Check out some of the Career Opportunities in Soil Science. Also, this article provides a brief description of these career opportunities and the salaries they pay.
In soil science, soil creation, categorization, mapping, and physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties are studied and analyzed.
Career Opportunities in Soil Science
There are various career opportunities in soil science. Some of these careers are:
- Soil Scientist
- Organic Farmer
- Soil Conservationist
- Plant Scientist
- Agronomist
- Extension Agent
Soil Scientist
One of the abundant natural resources on earth is the soil which is what a social scientist studies. They study the soil’s nature, types, composition, and other related subject matter.
With research and more field experiments, they understand how to maximize the soil and its resources for the benefit of plants and animals.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Soil Scientist
- Execute tests to ascertain the effects of adjusting pH levels or adding organic matter on soil quality
- Perform field research to gather information and samples from natural areas
- Analyze soil to show its qualities and composition.
- Create management strategies for farms or ranches.
- Recognize typical soil kinds and classify them according to their physical traits
- Analyze soil test results to ascertain the nutrients that crops will need
- Compose summaries of research findings and test data to be shared with clients or other scientists
- Carry out studies on subjects such as soil erosion, fertility, tillage techniques, and land management approaches
Salary
According to Zippia.com, the average salary of a soil scientist is $91,463 yearly.
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Organic Farmer
Organic farmers are farmers who are into the cultivation of crops such as vegetables without using fertilizers and other synthetic substances to grow them. With the study of soil science, knowledge can be used to groom these crops.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Organic Farmer
- Use farm equipment and tools such as tractors to plant new crops and maintain current crops
- Ensure that crops are developing appropriately
- Add organic substances to supply or replenish lost nutrients
- Complete quality check on the soil and seeds.
- Ensuring that all safety measures are part of managing employees and contractors.
- Conduct harvesting crops at the right time
- Identify the crops that thrive in specific environments depending on the farm’s location and kind of soil
- Set up irrigation systems to increase soil water retention
- Observe federal restrictions on farm waste management.
Salary
According to Salary.com, the average base salary of an organic farmer is $34,103 per annum.
Soil Conservationist
A soil conservationist is responsible for researching and educating farmers and landowners on the following ways to improve soil quality and maintain soil nutrients and resources.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Soil Conversationist
- Research on the environment taking into consideration the various biotic and abiotic factors affecting the environment
- Offer consultation services on the best ways to apply organic resources.
- Recognize the different soil types that are present and evaluate their appropriateness for various applications
- Supervise the multiple projects on soil conversation.
- Study the most effective ways to overcome erosion and other factors that can deplete the soil.
- Perform audits such as large-scale land surveys to assess if it is suitable for cultivation or development
- Perform experiments on the soil according to different purposes.
- Provide advice on soil management challenges to farmers and other agriculture and soil management personnel.
- Develop plans and integrate them into farm practices to help conserve the micro and macronutrients in the soil.
Salary
According to Salary.com, the average salary of a soil conversationist in a year is $72,871.
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Plant scientist
Plant scientist studies the nature, lifecycle, living conditions, diseases, and pest affecting plants. They perform a series of research to improve the quality of plants through breeding, improved pest and disease control, and weed management.
Duties of Plant Scientist
- Develop new or better field crop varieties through studies concentrating on traits like yield, quality, disease resistance, nutritional value, or climatic or soil adaptability.
- Create new or better products or procedures through weed, pest, and disease management.
- Offer recommendations and consultation services for farmers.
- Encourage quality plant development practices among farmers.
- Develop farm products and resources that are ecologically friendly
- Investigate the causes and impacts of soil issues or poor water quality.
- Perform experiments to learn more about how soil develops, changes, or interacts with living things on land.
Salary
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a plant scientist in a year is $66,241
Agronomist
An agronomist focuses on crop production and soil management to improve the soil quality and the crops produced from them.
They perform experimental studies from the farm sample (soil, seed, and plants) for research to develop better ways of cultivating crops.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Agronomist
- Teach farmers and landowners about agronomics and the importance of maintaining healthy soil
- Examine and provide solutions on issues with managing soil and water resources and property farming methods.
- Evaluate the efficacy of agricultural activities and deal with concerns related to them.
- Make suggestions for effective conservation management techniques.
- Help provide a balanced soil and moisture conservation program via vegetative and management strategies.
- Educate the public and offer technical support for soil conservation and management.
- Assist in the organization of formal and on-the-job agronomy training for trainees and interns
- Carry out field inspection to collect samples of soils, plants, and seeds
- Check samples for illnesses, alterations, or nutritional deficits.
Salary
According to ZipRecruiter, the average base salary of an agronomist is $74,000 per annum.
Extension Agent
An extension agent is into the education and promotion of innovations and findings from research on various issues in agriculture.
An extension agent can work in universities or schools, research institutes, communities, or agricultural organizations.
Duties of an Extension Agent
- Hold workshops for farmers on subjects concerning agriculture developments.
- Teach agricultural subjects in educational institutions.
- Educate the farmers on farming methods and procedures
- Educate the farmers and government organizations about agricultural matters such as pest control and soil conservation
- Deliver talks to neighborhood groups on agricultural innovations.
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Salary
An extension agent can earn as much as $45,428 in a year following the survey from Zippia.com.
Final Notes on Career Opportunities in Soil Science and their Salaries
One of the reasons we have agriculture is because soil exists; the soil has the nutrients, and organisms plants need to thrive. The demand for the investigation of soil and related resources is the death knell for soil science.
Through study and experimentation, soil science explains how to raise the caliber of crops.
The discipline aims to draw attention to and address the biotic and abiotic factors that impact the soil. For those interested in the field, there are numerous and varied employment options in soil science.