-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist

(Greek: a suffix meaning: to talk, to speak; a branch of knowledge; any science or academic field that ends in -ology which is a variant of -logy; a person who speaks in a certain manner; someone who deals with certain topics or subjects)

The word -ology is a back-formation from the names of certain disciplines. The -logy element basically means "the study of ____". Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -logy derived from the Greek suffix -λογια (-logia), speaking, from λεγειν (legein), "to speak".

The suffix -ology is considered to be misleading sometimes as when the "o" is actually part of the word stem that receives the -logy ending; such as, bio + logy.

Through the years -ology and -logy have come to mean, "study of" or "science of" and either of these suffixes often utilize the form of -ologist, "one who (whatever the preceding element refers to)".

The examples shown in this unit represent just a small fraction of the many words that exist in various dictionaries.

agricultural geology (s) (noun) (no pl)
The use of geology in agricultural applications: Agricultural geology is used in relation to the nature, formation, and distribution of soils.
agricultural meteorology, agrometeorology (s) (noun) (no pl)
The use of meteorological information for agricultural purposes: Agricultural meteorology is used in the protection of crops from a predicted frost.
agriecology (s) (noun), agriecologies (pl)
Ecology as applied to agriculture; agroecology: Agriecology is the study of the relationship between the environment and agricultural crops.
agriologist (s) (noun), agriologists (pl)
Someone who is versed in the history and customs of primitive or uncivilized peoples: Mary's mother was an agriologist who was an expert in the comparison of prinitve, illiterate, and "savage" cultures.
agriology (s) (noun), agriologies (pl)
The comparative study of the history and customs of primitivenor uncivilized people: Mary's mother worked with others in the field of agriology, which involved the related historical aspects and traditions of very early, illiterate, and "savage" people.
agritechnology, agritech (s) (noun), agritechnolgies (pl)
Current technology applied to agriculture; agrotechnology: Agritechnology includes marketing, products grown, livestock breeding and care, horticulture, landscape operations, and turf management.
agrizoology (s) (noun), agrizoologies (pl)
The study of wild animals: Since Judy loved animals that lived in forests, she got a book on agrizoology to learn more about their influence on soil conditions and how they are affected by soil situations.
agrobiologist (s) (noun), agrobiologists (pl)
An expert in the field of plant nutrition and growth: An agrobiologist is a specialist in the line of bacteria and microorganisms in soil regarding the growth of crops and the feeding of domestic animals.
agrobiology (s) (noun) (no pl)
The study of the breeding, nutrition, and growth of crops: Agrobiology deals especially with soil management.

Agrobiology is the quantitative science of plant life and plant nutrition.

agroclimatology (s) (noun), agroclimatologies (pl)
The study of climates as applied to the effect on the productivity of plants and animals of agricultural importance: Agroclimatology is a field of climatology that deals particularly with the factors and effects of agroclimate.
agroecologist (s) (noun), agroecologists (pl)
An expert in or a student of the design, development, and management of sustainable agricultural systems: An agroecologist studies the applications of ecological principles while considering existing social, cultural, and economic factors of farming communities.
agroecology (s) (noun), agroecologies (pl)
Ecology as applied to agriculture: Agroecology is the study of the relationship between the environment and agricultural crops.

Agroecology is the science dealing with the connection s between agricultural systems and their environments.

agrogeologist (s) (noun), agrogeologists (pl)
Someone who specializes in the study of minerals that are important to farming and horticulture: The agrogeologist is especially interested in the relationships of soil fertility and the various fertilizer components.
agrogeology (s) (noun), agrogeologies (pl)
The branch of geology dealing with soil, crops, and horticultural sciences, and focusing on practical approaches to land management in developing and developed countries: Agrogeology is the study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients and are referred to as agrominerals.

Expanding the understanding of agrogeology

Agrogeology is the study of the natural fertilization that takes place when weathering breaks rocks into their constituent elements. It was first studied in the early nineteenth century, however the success of the artificial fertilizers eliminated interest in this natural approach until the late 1970s when Dr. Chesworth, a geologist at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, combined his theoretical studies of rock decomposition to determine that weathering of a common volcanic rock, like basalt, made land more fertile.

Continuing studies indicate that volcanic rocks like basalt supply the nutrients necessary for plant and animal growth. The essential elements for plant growth include: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine. In addition, the presence of rock fragments in the soil and on the soil surface significantly influences infiltration, runoff, and moisture storage, all of which significantly effect plant growth.

In recent years, soil scientists have conducted numerous studies to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers on the nation's farmlands. Results from these analyses indicate remineralization can achieve a series of benefits:

  • Combat the effects of pests and diseases that effect plant growth.
  • Reduce the water requirements necessary for plant growth.
  • Lower the cost of production and produce higher yields on treated lands.
  • Provide the necessary nutrients to increase the quality and quantity of the plants grown.
—John O. Rudd, Agrogeological Evaluation

agrologist (s) (noun), agrologists (pl)
An specialist in the science of agricultural production; a professional agriculturist: Dr. Williams was an expert agrologist who explored soils and their possible productivity for future use. .
Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "talk, speak, speech; words, language; tongue, etc.": cit-; clam-; dic-; fa-; -farious; glosso-; glotto-; lalo-; linguo-; locu-; logo-; loqu-; mythico-; ora-; -phasia; -phemia; phon-; phras-; Quotes: Language,Part 1; Quotes: Language, Part 2; Quotes: Language, Part 3; serm-; tongue; voc-.