HISTORY OF SOIL SCIENCE: HANS JENNY - 1

Hans Jenny, born 7 February 1899 in Basel, Switzerland,
had a career that spanned nearly 70 years,
ending only with his death on 9 January 1992.


...Jenny eventually took courses from Georg Wiegner in
agricultural chemistry, an exposure that shifted his interests
toward colloid chemistry and a postgraduate
degree. Most notably, Jenny was attracted to Wiegner
because he ‘‘expounded on principles, concepts, and
ideas, rather than practical recipes.’’

In 1923, Jenny received his diploma in agriculture,
and approached Wiegner about research in soil chemistry.
Wiegner responded by insisting that Jenny first
acquire a more solid foundation in chemistry.
Wiegner was widely famous, and attracted students
and postdoctoral scholars from across Europe as well
as from overseas. Soon, Jenny became Wiegner’s chief
assistant in soil and colloid chemistry. In contrast to
Wiegner’s laboratory interests, Jenny began to spend
weekends in the field, collecting and subsequently
analyzing soil samples...

Jenny’s views on the aesthetic value of soils:

‘Soil appeals to my senses. I like to dig in it and work it
with my hands. I enjoy doing the soil-texture feel test
with my fingers or kneading a clay soil, which is a short
step from ceramics or sculpture. Soil has a pleasant
smell. I like to sit on bare, sun-drenched ground and
take in the fragrance of soil. As yet, neither touch nor
smell sensations have been accorded aesthetic recognition,
but colors delight painters, photographers, and
writers, as well as you and me. In loess country, plowed
fields on slopes show wide bands of attractive color
gradations from dark browns to light yellows, caused
by erosion of the surface soil. Warm brownish colors
characterize fields and roofs in Cezanne’s landscape
paintings of southern France, and radiant red soils of
the tropics dominate canvasses of Gauguin and Portinari.
Soil profiles viewed in pits may reveal vivid color
and structure patterns of layers or horizons. I have seen
so many delicate shapes, forms, and colors in soil
profiles that, to me, soils are beautiful.’


Cited from:

R Amundson, University of California–Berkeley,
Berkeley, CA, USA
2004, Elsevier Ltd. All Rights Reserved.