Soil and Plant Scientists

Key Responsibilities

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