Soil and Plant Scientists
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.
47 alternate job titles:
Agricultural Specialist
Agriculturist
Agronomist
Apiculturist
Arboreal Scientist
Arboriculture Researcher
Arboriculturist
Arborist
Biological Science Technician (Biological Science Tech)
Botanist
Corn Breeder
Cotton Breeder
Crop Nutrition Scientist
Crop Protection Research Agronomist
Entomologist
Field Agronomist
Field Research Agronomist
Field Technology Development Agronomist
Floriculturist
Forage Physiologist
Growth Specialist
Horticultural Specialist
Horticulture Specialist
Horticulturist
Hybrid Corn Breeder
Microbiology Soil Scientist
Plant Anatomist
Plant Breeder
Plant Breeder Scientist
Plant Pathologist
Plant Physiologist
Plant Research Geneticist
Plant Scientist
Pomologist
Precision Agronomist
Research Agronomist
Research Scientist
Research Soil Scientist
Scientist
Scientist Propagator
Soil Expert
Soil Fertility Extension Specialist
Soil Specialist
Soil Technician (Soil Tech)
Technical Agronomist
Viticulturist
Wholesale Agronomist
Salary Information
Soil and Plant Scientists: $71,410 (median) per year.
Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
| Task Description | Category |
|---|---|
| Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. | Communication |
| Advise others about land management or conservation. | Management |
| Research crop management methods. | Management |
| Advise others about environmental management or conservation. | Management |
| Direct natural resources management or conservation programs. | Management |
| Develop sustainable industrial or development methods. | Development |
| Develop agricultural methods. | Development |
| Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems. | Development |
| Develop environmental sustainability plans or projects. | Development |
| Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices. | Analysis |
| Research hydrologic features or processes. | Analysis |
| Research geological features or processes. | Analysis |
| Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems. | Analysis |
| Analyze biological samples. | Analysis |
| Research diseases or parasites. | Analysis |
| Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives. | Analysis |
| Conduct climatological research. | Analysis |
| Analyze environmental data. | Analysis |
| Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs. | General |
| Survey land or properties. | General |
| Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior. | General |
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Technology Requirements
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| ESRI ArcGIS software | Geographic information system |
| Geographic information system GIS systems | Geographic information system |
| Geographic information system GIS software | Geographic information system |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software |
| IBM SPSS Statistics | Analytical or scientific software |
| Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP | Web platform development software |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software |
| R | Object or component oriented development software |
| SAS | Analytical or scientific software |
| 3dMapper | Analytical or scientific software |
| Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC | Analytical or scientific software |
| European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM | Analytical or scientific software |
| GAEA Technologies WinSieve | Categorization or classification software |
| GEOEAS | Analytical or scientific software |
| GSLIB | Analytical or scientific software |
| Gstat | Analytical or scientific software |
| LandSerf | Analytical or scientific software |
| Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE | Map creation software |
| PC-Progress HYDRUS | Analytical or scientific software |
| SGeMS | Analytical or scientific software |
| SPAW | Analytical or scientific software |
| STATISTICA | Analytical or scientific software |
| UNSATFLOW | Analytical or scientific software |
| Variogram Estimation and Spatial Prediction plus Error Vesper | Analytical or scientific software |
| Water Erosion Prediction Project WEPP | Analytical or scientific software |
| Word processing software | Word processing software |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software |
| National Resources Conservation Service NRCS PEDON Description Program PDP | Data base user interface and query software |
| National Resources Conservation Service NRCS Soils Explorer | Data base user interface and query software |
| National Soil Information System NASIS | Data base user interface and query software |
| PedonCE | Data base user interface and query software |
| Soil information databases | Data base user interface and query software |
| SoilVision Systems SVOFFICE | Data base user interface and query software |
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Relevant Certifications
Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:
| Certification | Issuing Organization | Practice Test |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Agricultural Consultant | American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers | Not Available |
| Associate Certified Entomologist | Entomological Society of America Certification Corporation | Not Available |
| Associate Professional Horticulturist | American Society for Horticultural Science | Not Available |
| Associate Professional Soil Scientist | Soil Science Society of America | Not Available |
| Board Certified Entomologist | Entomological Society of America Certification Corporation | Not Available |
| Certified Crop Adviser - Resistance Management Specialty | American Society of Agronomy - ARCPACS | Not Available |
| Certified Crop Adviser - Sustainability Specialty | American Society of Agronomy - ARCPACS | Not Available |
| Certified Crop Advisor | American Society of Agronomy - ARCPACS | Not Available |
| Certified Professional Agronomist | American Society of Agronomy - ARCPACS | Not Available |
| Certified Professional Horticulturist | American Society for Horticultural Science | Not Available |
| Certified Professional Soil Scientist | Soil Science Society of America | Not Available |
| Professional Wetland Scientist | Society of Wetland Scientists | Not Available |
| Soils Special Inspector | International Code Council | Not Available |
| Tree Risk Assessment Qualification | International Society of Arboriculture | Not Available |
| Wetland Professional in Training | Society of Wetland Scientists | Not Available |
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