Education
1887 graduate Moscow University, studying under Timiryazev. 1889 graduate Petrov Agric Academy.
1887 graduate Moscow University, studying under Timiryazev. 1889 graduate Petrov Agric Academy.
1895—1948 professor, Petrov Agric Academy and Moscow’s Timiryazev Agric Academy. 1891 — 1931 also lectured at Moscow University and worked for various Institute, uncluding Institute of Fertilizers, All-Union of Fertilizers, Agrotechnics and Agropedology, Centr Sugar Indiana Research Indiana Research Institute, et cetera Also worked for State Planning Committee and Committee for Introducing Chemicals into the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics National Economy.
Studied plant nutrition and use of artificial fertilizers in agriculture Valuable research on nitrate nutrition and nitrogen metabolism in plants. Plotted conversion of nitrogenous substances in plants and attached great importance to ammonia as a starting substance and derivative in this process.
Established role of arparagin in plants and refuted existing view that it was a primary product of protein break-down. Proved that asparagin is synthesized from ammonia which forms in the plant in the final stage of protein decomposition or enters the plant from outside. Drew a parallel between the role of asparagin in plants and urine in animals and considered that asparagin served to neutralize the injurious effects of too high a concentration of ammonia in the plant and animal organism.
This enabled him to outline the general process of nitrogen metabolism in flora and fauna and was of great importance in revealing the general laws of evolution. The research was also of practical use in indicating agric used for ammonia salts and facilitating their large-scale production. Assessed value of Russian phosphorites as a direct source of phosphorus for plants and as raw material for the industry production of superphosphates.
Studied physiological characteristics of Russian potassium salts and various types of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Studied lime-dressing of acid soils and gypsum treatment of solonetz soils. Did research on methods of enriching land by planting legume crops (green fertilizer), and the use of peat, dung and other organic fertilizers.
Studied methods of feeding plants and dressing various types of fertilizer. Devised new methods of studying plant nutrition. So-called isolated nutrition method, sterile crop method, fluid solution method.
Also proposed methods for analysing soils and plants. Wrote numerous textbooks which ran through many editions: Castnoye zemledeliye (Private Farming) (1st ed, 1898. 8th cd, 1931); Agrokhimiya (Agrochemistry) (1st ed, 1934.
3rd ed, 1940).