The directions of scientific activity of professor S.M. Bohdanov of Saint Vladimir royal university of Kiev

Abstract

The article is about the scientific potential of S.M. Bohdanov, professor of Saint Vladimir
Royal University of Kiev in the field of agronomic sciences in the late XIX – early XX century.
Based on the analysis of the scientist’s publications, the authors noted that S.M. Bohdanov had a
great influence on the development of agronomic knowledge, in turn confirms the thesis that
Kyiv University was one of the centers of agronomy at that time.
In particular, the scientist was one of the first in the world to classify soil water and
formulated the concept of «dead» (unabsorbed by plants) water reserve in soil. Bohdanov’s
theoretical conclusions about soil water properties and plant water regime were of exceptional
importance in the development of agronomic science as well as of great practical importance in
agricultural practice. They were of particular value later due to the widespread introduction of
field irrigation in practice.
Also S.M. Bohdanov, as it is shown in the article, was the first who developed the method
of research of water absorption by plants, the base of which he got in Germany and Austria. At
the same time, there S.M. Bohdanov got acquainted with the system of higher agricultural
education, studied research work. He listened the lectures at the agricultural institute in Halle,
worked in the laboratory of the outstanding German scientist-agronomist, Professor Julius
Kühn. Acquainted with the teaching methods and educational and practical activities of other
higher agricultural educational institutions in Germany (in Leipzig, Berlin, Göttingen, Munich),
and Austria (in Vienna).
In the process of analyzing the biography of the scientist, the authors also focused on other
aspects of his life, which influenced the formation of scientific views of S.M. Bohdanov. In particular, the scientist devoted a lot of time to social and pedagogical activity. It was the work
in the pedagogical field that helped the scientist to strengthen his scientific views and test them
in practice.