K-State Agronomy Centennial 1906-2006
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K-State Agronomy Centennial Corporate Sponsors Presidential ($5000) Monsanto Platinum ($1000) BASF Bayer CropScience DuPont High Plains Journal John Deere Kansas Crop Improvement Association Mosaic Pioneer Hi-Bred International Gold ($500) Crop Quest Golden Harvest Grass and Grain Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association Kansas Corn Commission Kansas Farm Bureau Kansas Seed Industry Association Kansas Soybean Commission Kincaid Equipment Star Seed Syngenta-AgriPro Wheat Western States Reclamation Supporters (<$500) Murphy Agro Servi-Tech Sudbeck Agronomics A Century Remembered A Centennial History of the Department of Agronomy Kansas State University Photo Credits We thank the following organizations and individuals for providing photographs for this publication. Photos courtesy of: Department of Agronomy Library: Olson, p. 11 Kansas State University Archives: Ten Eyck, p. 9; Jardine, Call, p. 0; Throckmorton, Myers, p. 0. The K-Stater, p. 7 Royal Purple Yearbook, pp. 4, 7, 8, 33, 38, 39, 4, 78 Soil Conservation Service, pp. 0, USDA-ARS WERU, pp. 47, 47, 48 Mark Claassen, p. 76 Anita Dille, pp. 07, 114 Barney Gordon, pp. 54, 56 George E. Ham, Ham, p. Hyde S. Jacobs, Jacobs, p. Keith Janssen, pp. 9, 3 Mary Beth Kirkham, p. 4 David B. Mengel, Mengel, p. 3 Clenton Owensby, p. 110 Gerry L. Posler, Posler, p. Charles Rice, p. 40 Kraig Roozeboom, pp. 6, 77 Oliver Russ, p. 50 Vernon Schaffer, p. 70 William Schapaugh and Harold Trick, pp. 80, 83 Jim Shroyer, p. 47 Michael Stamm, p. 95 Clarence Swallow, pp. 4, 59, 64, 68 Mitch Tuinstra, p. 78 Elisabeth Vanderlip, p. 3 Richard Vanderlip, 03 Dave Whitney, p. 85 Walt Woods, p. 9 Contents Introduction and Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 5 K-State Agronomy in 2006 ............................................................................................................................... 7 Heads of Agronomy, 1906–2005 ........................................................................................................................ 9 Overview of the Agronomy Department, 1906 - 2006................................................................................... 15 Teaching Programs .......................................................................................................................................... 33 Extension Extension Agronomy .................................................................................................................................. 47 Extension Range Management ................................................................................................................... 53 Extension Weed Science............................................................................................................................. 55 International Activities .................................................................................................................................... 57 Research Programs Plant Genetics ............................................................................................................................................. 65 Wheat Improvement ................................................................................................................................... 67 Sorghum Improvement ............................................................................................................................... 77 Soybean Improvement ................................................................................................................................ 8 Corn Breeding ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Canola Breeding ......................................................................................................................................... 95 Alfalfa Breeding ......................................................................................................................................... 97 Grass Breeding ......................................................................................................................................... 0 Crop Production and Crop Ecology ......................................................................................................... 03 Crop Physiology ....................................................................................................................................... 05 Forage Management and Utilization ........................................................................................................ 07 Range Management .................................................................................................................................. 09 Weed Science ........................................................................................................................................... 113 Soil Classification and Soil Survey .......................................................................................................... 115 Soil Chemistry .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Soil Fertility .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Soil Management and Conservation ........................................................................................................ 3 Soil Physics .............................................................................................................................................. 35 Soil Microbiology .................................................................................................................................... 39 Evapotranspiration Laboratory ................................................................................................................. 4 USDA-ARS Wind Erosion Research Unit ............................................................................................... 45 Experiment Fields .......................................................................................................................................... 151 Agronomy Farm ............................................................................................................................................. 159 Ashland Agronomy Farm .............................................................................................................................. 167 Service Programs Foundation Seed ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Crop Performance Testing ........................................................................................................................ 73 Kansas Crop Improvement Association ................................................................................................... 8 Soil Testing Activities .............................................................................................................................. 85 Additional Reading ........................................................................................................................................ 189 3 4 Introduction and Acknowledgements Looking ahead to the Department of Agronomy printed version and also included full-length on the Centennial in 006, a plan for writing this history CD ROM (e.g., Experiment Fields and Soil Survey). was initiated in 00 when Gary Paulsen developed We acknowledge the efforts of all current, an outline of possible sections and potential authors emeritus, and former faculty members and others and submitted it to the Agronomy faculty. Because who authored and edited sections. We particularly the submission deadline was fairly far in the future thank Cynthia Harris, David Whitney, and Mary and faculty members were busy with other responsi- Beth Kirkham for assisting with multiple sections. bilities and more pressing deadlines, little response We appreciate the efforts of George Ham and Rich- was received. In 005, we agreed that this project ard Vanderlip for reviewing multiple sections. We would be a very important part of our Centennial also appreciate the enthusiastic support of Interim Celebration. Following a meeting with Department Department Head Gary M. Pierzynski during the Head Dave Mengel and Paulsen, who had retired, crucial months of completion. Gerry Posler agreed to coordinate the writing effort We are deeply indebted to Jennifer Foltz for by updating the list of sections and seeking the assis- her graphic designs for the history cover, historical tance of faculty members to be authors. timeline, Centennial logo, registration brochure, and K-State Agronomy is a large and diverse depart- many other posters and literature pieces. We also ment with a long and significant history of teach- acknowledge the assistance of Brittany Green for ing, research, extension, and international program scanning many photos and documents, and her ef- activities, in part because agriculture in Kansas is forts, along with those of Nancy William and Connie based upon its abundant land resources, which are Hobbs, for typing several sections and appendices. primarily composed of cropland and rangeland and We also appreciate the helpfulness of the University forages