Longtime UNL Agronomist and Soil Scientist

Over the years many of you may have sought the counsel of or benefitted from programs, publications, or tools developed by UNL Agronomist and Soil Scientist Donald Sander. On Sept. 12 Donald Henry Sander, 82, died at the Gardens on Quail Hospice in Denver, Colo. 

A native Nebraskan, Dr. Sander grew up near Creston on a diversified farm growing corn, oats, and alfalfa. He attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska in agriculture in 1954 and, after serving two years in the army, returned to receive his M.S degree in agronomy (soils) in 1958. From 1958 to 1964 Dr. Sander served as a research soil scientist with the United States Forest Service in Lincoln working on soil-tree relationships in the Great Plain. In 1964 he accepted an extension soil fertility position with Kansas State University, and upon receiving his Ph.D. in 1967, returned to the University of Nebraska as extension soils specialist and associate professor of agronomy (soils) with an extension and research appointment. He was promoted to professor in 1973 and was appointed to serve as the Agronomy Extension Coordinator in 1976.

Dr. Sander provided the leadership for a large and complex extension program in agronomy, coordinating 25 state and area specialists, and was instrumental in developing an outstanding soil fertility extension program, which included in-depth soil and fertilizer management training for Nebraska farmers. Dr. Sander also was instrumental in developing and coordinating a new workshop for farmers called "Crop Focus" which concentrated on key agronomic practices for increased crop production, efficiency, and profits. Crop Focus in 1985 involved 23 extension specialists at 15 locations in the state. He also initiated (1980) a program for regular released of timely topics in soils entitled "Soil Science News" and in crops the "Crops Production News" for distribution primarily to county agents for local radio and press releases.

Dr. Sander's research was primarily in dryland wheat production, although he also was actively involved with increasing the effectiveness of fertilizer for corn. His early efforts were effective in increasing wheat grain protein in western Nebraska. He helped design and implement a broad applied field research program to provide a base for current nitrogen recommendations for wheat. He was instrumental in the finding that considerable nitrogen may be lost directly from the wheat plant.

His research efforts in phosphorus showed Nebraska farmers the most effective methods of application that result in increased yields and fertilizer efficiency. New correlation and calibration research enabled the prediction of phosphorus needs of wheat based on method of application and soil pH in terms of fertilizer cost and crop value.

One of Dr. Sander's greatest assets was his ability to work effectively in a coordinating role or directly with other staff and graduate students to initiate and complete both extension and research projects that directly affected Nebraska farmers. These relationships helped him to author and co-author 100 extensions and research publications. From 1977 to 1983 he served as Associate Editor of the "Soil Science Society of America Journal."  In 1986 he was named a Fellow in the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. 

Surviving are Harriet, his wife of 62 years; one brother, one son, one daughter and six grandchildren.