Soil / Plant Scientist

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Agronomist; Arboriculture Researcher; Crop Nutrition Scientist; Forage Physiologist; Horticulture Specialist; Plant Physiologist; Plant Research Geneticist; Research Scientist; Research Soil Scientist; Scientist

Tasks

• Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
• Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
• 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.
• 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.
• Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
• Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.
• Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
• Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
• Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.
• Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.
• Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.
• Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.
• Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.
• Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.

Knowledge

• Biology
• English Language
• Computers and Electronics
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Geography
• Education and Training
• Communications and Media
• Engineering and Technology
• Administration and Management
• Physics
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Science
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Originality
• Problem Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Speech Clarity
• Fluency of Ideas
• Flexibility of Closure
• Speech Recognition
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Number Facility
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Far Vision