Students will find some of the most important careers relating to soil science in soil scientist career description. These careers can take one to two decades and one to several years of schooling. Basic Background: What does a soil scientist need to know?
What Does a Soil Scientist Do?
What do we mean by soil? It is a term referring to a material made up primarily of minerals and salts (salt, potassium, calcium, etc.) which is found in the soil. Some examples of soils are the clay, sand, loam, silt, sludge, decomposed material, peat, silt-like materials and rocks.
Soil scientists are experts in the study of soil. They may perform tests on soil to see if it has been contaminated, diagnose disease, detect contamination, improve the soil’s ability to grow plants and improve the soil’s fertility. These are just some of the things that they do. They may also research the effects of pesticides and fertilizers on the soil. They are also responsible for developing testing methods for soil samples.
They also analyze the soil, determining how healthy it is and what kind of nutrients it needs. These may include testing water quality, conducting testing for lead, pesticides and fertilizers, soil erosion, and assessing the soil’s physical properties. When performing testing, soil scientists use tools such as spectrophotometers, gas chromatography, ion mobility spectroscopy and others. They may also use other soil tools that are specific to the field of soil study they are doing.
In addition to performing testing and research on soil, they may also provide recommendations on how to improve soil and its condition. This could include using organic matter, changing farming practices, applying fertilizers and other nutrients and even planting trees.
Career Options
Soil scientists may also work for companies that specialize in providing soil services. Some examples of such companies are Chemical Service Corporation of America, Iowa AgriLife, Inc., Northrop Grumman, Pomeroy Irrigation Corporation, and others. Some of these companies require at least a master’s degree and certification, while others may not require such certification.
The soil scientist career description could also include other specialized jobs. This may include jobs in the field of soil erosion control, fertilizer, organic remediation, land-use management, chemical engineering and testing, land preservation and agriculture. Other jobs may also include laboratory technician positions in various types of agricultural equipment, which includes: agronomic instruments, soil analysis equipment, soil augers, weed killers, seed spreaders and others. These instruments may also be used to develop methods of improving the soil in the fields. These instruments and methods are also used to test the condition of the soil.
A soil scientist career description may also include positions in environmental consulting, testing for various pollutants in the soil and other related duties. This may include consulting on water quality, soil erosion and pollution control, development and implementation of organic gardening techniques and soil conservation projects.
An important aspect of a soil scientist career description is that this individual has to be able to understand the needs and requirements of different fields of study. This includes knowledge and experience in diverse types of fields, including biological soil biology, chemistry, soil and plant pathology, physics and hydrology, agriculture, nutrition, agriculture and the environment. Other important skills include communication, organization and problem solving, and patience and persistence.
Skills
Soil scientists who work with plants may also need to possess the ability to handle and maintain equipment such as; a microscope, soil sampler, testing kits and soil analyzers, and soil compilers. They may also have to understand and use chemicals that are used for fertilization, such as nitrogen, potassium nitrate, iron and magnesium. and phosphorous.
Soil scientists may also need to be certified in their fields of specialization, including agronomy, chemical technology, environmental science, agricultural soil management, agriculture and/or microbiology. They also need to be licensed, as most states require at least a master’s degree for them to engage in soil work. This will also include the necessary training and certification.
In addition to performing testing and research, the soil scientist may be asked to teach classes or be involved in seminars and conferences, which may range from one year to several years depending on the level of training and education they have received. They may also be hired by companies as consultants, which requires a doctorate in soil sciences, and can be promoted through advancement to management positions or even higher positions such as manager or executive. They may also be appointed to national associations such as the American Society for Nutrition, which is an organization of scientific workers that aims to improve the health and nutrition of people and animals.