Emil Haselhoff

Emil Haselhoff (born 12th August 1862 in Dortmund, Westfalen, Prussia; died 10th March 1948 in Wambel, Dortmund) was a German agricultural chemist/soil scientist. He published a number of ground breaking studies on the chemical composition of different types of soil and carried out extensive experiments on the use of a variety of fertilisers to improve crop yields. His many publications on the subject had a lasting impact on the development of German-speaking soil science in the first half of the 20th century.
==Life and Career==
Emil Haselhoff studied applied chemistry and on 27th April 1888 he received a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Marburg, Germany with his dissertation on ‘The Derivatives of Indene’. During April 1902, he was appointed Director of the University’s ‘Agricultural Research Station’ in Marburg and on 22nd June 1902, he earned his ‘Habilitation’ for applied chemistry with emphasis on food and agricultural chemistry - this being the highest degree offered by the University of Marburg which fulfilled the University’s set criteria for excellence in research, teaching and further education.
On 21st December 1906, he received the title of 'Professor’ from the University of Marburg. During June 1910, the experimental station was relocated from Marburg to Kassel where Prof. Dr. Haselhoff continued in his role as 'Director' and it appears he was still in this post in 1943 when in his 80’s!
==Research Focus==
In his capacity as Director of the 'Agricultural Research Stations' at both Marburg and Kassel, his experimental work focused on ways to increase agricultural production. For example, one such study concentrated on the use of different types of fertilisers i.e. mineral, stable manure and liquid manure to improve the quality of the soil and thus increase crop yields and in collaboration with Professor Dr. Edwin Blanck - Director of the ‘Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Institute’ of the University of Gottingen, they published their findings in their 4 volume work entitled ‘Textbook on Agricultural Chemistry’ (plant nutrition science, fertiliser science, soil science, feed science).
==Major Works==
* ‘Agricultural Fodder: It’s fodder value and it’s use: together with instructions for setting up fodder rations for agricultural livestock’ with a forward by J. Konig. Published by J. Neumann, 1898. 
* ‘Emil Wolff’s instructions for the chemical examination of agriculturally important substances: for use in quantitative-analytical work in the chemical laboratory: with constant consideration of the associations of agricultural research stations…’. (together with Emil Theodor von Wolff 1818-1896). Published by Parey, Berlin (Thaer-Biblothek), 1899.
* ‘Damage to vegetation from smoke: Smoke Damage Detection and Assessment Manual’. (together with Dr. Gustav Lindau, 1866-1923). Published by Gebrüder Bornträger, Berlin, 1903.
* ‘Agricultural Chemical Investigation Methods’. Published by G.J. Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung - Leipzig, Les Minimes-Brie-Compte-Robert, 1909.
* ‘Water and wastewater: Their composition, assessment and investigation’. Published by G.J. Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung - Leipzig, 1909.
* ‘Spread Fertilisation or Row Fertilisation’. Published by Verlag von Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, 1916 
* ‘Textbook of Agricultural Chemistry (together with Edwin Blanck), 4 parts. Published by Gebrüder Bornträger, Berlin, 1927-1929.
* Fundamentals of smoke damage: Instructions for testing and assessing the effects of smoke outlets on soil and plants. Published by Gebrüder Bornträger, Berlin, 1932.
* ‘The Agricultural Experimental Stations as Workshops for Agrochemical Research’. Published by Gebrüder Bornträger, Berlin, 1941
==Award of the 'Goethe Medal for Art & Science'==
On 12th August 1942 - being the 80th birthday of Prof, Dr. Emil Haselhoff, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Goethe Medal for Art & Science’ as one of only 601 beneficiaries bestowed with the award between March 1932 when it was first created to December 1944 when the final award was issued.
The official notification appearing in the press was as follows -
‘Goethe Medal for a Wuppertaler’
‘Berlin. The Fuhrer has advised the Director of the Agricultural Research Institute Kassel-Karleshausen, Professor Dr. Emil Haselhoff in Wuppertal-Barmen, be awarded the Goethe Medal on the occasion of his 80th birthday in recognition of his services to agriculture, chemical and natural science’
Category:1862 births
Category:People from Dortmund
Category:German people
Category:Agricultural chemists
Category:Soil scientists