O*NET-SOC 19-1013.00

Soil and Plant Scientists

Conduct research in 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; 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.

From O*NET 30.3

Tasks

From O*NET 30.3, by importance, as O*NET OnLine lists them

Free · O*NET 30.3

Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops.Core9021
Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies.Core9024
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.Core9022
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.Core9025
Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects.Core9026
Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity.Core9023
Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment.Core23903
Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics.Core9030
Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests.Core9035
Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation.Core9034
Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties.Core9027
Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology.Core9028
Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products.Core9036
Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests.Core19751
Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting.Core19754
Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems.Core9037
Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth.Core9033
Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning.Supplemental9031
Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming.Supplemental20198
Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants.Core9038
Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms.Core9029
Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations.Supplemental19753
Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen.Supplemental9041
Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders.Supplemental9040
Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species.Supplemental9039
Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects.Supplemental20199
Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels.Supplemental19750

Technology Skills

From O*NET 30.3, 35 examples in 12 categories, 11 Hot Technology

Free · O*NET 30.3

Analytical or scientific software

3dMapper
Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator EPIC
European Soil Erosion Model EUROSEM
GEOEAS
GSLIB
Gstat
IBM SPSS StatisticsHot Technology
LandSerf
PC-Progress HYDRUS
SASHot Technology
SGeMS
SPAW
STATISTICA
UNSATFLOW
Variogram Estimation and Spatial Prediction plus Error Vesper
Water Erosion Prediction Project WEPP

Computer aided design CAD software

Autodesk AutoCADHot Technology

Geographic information system

ESRI ArcGIS softwareHot Technology
Geographic information system GIS software
Geographic information system GIS systems

Categorization or classification software

GAEA Technologies WinSieve

Map creation software

Leica Geosystems ERDAS IMAGINE

Data base user interface and query software

Microsoft AccessHot Technology
National Resources Conservation Service NRCS PEDON Description Program PDP
National Resources Conservation Service NRCS Soils Explorer
National Soil Information System NASIS
PedonCE
Soil information databases
SoilVision Systems SVOFFICE

Web platform development software

Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHot Technology

Spreadsheet software

Microsoft ExcelHot TechnologyIn Demand

Office suite software

Microsoft Office softwareHot TechnologyIn Demand

Presentation software

Microsoft PowerPointHot Technology

Word processing software

Microsoft WordHot Technology

Object or component oriented development software

RHot Technology

Detailed Work Activities

From O*NET 30.3, under their work activities; open one for the AI skills Workforce Automation maps to it

Free · O*NET 30.3

Getting Information

Research hydrologic features or processes.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Research geological features or processes.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Conduct climatological research.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Research impacts of environmental conservation initiatives.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Research crop management methods.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Research sustainable agricultural processes or practices.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Research diseases or parasites.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Conduct research of processes in natural or industrial ecosystems.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information

Survey land or properties.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Analyzing Data or Information

Analyze environmental data.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Analyze biological samples.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Thinking Creatively

Plan natural resources conservation or restoration programs.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Develop environmental sustainability plans or projects.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Develop sustainable industrial or development methods.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment

Develop agricultural methods.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Documenting/Recording Information

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

Collaborate with technical specialists to resolve design or development problems.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Direct natural resources management or conservation programs.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others

Advise others about environmental management or conservation.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet
Advise others about land management or conservation.
WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open
WFA (Workforce Automation) analysis: 0 of 0 AI skills mapped to this activity, by automation level
- No tools yet
- Not mapped yet

Job Zone

From O*NET 30.3

Free · O*NET 30.3

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Workforce Automation analysis, not part of the source

WFA coverage: AI skills for this job

WFA · Part of the paid plan when accounts open

Pilot mapping: these skill links come from our seed list and haven’t been reviewed yet. Expect them to change as each one is checked.

DWAs covered by an AI skill0 of 21

Distinct tools0

Level mix

No tools yet

Equivalents

NICE work roles, with their DCWF equivalents

Mapped to this job by the ETO-CSET NICE/O*NET crosswalk (2024); roles from NICE Framework Components v2.2.0, DCWF equivalents from DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)

Free · NICE Framework Components v2.2.0 and DoD DCWF Tool v5.3 (2026-09-25)

No NICE work role maps to this job.