Agrology

Agrology (from Greek , agros, "field, tilled land"; and , ) is the branch of soil science dealing with the production of crops. The use of the term is most active in Canada. Use of the term outside Canada is sporadic but significant. The term appears especially well established in Russia and China, with agrologists on university faculty lists and agrology curricula.

Agrology is synonymous with agricultural science when used in Canada, is nearly synonymous with the U.S. term agronomy, and has a meaning related to agricultural soil science when used outside of Canada.

The term agrologist was coined by Dr. J. B. Harrington and adopted in 1946 to fill the need in Canada to have a term to denote "provincial agriculturalist". The title of Professional Agrologist is conferred on persons with at least a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and who can demonstrate the qualities needed to responsibly teach, practise, or conduct experiments and research in the agricultural sciences. According to the Agricultural Institute of Canada website, an agrologist can also hold a degree in a field related to agriculture, or in some provinces pass rigorous prescribed examinations to attain a professional designation. There are about 5000 agrologists in Canada as of 2004^[update].

Agrology designations are managed by separate governing bodies in each province, with each operating under its own legislation. For example, within British Columbia the term "agrology" is defined by an Act of the Legislature passed in 2003 and adopted in 2004 entitled the Agrologists Act. This Act authorizes the self-governing body, the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists and those practising agrology within British Columbia do so under the following definition.

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