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Soil & Plant Scientist
Understanding the soil beneath our feet is invaluable to all of us. Studying soils helps us to know where to build structures, where to plant crops, and which crops to plant. The more we learn about soils and plants the more we are able to supply the necessities of life to people worldwide. If you don't mind getting a little dirty, love Math and Science, and truly enjoy learning, then you would make a great Soil Scientist.truly enjoy
Soil Scientists (sometimes called Soil Conservationists) study the chemical, physical, biological, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth, conducting research on soil, crops, and other agricultural products. Research includes the 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. Their areas of study include soil fertility, how soil forms, the chemical and physical characteristics of soil, the management of soil, how people use soil as a natural resource, and people's positive or negative impact on soil.
The duties of a Soil Scientist include but are not limited to: developing ways to alter soils to suit different types of plants; recommending crop rotation or fertilizer use to enrich nutrient-depleted soil; investigating the effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity; developing improved soil conservation and management methods; advising farmers on water availability and on ways to best use land, promote plant growth, and avoid or correct problems like erosion; identifying degraded or contaminated soils and developing plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics; investigating how soil forms, changes, and interacts with land-based ecosystems and living organisms; planning and supervising land conservation and reclamation; surveying and mapping undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, environmental impact assessments, and environmental protection, conservation, and reclamation planning; classifying and grading soils according to composition, nutrient level, erosion resistance, and water-holding capacity; determining whether soils are best for growing crops or for construction; advising on rural and urban land management; reducing the use of harmful chemicals in soils; and balancing increased agricultural output with protecting and preserving soil, water, and ecosystems.
High school students interested in becoming a Soil and Plant Scientist benefit from taking Algebra, Trigonometry, Biology, Nutrition, Agriculture, Earth Science, Botany, Horticulture, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Students entering Soil Science Bachelor's of Science programs from high school with no previous Soil Science training should expect a period of 4 years to complete said program.
Duties in Plant Science include: developing new or improved varieties of field crops that increase yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or adaptation to specific soils or climates; developing methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds and insect pests; determining best methods for planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products; preventing the importation or spread of harmful insects and other pests; and finding the causes of bee diseases and other factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.
Soil Scientists are employed by federal, state, or local governments and by fertilizer companies, private research laboratories, insurance companies, and land appraisal firms. Those who work for universities do research and investigate new methods of improving soil health and nutrition and write grants to get steady funding for their research. Through peer-reviewed journals and other publications, these scientists present their research findings to the scientific community, food producers, and the public.
Because research in genomics, agricultural sustainability, and biofuels is on the rise, the number of Soil Scientist opportunities will correspondingly rise. And with the increase of scientists set to retire and of construction in the form of new highways, bridges, homes, and shopping centers, one can expect the healthy demand in this field to be as comprehensive as its range of study.
Job Description
Median Salary & Range
Median Salary: $58,940
Salary Range: ~$35,950 - $101,120+
College Majors & Attainment Routes
The normal routes to becoming a Soil Scientist have been to major in Soil Science, Plant and Soil Science, Crop and Soil Science, Plant Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Plant and Soil Science concentration), Agronomy (Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences concentrations), Agriculture Science (Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science concentration), Environmental, Forest Resources, and Plant and Soil Sciences, Environmental, Soil, and Water Sciences, Forestry, or even Environmental Science or Earth Science.
Colleges That Provide Above Majors
Colleges and universities that have Soil Science and the related majors are: North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, North Carolina); Delaware State University (Dover, Delaware); Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, Georgia); Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tennessee); Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, Texas); Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama); Kentucky State University (Frankfort, Kentucky); Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Missouri); University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Maryland); Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma); Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi); Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, Alabama); University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Pine Bluff, Arkansas); Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Florida); Virginia State University (Petersburg, Virginia); North Carolina Central University (Durham, North Carolina); and Claflin University (Orangeburg, South Carolina).
Available Scholarships
