Don & Betty Kirkham

This webpage is dedicated to the late Don Kirkham, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Professor of Physics at Iowa State University, and his wife Betty. Don Kirkham was probably the best-known soil physicist of the 20th Century. His special interest was the flow of water through soils and drainage of agricultural land. The host of exact mathematical solutions he provided has established him as without peer in this specialty, and qualifies him to be known as the founder of mathematical soil physics. He is credited with laying a mathematical foundation for drainage theory, changing the design of drainage systems from a purely experience-based skill to one based on physical understanding.

In the last century, Don Kirkham probably had more impact on drainage theory and soil physics as a discipline than any other person in the world. His towering contribution came not solely from his considerable intelligence and intellectual skills but also from his kindly and unpretentious demeanor and spirit in dealing with students, colleagues and others.