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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 “Soil Scientist”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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