Research on podzolization at Macdonald College from 1947 to 1959

Abstract

I am writing this article in honor of the late Dr. W. A. Delong, Professor of Chemistry, who initiated research on the mechanism of podzolization at Macdonald College in 1947. This research continued unintemrpted for 12 years and contributed in a major way not only to Canadian but also to international soil science. The results ofthis research have significantly influenced several developments in modern soil chemistry. It was Dr. Delong who planned this research, and managed to obtain long-term financial support from the Field Husbandry Division of the Canadian Department of Agriculture (now Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) in Ottawa, selected graduate students, guided and directed their work, and assisted them with writing theses and scientific papers. Dr. Delong was an outstanding researcher who had an exceptional ability to stimulate and direct students. Graduate students who worked on this project were in chronological order: C. W. Boswall, P. C. Stobbe, B. B. Coldwell, W. P. McKinley, L. E. Lutwick, M. Schnitzer, K. S. Maclean, D. E. Coffin, and R. J. Soper. Results of this research were communicated in six M.Sc. and five Ph.D. theses, and in 11 scientific papers. I have listed the titles of the theses, and the references for the scientific papers at the end of the article. As I worked with Dr. Delong for 5 years (1950-1955), I was able to closely observe hirn as research leader and also became familiar with the various aspects of this project. I believe that this qualifies me to write this article. I will describe the objectives of this research, the experimental setup, the results obtained, and then evaluate the influences of this research on modern soil chemistry. Finally, I will recount a few personal experiences with Dr. Delong which will throw light on his personality. I hope that among the readers of this article will be students and younger soil scientists who are not familiar with research done in this country 3547 years ago, and also those who are interested in the history of soil science, specifically Canadian soil science.