacing a coal boiler in a glasshouse tomato operation
A 2.4 ha glasshouse near Tuakau produces truss tomatoes at 52 kg/m² under contract at 4.30/kg. Heat and CO2 come from a 1.7 MW coal boiler burning 340 t/yr at 470/t; coal emits 2.4 t CO2e per tonne.
1,079 words, about 5 min