Soils and Agricultural
Develoment
in the Region of al-Qassim,
Saudi Arabia
By
Mohammed Abdullah al-Jerash
(B.A. University of al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
Thesis submitted for the degree
of Master of Arts, University of Durham
September, 1968
التُّربة و التَّنمية الزراعية في إقليم القصيم
بالمملكة العربية السعودية
Preface
The prime aim of this thesis is to study the relations between man and land in the al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The method of approach adopted is to study one of the basicresources of the area, namely the soil, and to analyze the agricultural problem which needs tobe tackled before more rational agricultural economy is achieved. Recent changes in theavailability of farm inputs, notably the tapping of vast new supplies of artesian water for irrigated agricultural, have altered the traditional agricultural techniques of the region. New agricultural problems have risen as increased water availability has changes the infrastructure of a traditional and stable agricultural economy.
The work for this thesis commenced in October, 1966 and finished in September,1968. The period from July to November, 1967 was spent in Saudi Arabia and mostly in al-Qassim, during which time the field work was conducted. The whole of June, 1967 was spentin Rome where the writer had many interviews with various specialist of F.A.O. The writer was able to spend most of the time in the organization’s central library and to consult all the available reports and documents on the status of water and agriculture in Saudi Arabia, as well as many neighbouring countries. The outcome of this short visit has had a tremendouseffect on the general plan and theme of this study.
Acknowledgments
I am indebted and grateful to King Abd al-Azeez University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for its moral and financial support during the study period. I also would like to acknowledge the sincere interest, constructive attitude, and unfailing patience and guidance of my supervisor, Mr. K. Atkinson. My thanks are also due to Professor W. B. Fisher for giving methe chance to conduct this study in his department. I would like to record my grateful thanksto the official of the Ministry of Water and Agricultural in Saudi Arabia for their helpful co-operation, notably His Excellency the Minister, Mr. Hasan Meshary for his encouragementand generous co-operation which resulted in ready access to all technical files, documents,and reports of the Ministry> Moreover, his help was extended to the field by providingaccommodation and transportation facilities. I am grateful to Mr. Taher Ahmed Obaid, the Minister’s secretary for technical affairs, for supplying much technical information and data.Also, I would like to extend my thanks to the heads of the Field Extension Services Centers in al-Qassim region for their kind co-operation and help in the field. I would like to record my grateful thanks to Dr. D. Burdon, the director in charge of the World Soil Resources Branch of F.A.O. and to Dr. R. Budal, the Director in charge of the World Soil Resources Offices of F.A.O. and to Dr. V. G. Cervi the Chief of Information Liaison Section of F.A.O.
Finally, I would like to thank my fellow research students and technical staff in this department for their sympathetic encouragement and many useful comments.
Mohammed al-Jerash
Durham, U.K.
September, 1968
حمله
للقراءة والتحميل
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