Conduct research in breeding, physiology, production, yield, and management of crops and agricultural plants, 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.

Other names for Soil and Plant Scientists: Agronomist, Agronomy Professor, Agronomy Research Manager, Apiculturist, Arboriculturist, Arborist, Botanist, Corn Breeder, Cotton Breeder, Crop and Soil Science Department Chair, Crop Nutrition Scientist, Entomologist, Floriculturist, Genetic Scientist, Horticulture Professor, Horticulturist, Hybrid Corn Breeder, Hydrology Professor, Microbiology Soil Scientist, Physical Hydrologist, Plant Anatomist, Plant Breeder, Plant Breeder Scientist, Plant Pathologist, Plant Physiologist, Pomologist, Research Soil Scientist, Scientist Propagator, Soil Expert, Soil Fertility Extension Specialist, Soil Physical Chemistry Professor, Soil Physics Professor, Soil Science Professor, Soil Scientist, Soil Specialist, Viticulturist,

• Communicate research and project results to other professionals and the public, and/or teach related courses, seminars or workshops.
• Provide information and recommendations to farmers and other landowners regarding ways in which they can best use land, promote plant growth, and avoid or correct problems such as erosion.
• Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices, in order to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.
• Develop methods of conserving and managing soil that can be applied by farmers and 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.
• Investigate soil problems and poor water quality to determine sources and effects.
• Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, and soil properties.
• Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, and related technology.
• Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms and changes, and how it interacts with land-based ecosystems and living organisms.
• Identify degraded or contaminated soils, and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, and physical characteristics.
• Survey undisturbed and disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, and conservation and reclamation planning.
• Plan and supervise land conservation and reclamation programs for industrial development projects, and waste management programs for composting and farming.
• Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions and chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.
• Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation and soil conservation.
• Develop new or improved methods and products for controlling and eliminating weeds, crop diseases, and insect pests.
• Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, and/or transporting horticultural products.
• Consult with engineers and other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems, and possible solutions to these problems.
• Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.
• Study insect distribution and habitat, and recommend methods to prevent importation and spread of injurious species.
• Identify and classify species of insects and allied forms, such as mites and spiders.
• Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases, and factors affecting yields of nectar pollen.

• Atomic absorption AA spectrometers
• Autosamplers
• Soil core sampling apparatus
• Light absorption meters
• Tissue culture incubators
• Circulating baths
• Colorimeters
• Soil testing kits
• Portable data input terminals
• Desktop computers
• Digital cameras
• pH meters
• Electron microscopes
• Fluorescent microscopes
• Laboratory flasks
• Photometers
• Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters
• Spectrometers
• Gel documentation systems
• Gel dryers
• Gel documentation systems
• Laboratory beakers
• Laboratory flasks
• Global positioning system receivers
• Laboratory graduated cylinders
• Radarbased surveillance systems
• Augers
• Soil testing kits
• Benchtop centrifuges
• Orbital shaking water baths
• Inductively coupled plasma ICP spectrometers
• Infrared imagers
• Infra red or ultra violet absorption analyzers
• Ion chromatographs
• Drying cabinets or ovens
• Laboratory mills
• Refrigerated and heated reach in environmental or growth chambers
• Laboratory mixers
• Laboratory box furnaces
• Laboratory separators
• Multipurpose or general test tubes
• Laminar flow cabinets or stations
• Notebook computers
• Particle size measuring apparatus
• Radarbased surveillance systems
• Photometers
• Precipitation or evaporation recorders
• Mass spectrometers
• Microplate readers
• Organic carbon analyzers
• Osmometers
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• pH meters
• Polarizing microscopes
• Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers
• Permeability or porosity estimation apparatus
• Laboratory balances
• Psychrometers
• Reciprocating shaking water baths
• Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges
• Sample holders
• Hydrometers
• Soil core sampling apparatus
• Moisture meters
• Handheld thermometer
• Spectrophotometers
• Radarbased surveillance systems
• Surface tension measuring instruments
• Thermocouples
• Spectrometers

Office suite software

Word processing software

Spreadsheet software

Categorization or classification software

Data base user interface and query software

Object or component oriented development software

Computer aided design CAD software

Analytical or scientific software

Map creation software