NEWARK, Del. - Donald L.
Sparks, soil chemist at the
University of Delaware, is one of
only two American scientists
recently honored by a jury of the
International'Potash-Institute in
Berne, Switzerland, which meets
every four years to evaluate
reports on major potassium
research around the world.
Last year, in its search for
creative new potassium studies,
the jury examined 111 papers by 70
authors on topics ranging from
plant nutrition to human health.
After assessing this volume of
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730 South Broad St.
Lititz, Pa. 17543
on Route 5016 miles North
of Lancaster
Lancaster County
717-626-2121
Soil chemist receives award
work for its significance, the in
stitute sent congratulations to
Sparks and six other scientists, one
from the United States and five
from abroad.
The congratulatory letter he
received this summer cited papers
published by Sparks and former
graduate student, Philip Jardine.
While Jardine was earning his
master’s degree, the two men
collaborated on a study aimed at
explaining the role of clay, organic
matter and other soil components
in potassium retention. Because
potassium leaches readily and is
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essential to plant growth, their
research could significantly affect
future fertilizer management
practices, particularly in regions
like the Delmarva peninsula with
sandy coastal plain soils.
Sparks joined the Agricultural
Experiment Station of the
university’s College of
Agricultural Sciences five years
ago after receiving his doctorate in
soil chemistry. Since then, in
addition to teaching and con
ducting laboratory and field
research, he has written a textbook
on soil physical chemistry for use
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by graduate students and
professionals. He has also been
invited to write chapters on soil
chemistry for three other books,
including the next issue of Ad
vances in Agronomy, published
under the auspices of the
American Society of Agronomy.
His research specialty is
potassium kinetics, or the
mechanism by which potassium
bonds with and is released from
soil particles. Very little research
has been done on this subject in the
world, and only two or three other
American scientists are studying
the behavior of potassium in soils.
Under Sparks’ leadership, the
University of Delaware has
developed a very active field
program to complement his
laboratory research. At present,
he and his colleagues are in
vestigating the effects if split
applications of potassium on
irrigated high management field
com. As part of this work they are
gathering information on the
Co-op month set to open
HARRISBURG - October is
Cooperative Month, and to kick-off
festivities the Pennsylvania
Association of Farmer
Cooperatives (PAFC) has
scheduled a luncheon and public
affairs symposium on Monday at
PTO
R. 7 Lebanon, Pa. 17042
Rt. 419 1 mile West of
Schaefferstown,
Buffalo Springs
Lebanon County
717-949-6501
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 29,1984—A37
critical potassium levels needed in
plant tissue at different growth
stages for maximum yield.
Because of his expertise, Sparks
is much sought after as a visiting
scholar and speaker. During the
1983-84 academic year he spoke at
the University of Kentucky,
Rutgers University, the University
of Maryland, Ohio State University
and the University of Saskat
chewan (Canada). This summer
he presented a guest paper at an
international clay minerals
symposium in Alberta, Canada. He
has also been invited to address an
international potassium sym
posium in Atlanta, Georgia, next
summer.
Jardine is currently working on
a Ph. D. in soil chemistry at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University. He earned an
undergraduate degree with
distinction and took his master’s
degree in soil chemistry at the
University of Delaware, where
Sparks was his advisor.
the Holiday Inn, Center city,
Harrisburg, according to Ward
Cooper, president.
Registration for the noon lun
cheon begins at 11:00 a.m. The
symposium is set to begin at 2:30
p.m.
Featured speakers at the
symposium include Gene
Swackhamer, president,
Baltimore Farm Credit System;
Wayne Boutwell, chief executive
officer, National Council of Far
mer Cooperatives; and Rep. Dave
Wright, D-Clarion.
In addition, the PAFC annual
meeting will follow the sym
posium. The annual banquet
begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by
entertainment featuring Jennifer
Eshelman, former Miss Penn
sylvania. The business session
follows breakfast on Tuesday
morning.
October Cooperative Month was
formed to educate consumers
about the purposes and economic
contributions of cooperatives. In
Pennsylvania, cooperatives are
among the leading business en
terprises with more than 1 million
member-owners providing low
cost, high-quality goods and ser
vices for the commonwealth’s 12
million citizens.
One in four Americans belongs to
a cooperative, from credit unions
to housing or electric cooperatives.
In Pennsylvania, more than 100
farmer cooperatives provide $1
billion in goods and services to
more than 72,500 farmer
cooperative members. Also, 13
rural electric cooperatives
distribute electricity to 600,000
rural Pensylvanians