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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Agronomist, Arboriculture Researcher, Crop Nutrition Scientist, Forage Physiologist, Horticulture Specialist, Plant Physiologist, Plant Research Geneticist, Research Scientist, Research Soil Scientist, Scientist
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.
- 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 responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
- 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.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software:3dMapper,Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC,European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM,GEOEAS,GSLIB,Gstat,IBM SPSS Statistics,LandSerf,PC-Progress HYDRUS,SAS statistical software,SGeMS,SPAW,STATISTICA,UNSATFLOW,Variogram Estimation and Spatial Prediction plus Error Vesper,Water Erosion Prediction Project WEPP
- Categorization or classification software:GAEA Technologies WinSieve
- Computer aided design CAD software:Autodesk AutoCAD
- Data base user interface and query software:Microsoft Access,National Resources Conservation Service NRCS PEDON Description Program PDP,National Resources Conservation Service NRCS Soils Explorer,National Soil Information System NASIS,PedonCE,Soil information databases,SoilVision Systems SVOFFICE
- Geographic information system:ESRI ArcGIS software,Geographic information system GIS software
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Working with Computers:Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Analyzing Data or Information:Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems:Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Processing Information:Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Detailed Work Activities
- Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
- Advise others about land management or conservation.
- Analyze biological samples.
- Analyze environmental data.
- Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail:81% responded"Every day"
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results:67% responded"Moderate results"
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures:62% responded"Once a month or more but not every week"
- Spend Time Standing:62% responded"About half the time"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:57% responded"Every day"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Active Learning:Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Critical Thinking:Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension:Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Science:Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Knowledge
- Biology:Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics:Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Chemistry:Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
- Mathematics:Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 29%Master's Degree
- 24%Bachelor's Degree
- 19%Doctoral Degree
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Category Flexibility:The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning:The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning:The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering:The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Interests
- Investigative:Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Work Values
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Recognition:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Work Styles
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Analytical Thinking:Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Persistence:Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
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