Robert J. "Jeff" Wagenet, Cornell University professor and former chair of the Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sciences Department, died July 31 of cancer. He was 46.

Wagenet came to Cornell in 1982 as an associate professor in the agronomy department. In 1986 he became a professor and was named department chair in 1987.

In April, the Cornell Soil Judging team dedicated its effort to Wagenet in the soil-judging national championships held in Madison, Wisc. Through Wagenet's support when he was chair of the department, the soil-judging team was outfitted with appropriate gear and procured a larger travel budget. In 1996, the team won the national championship.

Wagenet earned a bachelor's degree in soil and water science from the University of California at Davis in 1971. He earned a master's degree in 1972 from the University of Oklahoma in environmental health and his doctorate in soil physics in 1975 from the University of California at Davis. After earning his doctorate, Wagenet became a water scientist at UC-Davis. In 1976, he joined Utah State University in Logan as an assistant professor of soil science and biometeorology and was promoted to associate professor in 1979. In 1982, he became a professor at Utah State University. During his career at Utah, he was twice named Professor of the Year in the college of agriculture.

Professional honors included being named a fellow in the Soil Science Society of America and an honor award from the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America in 1989 for his work in characterizing chemical reactions in soils and water systems. He also served as editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; his son, T.R., 18; and his daughter Kylie, 15.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a fund established to help students in the Department of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sciences. Checks, made payable to Cornell University, should be sent to SCAS, Emerson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853. Contributions also may be sent to Hospicare, 172 E. King Road, Ithaca N.Y. 14850, or any children's charity.