Research was carried out on four main subject areas: playing quality of natural turf; establishment; nitrogen nutrition and stabilisation ofsand rootzones. Apparatus and test methods for determining playing quality are described and procedures for the development of standards for playing quality measures are given. A theoretical analysis of the factors governing playing quality was undertaken which showed that natural turf must be considered in terms of the plant and soil constituents and the manner in which these interact, especially in response to wear. The soil factor grouping is shown to be the most important influence on playing quality, primarily through its effect on moisture retention and throughput. A large-scale field experiment was carried out in order to investigate the effect of five different constructional techniques on playing quality and other aspects of turf performance. Constructional types included: pipe-drainage, slitdrainage, slit-drainage with a 25mm sand layer, a sand carpet and a sand profile construction. The results showed that the sand-based constructions provided the best playing quality but that potential numbers of days lost due to the presence of standing water decreased with increasing constructional sophistication. A review of playing quality of fine turf was carried out and an experiment on ball roll characteristics of five turfgrass specieswas undertaken which showed significant differencesamong species. Two experiments on the establishment of turf using different types of seed and sod were carried out, whose objective was to determine the effects of these experimental treatments on the playing quality, ground cover and water infiltration rate of playing surfaces for both football and golf. Experimental treatments included grades of mature turf, juvenile turf and seed. The most notable finding was the dramatic reduction in water infiltration rate where mature turfwas used for establishment. This was ascribed to a combination of organic and mineral matter imported along with the turf causing blockage of soil macropores and hence reducing water infiltration rate. The effect offertiliser nitrogen on the response of Lolium perenne turf grown on a PruntyMulqueen sand carpet rootzone was studied a field experiment which was subjected to football-type artificial wear treatments during two playing seasons. Measures included ground cover under wear and playing quality. In the case of ground cover and player traction responses to nitrogen showed distinct optima particularly during wear. Ball rebound resilienceand hardness showed no such response. Finally an experiment on the stabilisation ofsand rootzones for sport was carried out the objective of which was to study the effect of artificially strengthening a sand rootzone using randomly oriented tensile inclusions {Netlon mesh elements}. Three different rates of mesh elements, two different sizes and establishment using two types of turf were studied in a field experiment. Mesh element inclusion was found to increase water infiltration rate, traction and hardness. Turf treated by washing to remove adhering soil prior to laying also gave higher infiltration rates and, in addition, affected playing quality.

No description available.

No description available.

Garden visiting has become a popular leisure pursuit in recent years. Within a tourism and recreation context, scant research exists on the subject of gardens as recreational resources and the manner in which they are presented to and consumed by the public. This thesis explores the scope and nature of gardens as tourism and recreation resources in the UK. The thesis examines the conceptual foundations of the garden, in order to establish what reasons explain predisposition towards garden visiting, and why gardens provide a desirable environment in which people want to spend leisure time. The activity of garden visiting is analysed using a two-dimensional approach, which takes into account the supply of gardens open to the public and the demand for garden visits. In this respect, the supply-side relates to the perceptions of garden owners/mangers, while the demand aspect is linked with the outlook of garden visitors. Uniting these two perspectives yields an intriguing area of research, that of the visitor experience, how that experience is perceived and managed, and which elements are crucial in its formation. Understanding the visitor experience is a critical for operators of garden attractions, in line with all attractions. This thesis presents the results of two surveys, one of garden owners/managers (n=546) and one of garden visitors (n=593). Data analysis provides a source of information on the range and characteristics of gardens open to the public, approaches to managing the visitor experience and issues for owners/managers in relation to operating a garden visitor attraction as well as visitors characteristics, motivations, behaviour and perceptions of the garden experience. The data generated allows the identification of a range of themes and implications for the operators of garden attractions, in particular those issues that will influence future development.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

The primary purposes of this dissertation were understanding the nature of an attitudinal scale designed to measure the consumptive orientation of recreational anglers and filling a gap in the published literature regarding measurement using the scale. Consumptive orientation was defined as the attitude anglers hold towards catching fish, including catching something, retaining fish (as opposed to releasing), catching large fish (size), and catching large amounts of fish (numbers). In order to confirm these four attitudes are measured by the scale, a model was hypothesized and tested using a confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of male anglers in Texas. It was reasoned that a different subculture may interpret the attitudinal statements differently; thus, the structure of the scale was explored using women as a separate sample. Finally, an example of how the scale could be used was provided by examining differences between tournament and nontournament anglers?? attitudes towards the four constructs measured by the scale. Overall, results were varied with the hypothesized model used to confirm the scale. While results indicated dropping four of the sixteen statements would not result in a significant change in the structure of the scale, results also confirmed there were four distinct attitudes measured by the consumptive orientation scale. The use of the scale with the larger angling population was confirmed by finding the same structure using a sample of women anglers. Finally, the scale was shown to be useful for examining activity-specific differences in angling social worlds. Differences were detected between tournament and nontournament anglers on three of the four consumptive attitudes: ??catching numbers,?? ??catching large/trophy fish,?? and ??retaining fish.?? Differences found were related to the commitment level of tournament and nontournament anglers. Further analysis examined how avidity may have affected differences among angler groups. These differences further current knowledge about tournament anglers and their expectations for fishing experiences. Overall, results support the usefulness of the consumptive orientation scale as a survey tool for understanding recreational fishing clientele.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.