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Job Description

Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants or trees, shrubs, and nursery stock, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 19-1013.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 69,290.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 33.00
Currently, there are 14,690 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Soil and Plant Scientists”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Research Soil Scientist”

Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.
Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.
Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.
Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.
Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the effects of alternative practices on the environment.
Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.
Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
Provide information or recommendations to farmers or other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, or avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.
Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.
Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.
Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.
Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.
Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.
Conduct experiments to develop new or improved varieties of field crops, focusing on characteristics such as yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates.
Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.
Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.
Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.
Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.
Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.

Related Technology & Tools

Spectrophotometers
Lysimeters
Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
Gel documentation systems
Cell tissue culture incubators
Personal digital assistants PDA
Laboratory sieves
Laboratory test tubes
Precision balances
Gel dryers
Hot water shaking baths
Graduated glass cylinders
Ground penetrating radar GPR
Hand augers
Digital pH meters
Soil thermometers
Circulating water baths
Gamma ray spectrometers
Refrigerated microfuges
Conductivity meters
Sample containers
Polarizing microscopes
Glass flasks
Canopy analyzers
Psychrometers
Laboratory muffle furnaces
Laboratory growth chambers
Personal computers
Autosamplers
Light detection and ranging LIDAR systems
Erlenmeyer flasks
Soil augers
Osmometers
Infrared gas analyzers
Gel electrophoresis systems
Dataloggers
Mass spectrometers
Electron microscopes
X ray fluorescence XRF spectrometers
Digital cameras
Epifluorescence microscopes
Organic carbon analyzers
Laboratory mixers
Reciprocating shaker water baths
Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment
pH indicators
Ion chromatographs
Infrared cameras
Fluorimeters
Soil moisture neutron probes
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometers ICP-AES
Calibrated soil scoops
Luminometers
Microtiter plate readers
Laser particle sizers
Colorimeters
Heat flux plates
Laptop computers
High speed centrifuges
Thermocouples
Laboratory grinders
Soil analysis hydrometers
Glass beakers
Synthetic aperture radar SAR
Tensiometers
Porometers
Desktop computers
Flame photometers
Laminar flow hoods
Laboratory drying ovens

SPSS
PC-Progress HYDRUS
GSLIB
Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC
GEOEAS
Microsoft Word
National Resources Conservation Service NRCS PEDON Description Program PDP
Microsoft Access
STATISTICA
S-GeMS
Geographic information system GIS software
European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM
Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE
LandSerf
Microsoft Office
UNSATFLOW
Autodesk AutoCAD
SoilVision Systems SVOFFICE
Soil information databases
ESRI ArcGIS software
National Resources Conservation Service NRCS Soils Explorer
SAS
R
3dMapper
Water Erosion Prediction Project WEPP
Microsoft PowerPoint
GAEA Technologies WinSieve
National Soil Information System NASIS
Gstat
SPAW
Variogram Estimation and Spatial Prediction plus Error Vesper
Microsoft Excel
PedonCE