According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Communicate research or project results to other professionals or the public or teach related courses, seminars, or workshops. | 84% |
| Develop methods of conserving or managing soil that can be applied by farmers or forestry companies. | 81% |
| 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. | 81% |
| 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. | 80% |
| Investigate soil problems or poor water quality to determine sources and effects. | 76% |
| Investigate responses of soils to specific management practices to determine the use capabilities of soils and the effects of alternative practices on soil productivity. | 75% |
| Conduct experiments to investigate the underlying mechanisms of plant growth and response to the environment. | 73% |
| Identify degraded or contaminated soils and develop plans to improve their chemical, biological, or physical characteristics. | 71% |
| Develop new or improved methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or insect pests. | 71% |
| Provide advice regarding the development of regulatory standards for land reclamation or soil conservation. | 70% |
| Study soil characteristics to classify soils on the basis of factors such as geographic location, landscape position, or soil properties. | 70% |
| Develop improved measurement techniques, soil conservation methods, soil sampling devices, or related technology. | 70% |
| Conduct research to determine best methods of planting, spraying, cultivating, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting horticultural products. | 70% |
| Develop environmentally safe methods or products for controlling or eliminating weeds, crop diseases, or pests. | 69% |
| Study ways to improve agricultural sustainability, such as the use of new methods of composting. | 68% |
| Survey undisturbed or disturbed lands for classification, inventory, mapping, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection planning, conservation planning, or reclamation planning. | 65% |
| Consult with engineers or other technical personnel working on construction projects about the effects of soil problems and possible solutions to these problems. | 65% |
| Perform chemical analyses of the microorganism content of soils to determine microbial reactions or chemical mineralogical relationships to plant growth. | 65% |
| Plan or supervise waste management programs for composting or farming. | 62% |
| Develop ways of altering soils to suit different types of plants. | 61% |
| Conduct experiments investigating how soil forms, changes, or interacts with land-based ecosystems or living organisms. | 61% |
| Research technical requirements or environmental impacts of urban green spaces, such as green roof installations. | 60% |
| Identify or classify species of insects or allied forms, such as mites or spiders. | 53% |
| Conduct experiments regarding causes of bee diseases or factors affecting yields of nectar or pollen. | 53% |
| Study insect distribution or habitat and recommend methods to prevent importation or spread of injurious species. | 52% |
| Plan or supervise land conservation or reclamation programs for industrial development projects. | 50% |
| Conduct research into the use of plant species as green fuels or in the production of green fuels. | 46% |
