Charles Allen Black

Charles Allen Black (January 22, 1916 – July 6, 2002) was an agronomist at Iowa State College, specializing in soil fertility and phosphorus. He was named the Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture in 1967.

Early life and education

Charles Allen Black was born on January 22, 1916, in Lone Tree, Iowa.

Black studied soil science, fertility, and chemistry, with a research specialization in soil phosphorus. He directed experimental work in both the field and laboratory, taught courses, and worked with multidisciplinary task forces reporting to members of Congress on issues relating to food and agriculture.

Black published a graduate textbook on Soil-Plant Relationships (1957) and was the editor of books including Methods of Soil Analysis (1965), Agronomy in a Changing World and Research Needs for the Seventies (1971)

“We need to re-examine continually, in the light of current circumstances, what we are doing in agriculture... If we temper our observations with realism, they can provide valuable guidance for the future.” Charles A. Black, 1977. Soil Science Award, American Society of Agronomy 1976, Edward W. Browning Achievement Award for the Improvement of Food Sources 1979, Distinguished Service Award, Agricultural Communicators Network (previously American Agricultural Editors Association) 1980, Henry A. Wallace Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture, Iowa State 1981, Honorary Member, American Society of Agronomy 1986, Agronomic Service Award, American Society of Agronomy since renamed the Borlaug CAST Communication Award. 1992, Soil Science Distinguished Award, Soil Science Society of America

Other interests

Black played the French horn and built and operated short wave radios. He volunteered with WOI radio in Ames, Iowa. Black compiled a pronunciation guide for English-speaking radio announcers, containing 1,500 musical terms and musicians' names.