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Dr. Salim A. Al-Rawahy teaches in the Department of Soils, Water & Agricultural Engineering at the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences in Sultan Qaboos (SQU) University in Oman. He received his PhD degree in Soil and Water Sciences at the University of Arizona, in Tucson in 1989. He has been the Principal Investigator of Strategic Project “Management of Salt-Affected Soils and Water for Sustainable Agriculture” (2006–2010).
Soil and groundwater salinity has emerged as the most significant agricultural problem facing the Sultanate of Oman. Scant rainfall, coupled with high temperature, is always conducive to the accumulation of salts in soils. These conditions are predominant in Oman. Secondary soil salinity has increased at a very rapid rate due to the persistent use of saline groundwater, which, over time, has become more concentrated due to increased pumping by farmers in the Batinah region – the country’s most important agricultural area.
