By Kristen Kostelnik | 02/27/2025
Soil is something most of us never think about, except when we plant a garden in our yard or wash our clothes. In fact, soil is one of the most important natural resources on Earth. Plants need soil to survive, and animals need plants for their food and habitats.
Humans are no different. Crop productivity requires healthy soil to provide the food we eat, the feed our animals require, or the clothes we wear.
Soil is the foundation of our buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. Bricks and other building materials, pottery, dyes, paints, glass, and many other products are made from soil. Without soil, there are no forests, beaches, or mountains.
In addition, there are uses for soil that are less well known but incredibly important. For example, soil is home to a vast array of microorganisms. According to BASF Agricultural Solutions, a single gram of soil may contain up to a billion microorganisms and 50,000 different species.
This incredible diversity has driven numerous public health innovations. Many of our existing antibiotics – such as penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline – come from soil bacteria.
Other important drugs such as anti-fungal medications or Ivermectin® – a type of medication used to treat some parasitic diseases – also come from soil. The potential for new antibiotics and other medicines to be developed from soil is endless.
Soil is a powerful tool for managing climate change because soils serve as carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the air and storing it underground. Healthy, functioning soil can also prevent or mitigate landslides, flooding, and other natural hazards.
Another unexpected area of soil science is space exploration and colonization. Long-term voyages in space or the establishment of bases on other planets will require sustainable food production, and soil is a big part of that.
Studying Soil Science
The people who study soil aren't always referred to as simply "soil scientists.” You might also find them called environmental soil scientists, soil and plant scientists, agricultural and food scientists, or research soil scientists.
Soil science is the study of the basic structure and function of soil, along with its environmental and human applications. Many students often take one or more soil science courses, especially if they are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in:
- Ecology
- Geology
- Agriculture
- Crop science
- Horticulture
- Environmental science
- Natural resources
- Turf management
What Work Do Soil Scientists Do?
The work that soil scientists do is often heavily field-based with a focus on assessment, sampling, and surveying. Laboratory work is also common for performing chemical and physical analysis of field samples.
Soil scientists also perform other work, such as:
- Conducting research projects and field work
- Checking plant growth, soil structure, soil properties, and crop growth
- Providing data analysis
- Creating technical documents such as maps, soil descriptions, environmental assessments, scientific papers, and grant applications
Collaboration is a major part of any environmental work, and soil science is no exception. For instance:
- New buildings or construction often require certifications from a soil scientist that the land percolates and/or drains properly.
- Municipalities rely on soil scientists to design and certify wastewater and stormwater management systems or for other land use evaluations.
- Farmers work with soil scientists to understand and amend their soil to maximize crop production and sustainability.
- Ranchers or rangeland managers work with soil scientists to ensure sustainable grazing practices for animals.
- Research institutions employ soil scientists to study potential medical applications and numerous environmental issues, such as wildlife conservation, climate change, and sustainability.
- Government agencies use soil scientists to classify and map soil types or to monitor and treat soil contamination.
- Energy companies employ soil scientists to conduct research on soil compaction, type, stability, and contamination at potential drilling sites.
- Agricultural extension programs employ soil scientists to collect and analyze soil samples for commercial and home use. They measure pH (a measurement of acidity or basicity), soil texture, and the amount of nutrients that impact soil fertility.
- Military servicemembers use soil scientists to determine safe and appropriate methodology for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), particularly in the case of land mines.
- Land and wildlife managers rely on soil scientists to help site food plots or habitat for game species or other species of management concern.
Where Do Soil Scientists Commonly Work?
There are a surprising number of organizations that typically use the services of soil scientists. These organizations include:
- International government agencies such as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- State agricultural extension services
- Local municipalities
- Research institutions, colleges, and universities
- Private-sector industries, including environmental consulting firms, agricultural companies, food production companies, and forestry companies
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Soil Health Institute or the Soil and Water Conservation Society
- Academic institutions
Why Study Soil Science?
We should all study soil! The benefits to society and the environment are numerous and often unexpected.
To learn more about the world under your feet, you can get the soil in your yard analyzed by your local agricultural extension service or take a soil science course. In a soil science course, students typically learn about:
- Soil formation
- Soil health
- The physical and chemical structure of soil
- Soil classification and mapping
- The soil food web
- The applied uses for soil
- Soil microbiology
- Soil fertility
- Biogeochemistry
- Natural resources management
The Environmental Science Degree at American Public University
For adult learners interested in learning how to become a soil scientist or pursue career opportunities in related professions, American Public University (APU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. This degree offers courses in a range of subjects, including soil science, biology, chemistry, geology, math, statistics, and physics, taught by expert instructors. Students will also be expected to conduct research projects.
For more information, visit APU’s math and science degree program page.
Ivermectin is a registered trademark of Merck and Company, Inc.
