Eduard Heiden

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Eduard Heiden (born February 8, 1835 in Greifswald , † December 20, 1888 in Pommritz ) was a German agricultural chemist . His research focus was in the field of fertilizer theory .

Life path

Eduard Heiden studied at the University of Greifswald from 1854 , first political science , then natural science subjects, especially agricultural chemistry. In 1855 he went to the Royal State and Agricultural Academy Eldena, which is affiliated with the university . From 1857 he worked as an assistant in the chemical laboratory of this academy. In 1858 he received the Venia legendi for the field of agricultural chemistry. As a private lecturer he gave lectures in Eldena after he had overcome an inborn speech defect with great willpower. In 1859 he obtained his doctorate from the University of Greifswald with a dissertation on the germination process in barley .

In 1862 Heiden got a job as an assistant in the laboratory of the Agricultural Academy Waldau near Königsberg . Until the dissolution of this academy in 1867, he held lectures on agricultural chemistry here. During these years he mainly carried out fertilization experiments and prepared a three-volume textbook on fertilizer theory, the first volume of which was published in 1866. In 1868 he took over the management of the agricultural research station in Pommritz (Saxony). Here he worked until his death.

Research activity

Heiden's main focus was on fertilization. In specialist circles, his name became known primarily through the continuous fertilization attempts he made in Pommritz with the aim of making “raw soil” (new land) fertile. Heiden strongly advocated the spreading of urban feces on arable land to increase soil fertility . His feeding experiments to evaluate the profitability of cereals and potatoes for feeding pigs were also noteworthy.

Heiden has mainly published the results of his intensive experimental work in the "Reports" or "Mittheilungen" of the Pommritz Experimental Station and in the journal "The agricultural experimental stations". He also published several specialist books . Presenting scientific research results to farmers in an understandable form was a particular concern of his. He has exemplarily documented the people's book "The fertilizer theory in popular scientific representation" published in 1875 .

Heiden, who was awarded the title of Professor in 1871 , has since taught at the Bautzen Agricultural School . Here he got several students, including Bruno Steglich , excited about agricultural chemistry. In 1883, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Pommritz test station, Heiden was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Saxon Order of Albrecht, first class .

Major works

  • About the germination of barley . Diss. Phil. Greifswald 1859.
  • Phosphoric Acid in its Relationship to Agriculture . G. Grote´sche Verlag Buchhandlung Hamm 1865.
  • Textbook of fertilizer theory. For use in lectures at higher agricultural schools and for self-teaching . Cohen's publishing house Stuttgart and Hanover. Vol. 1, Theoretical Part, 1866; Vol. 2, Practischer Part, 1868; Vol. 3, Statics of Agriculture, 1872. - 2. Erw. Edition ibid. Vol. 1, 1879/1880; Vol. 2, 1884/1887.
  • Guide to the entire fertilizer theory and statics of agriculture . Cohen's Verlag Hannover 1873; 2nd ed. 1882; 3rd edition revised by H. Gräfe 1892.
  • The agricultural experimental stations . Lecture given at the assembly of the Saxon farmers on May 26, 1873 in Bautzen. Publisher H. Schmidt Leipzig 1873.
  • The fertilizer doctrine in a popular scientific presentation . Verlag Voigt Berlin 1875 = series: Landwirthschaftliche Volksbücher. - Further editions until 1890.
  • Investigations into the most appropriate diet for pigs . Cohen's Verlag Hannover 1879; Reprint: 1880.
  • The human castings in national-economic, hygienic, financial and agricultural relation, with special consideration of the different systems of accumulation and their utilization . Cohen's publishing house Hannover 1882.
  • Memorandum to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pommritz test station . Part I: History of the establishment . Part II: Studies of the soil with special consideration of the question: how is heavy, raw soil (virgin land) made fertile? With the participation of Ms. Voigt, E. Güntz and Th. Wecke. Cohen's Verlag Hannover 1883.
  • The recovery of urban faeces . Edited on behalf of the German Agriculture Council together with K. von Langsdorff and Alexander Müller. Cohen's publishing house Hanover 1885.

literature

  • F. Nobbe: Eduard Heiden † . In: The agricultural test stations, Vol. 36, 1889, pp. 74–79 (with list of publications).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gentiles, Eduard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German agricultural chemist
DATE OF BIRTH February 8, 1835
PLACE OF BIRTH Greifswald
DATE OF DEATH December 20, 1888
Place of death Pommritz