Soil and Plant Scientists

• 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 new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.
• 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.
• Develop environmentally safe 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.
• Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.
• Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.
• Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the effects of alternative practices on the environment.
• Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.
• Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.
• Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
• Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.
• Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Soil and Plant Scientists.

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Soil and Plant Scientists.