Edwin Blanck

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Edwin Blanck (born February 14, 1877 in Neubrandenburg (Mecklenburg), † October 21, 1953 in Göttingen ) was a German soil scientist . With the publication of an eleven-volume "Handbuch der Bodenlehre", he had a lasting impact on the development of German-speaking soil science in the first half of the 20th century.

Professional career

Blanck studied chemistry and geology in Berlin and Rostock and received his doctorate in 1901 at the University of Heidelberg with a dissertation on the colloid behavior of inorganic salts. He then worked for several years in agricultural test stations and university laboratories for agricultural chemistry. In 1913 he became head of department at the Agricultural Research Station in Rostock . From 1918 to 1921 he was a full professor at the Tetschen-Liebwerd Agricultural University . In 1921 he followed a call to the University of Göttingen . After the transfer of power , he signed the professors' commitment to Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist state at the German universities and colleges , an election call for November 11, 1933. As director of the Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Institute, he worked here until his retirement in 1945.

Research priorities

His experimental work focused on investigations in the fields of weathering theory and soil geography . In numerous experiments he dealt with practice-oriented questions of mineral, manure and manure fertilization . An important field of activity for him was the critical-systematic summary of scientific findings. In addition to popular science books on plant nutrition and fertilization , he published a "textbook on agricultural chemistry " in 1927 together with Emil Haselhoff .

Blanck's most important scientific achievement is the eleven-volume "Handbuch der Bodenlehre" (1929–1939) which he edited. This handbook with contributions from leading soil scientists and representatives from neighboring disciplines is considered the work of the century in soil science literature in Germany. It had a lasting influence on the further development of soil science as a scientific discipline. With this work Blanck gained a high international reputation. Of his own contributions in this handbook, the essay "The soil theory or soil science as science" (vol. 1, 1929), which is fundamental for understanding the discipline, should be emphasized.

Blanck was one of the co-editors of the magazines "Chemie der Erde" (since 1914), "Journal für Landwirtschaft" (1921-1936) and "Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernahrung, Fertilization, Soil Science" (1950-1952). In 1950 he was elected President of the German Soil Science Society .

Major works

  • Agricultural chemistry textbook (together with Emil Haselhoff), 4 parts. Bornträger Brothers, Berlin 1927–1929.
  • Manual of soil theory (edited by E. Blanck). 10 volumes. Julius Springer, Berlin 1929–1932, supplementary volume 1939.
  • Introduction to genetic soil science as an independent natural science and its basics . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1949.

literature

  • Fritz Giesecke : Edwin Blanck on completing his 65th year of life . In: Soil science and plant nutrition / NF , Vol. 27 (72), 1942, pp. 1-15, ISSN  0366-2136 (with picture and list of his publications).
  • Fritz Scheffer : Obituary for Prof. Dr. phil. Edwin Blanck . In: Journal for plant nutrition, fertilization, soil science , vol. 63 (108), 1953, before p. 1, ISSN  0372-9702 (with picture).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Source (PDF; 6.5 MB), p. 129, left. Column; the call on the front pages, also in 4 other languages
personal data
SURNAME Blanck, Edwin
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German soil scientist
DATE OF BIRTH February 14, 1877
PLACE OF BIRTH Neubrandenburg
DATE OF DEATH October 21, 1953
Place of death Goettingen