Position Title
In Memoriam
Professor Emeritus
1937-2022
DONALD WILLIAM RAINS
Birth: December 16, 1937, Fairfield, Iowa
Death: December 15, 2022, Davis, California
Education
- B.S., Soil Science, University of California, Davis, 1961
- Ph.D., Plant Physiology/Soil Science, University of California, Davis, 1965
- National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Employment
- National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 1965–1966
- Researcher, Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, UC Davis, 1966–1972
- Faculty Member, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis, 1972–2005
- Chair, Department of Agronomy and Range Science, UC Davis, two terms (1981–1987 and later years)
- Director, UC Davis Plant Growth Laboratory
- Chair, International Agricultural Development Graduate Group, UC Davis
- Emeritus Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, 2005–2022
Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies
- Fellow, American Society of Agronomy
- Fellow, Crop Science Society of America
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Member, American Society of Plant Physiologists, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Scandinavian Society of Plant Physiologists
- Associate Editor, Plant Science
- Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Quality
Research Contributions and Impact
Rains was internationally recognized for his research in plant physiology, plant nutrition, and crop production. His studies included ion absorption in roots, nutrient management in cotton and cereals, salt tolerance in crops, sodium transport in plants, and plant water stress. He also advanced the use of azolla as an organic nutrient source. His collaborative investigation into chronic lead poisoning of horses near Benicia, California, identified contaminated forage as the cause, linking plant uptake to environmental exposure.
Publications and Scholarly Leadership
Rains published widely on crop nutrition and stress physiology and contributed to the foundational understanding of potassium and nitrogen absorption by plants. He was instrumental in shaping the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program and participated in documenting the history of agronomy at UC Davis.
Teaching and Mentorship
Over nearly four decades, Rains taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Agronomy, Plant Sciences, Soil Science, and International Agricultural Development. He served as Master Advisor for multiple programs and supervised many graduate students who went on to prominent careers in academia and agricultural research.
Collaboration and Community
Rains collaborated extensively across the UC system and internationally. He directed the UC Davis Plant Growth Laboratory, fostering interdisciplinary plant research. As chair of the International Agricultural Development Graduate Group, he helped establish it as a leading global program. He also served UC Davis emeriti through leadership roles in the UC Davis Emeriti Association.
Legacy
Rains’s career exemplified dedication to plant science, agricultural advancement, and mentorship. His research on plant nutrition and stress physiology continues to have a significant influence on crop management and sustainability. His leadership strengthened UC Davis programs in agronomy, plant growth, and international agricultural development.
References
For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: