History

Plant Nutrition in Hohenheim

1923 - 1932

During the Weimar Republic, the most important economic and political challenge was achieving self-reliance, particularly in food production. An option to realise this goal the increased use of mineral fertilizer to enhance yields. Whereas it had been possible for the fertilizer industry to obtain and process nitrogen and potassium in Germany, phosphate had to be imported. In 1923, with that historical context, Margarete von Wrangell became full professor and founder of the Institute for Plant Nutrition of the University of Hohenheim (at that time “Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule Hohenheim”). Her research focused on the solubility and usability of phosphate. Beside field trials and pot experiments, laboratory research focussed on mineralisation by soil organisms. At that time it was exceptional that a woman could become leader of a scientific institute. Besides her scientific qualification, her resolute character helped to advance her career. In fact, she was supported more by the government and economic forces than by her scientific colleagues.

1932 - 1960

After Wrangell´s death (1932), Kurt Maiwald was appointed as the next director of the institute. In 1933 Hitler advented to power and propagated the “Third Reich”. The National Socialist German Worker´s Party gained control over science and education in Hohenheim, as most of the leading positions had been overtaken by Nazi leaders. With the foresight of war, autarky had been one of the most important political goals. In the name of the “production battle” (“Erzeugerschlacht”), the food supply and the agricultural production was assured by the “Reichsnährstand” (statutory corporation of farmers in Nazi Germany). After the Second World War, the food supply broke down entirely. The most important political aim was increasing the agricultural production while the society had to face the consequences of following the Nazi ideology. Related to the denazification measures, many professors were identified as political followers, temporarily banned from their profession. With that background, also Maiwald lost his professorship, but, only temporarily until 1948. In his scientific work, Maiwald focussed mainly on the conversion of organic material conducting trials with manure, municipal wastes, and on the nitrogen balance of agricultural production systems. With the trials involving stable manure, he participated in the Reichsnährstand study, with the aim of making the storage of manure more efficient.

1960 - 1976

After Maiwalds death in 1960, Gerhard Michael, who did not see any future for his work under the socialistic government of the German Democratic Republic (DDR), became the next director of the institute. With the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the agricultural policy of the DDR and of the Federal Republic of Germany developed opposing directions and the scientific exchange became more difficult. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the agricultural production increased due to the mechanization, progress in plant breeding and increased use of mineral fertilizer. This led to an overproduction and food quality came more into focus. Thus, research changed its focus from applied to to basic issues of plant physiology concerning the quality of yield products (fat and protein) and the acquisition and allocation of plant nutrients. With the help of Marschner, Michael promoted the isotope technology, and with Peter Martin and Helmut Beringer, two new professorships were staffed in 1973 and 1974.

1976 - 1996

When Michael retired in 1976, Marschner, who was Professor at the Technical University in Berlin for several years, became the new director of the Institute. With the advent of the computer age, faster and more precise methods involving laboratory techniques were developed, which led to an improvement in international scientific cooperation and analytical technology. At the same time, environmental awareness was growing among the society. Along with heavy metal pollution, air and water pollution, and forest decline became an important issue. Within this context, Marschner´s research focused on nutritional physiology and on the rhizosphere processes. Environment related topics, mycorrhiza as well as international contacts (China, West Africa, Turkey) became important for the institute. Additional research groups at the institute where headed by the professors Walter J. Horst, Norbert Claassen, Volker Römheld and Sven Schubert. Marschner died unexpectedly in 1996 as the last full director of the institute.

1996 to today

It took several years and two application cycles, before the chair could be staffed with Nicolaus von Wirén (2001 until 2009) who also became the first elected executive director. Von Wirén established molecular biology focussing on the membrane transport of ammonium, iron and urea. Simultaneously, Römheld focused more on research areas related to practical application, such as fertilization and in particular on rhizospere processes. In 2004 Torsten Müller became professor for “Fertilisation with Soil Chemistry” (later “Fertilisation and Soil Matter Dynamic”) at the institute focussing on fertilisation, organic matter and process-modeling. Eventually, Müller took over Römheld's responsibilities after his retirement in 2008. In 2009, von Wirén left the University of Hohenheim to continue his research at the IPK Gatersleben, and Uwe Ludewig became Professor for “Nutritional Crop Physiology”. Before, the two chairs of the Institute of Plant Nutrition where fused with other chairs to the new Institute of Crop Sciences. Ludewig also uses molecular biology tools, aiming to integrate basic research with praxis-orientated topics. Nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrient nutrition are major topics in his research. In 2011, Günter Neumann, who has been working at the institute since 1995, became an extraordinary professor particularly focussing on rhizosphere processes until his retirement in 2022. In 2013, Christian Zörb became a full professor for "Quality of Plant Products" which also includes quality aspects related to fertilisation.

modified from Hamann, Helena (2011): Die Geschichte des Instituts für Pflanzenernährung der Universität Hohenheim. Master Thesis, Inst. Of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, 102 pp.