A soil technician is a scientist who studies soil conditions in various locations and makes recommendations on how to use, improve, or optimize that soil. Soil science is critical to both the agricultural and municipal industrial sectors of most cities and local governments. His or her work is usually research-based, but it also includes a lot of fieldwork, such as collecting samples, giving presentations, giving official advice, and assisting landowners with basic conservation techniques.
Soil science is a branch of Earth science that incorporates elements of topography, ecology, geology, and chemistry. Technicians who specialize in this field usually spend their time learning about erosion, figuring out how to increase crop growth, and figuring out how to keep buildings and other structures as secure and weather-resistant as possible. A soil technician is a professional who has dedicated their career to learning how soil works and assisting societies in making the most of it.
Soil technicians’ basic skill sets are usually comparable, and how they conduct their work is usually related, regardless of the precise role they play within organizations. Fieldwork is almost always a part of a soil technician’s job. This requires the technician to go outside and examine the soil, study the surroundings, and collect samples.
The samples are usually taken back to a lab or central workspace, where they are studied and chemical properties extrapolated. The technician will conduct research, analyze the results, and make a recommendation. The soil technician will most likely present his or her findings to the company’s decision-makers.
Many soil technicians’ jobs include independent research, particularly in academia. Soil studies, like most sciences, relies on a continuous cycle of research, analysis, and publication as new trends and discoveries emerge. A technician might study soil conditions across several similar and diverse sites in order to draw conclusions about the nature of certain soil conditions or the effects of different climates or practices on soil strength. This research is frequently published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.
Soil technician jobs are typically found in the federal, state, and local governments. The specific job description for a soil technician will likely vary significantly from one job posting to the next, but it will almost always include some form of expert research and advice-giving. Agencies hire technicians to help them better understand how proposed building projects will affect soil, for example, or whether land conservation plans are feasible or even advisable.
For similar reasons, private companies frequently hire soil experts. For example, farm companies seeking to maximize their crop yields might hire soil technicians to provide expert advice and professional readings. When building structures on saturated land, flood plains, or near fault lines, construction companies may need the help of a soil scientist.