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Agriculture research and experimental station (ARES) is considered one of the important scientific agricultural research centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It reflects the emphasis given to scientific research by the college of Food Sciences and Agriculture. ARES was established in 1976 (1396 H) in Dirab (25 Km south of Riyadh city). It occupies a total area of 220 ha and utilized area is around 180 ha which represented about 82% of the total area. ARES is found to serve research , training and extension in various applied agriculture fields.
Objectives
Some of the important goals of ARES are:
1. Conduct applied scientific research for the faculty members and postgraduate students
2. Under graduate students training
3. Provide agricultural extension field
4. Provide scientific agricultural information and enhance public awareness in agricultural issues
5. Propagation of the species of local plants and maintain them
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Administrative Staff
1. Boated of directors
The Board of directors consists of faculty members from all departments in the College of Food and Agriculture. The Board of Directors designs work plan for The station and maintains its implementation. The dean of the college is the general supervisor of the station with the assistance of the deputy dean.
2. The director
The director is a faculty member appointed by the college board on the recommendation of the dean. The director is responsible for the administration of the activities and personnel affairs in the station.
3. Assistant director
Assistant director is responsible for the management of daily activities at Dyrab. He also supervises the duties of technical units.
4. Heads of technical units
They are in charge of the daily work plan assigned either for research purposes or student's training. Other supportive unit mangers are responsible for general performance of technical units.
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Administrative Structure
Since the establishment of ARES successive stages of improvement had been gone through to accommodate for scientific advances. For example, the utilized area increased from 45 ha at the establishment into 180 ha on current period. This means that the number of conducted researches had raised in parallel. ARES is divided into eight different units as follows:
1. Date palm and fruit trees research unit (land area 35 ha)
2. Range and forestry unit (land area 34 ha)
3. Agronomy and forage crop unit (land area 26 ha)
4. Floriculture and vegetable research unit (land area 4 ha)
5. Nursery and landscaping unit
6. Plant protection and pest control unit
7. Maintenance and workshop unit
8. Irrigation and water requirement unit
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Buildings and Establishments
Many buildings and establishments are available for research purposes, training storage and other public services. These buildings are briefly listed here:
1- Administration
2- Engineers offices
3- workshops
4- greenhouses (lath, glass, fiberglass and plastic greenhouse). One greenhouses is equipped with hydroponic system
5- Meteorological stations ( regular and electronic )
6- Honey bee research building
7- mosque and student services
8- Storages
9- desalinization unit
10- Electric generators.
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Services and Activities
The station has developed a good reputation in the agricultural sector due to the services and activities provided here is a quick glance at some of these activities.
· Conduct agricultural research in various majors such as agronomy forage, vegetable and fruit crops, forestry, landscape and floriculture, agricultural engineering and soil sciences. Results from such research experiments are published in scientific journals at national and international levels.
· Cooperation with many local and international agricultural agencies such as ICARDA, ICRAST in various aspects.
· Provide educational training and extension services for students, workers and farmers.
· supply agricultural sector with seed and transplants from the seed bank.
· Active involvement in "Tree week " every year by providing trees to the public along with all growing and caring information.
· Organization of field trips for other agricultural agencies.
The station is a suitable place for social, sport, and cultural activities for many colleges of the university.
· Active involvements in many agricultural expositions.
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Educational Farm
The educational farm was established in 1984 at the northern end of the campus (2 km from the building of the College of Food and Agriculture Sciences). The total area of Educational farm is about 128 donums utilized in student teaching and training and special project fields. The Educational farm is directed by ARES administration.
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Buildings and Establishments
1- Agricultural Engineering and farm Management
2- plant production class rooms and laboratories
3- lath Houses
4- Honey bee laboratory
5- Greenhouse
6- mosque
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Activities and Services
1- provide technical training for students in the areas of production, agricultural engineering. plant protection and other related areas.
2- Provide plant samples and machinery equipments for several courses .
3- A place for students special projects.
4- A place for social, sport and cultural activities.
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