Lawn or spontaneous groundcover? Residents’ perceptions of and preferences for alternative lawns in Xianyang, China

Frontiers in Psychology

Psychology

Huiyi Liang¹  Yuebin Wang¹  Kedi Jin¹  Dongyang Gao¹  Ling Qiu¹  Tian Gao¹  Jiangnan Liu¹  Cangshuan Li¹  Denggao Xue¹  Yingyuan Chen¹  Yapeng Li² 

[1] College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China;Forestry Science Institute of Xianyang, Xianyang, China;

关键词: landscape perception;    landscape preference;    spontaneous vegetation;    urban lawn;    social background;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259920

 received in 2023-07-17, accepted in 2023-10-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Within urban green spaces, spontaneous groundcovers, as potential alternatives for traditional lawns, have garnered attention due to their ecological adaptability. However, little attention has been paid to whether spontaneous groundcovers can serve as suitable replacements for lawns in terms of the aesthetic values and human preferences for each. Based on questionnaires accompanied by photo elicitation, this study explored the perceptions of and preferences for seven kinds of lawns and six kinds of spontaneous groundcovers in China. The effects of social backgrounds on people’s perceptions of and preferences for ground covers were also analyzed. The results indicated a general equivalence in preferences for the lawn and spontaneous groundcover. The Taraxacum mongolicum – Cynodon dactylon – Conyza canadensis community was significantly preferred most among all of the selected ground covers. Spontaneous groundcovers were regarded as more natural, wild, variable, and species-richer compared to lawns, while lawns were perceived as better kept than spontaneous groundcovers. Ground covers were preferred which were perceived to have high ecological aesthetic value and low wildness. Industry and attention to herbaceous plants mostly affected human perceptions and preferences among the social background factors, and gender, age, education level, and occupation also had significant effects. The results thus provide the support for the application of spontaneous groundcovers in moderately developed cities, but such application should consider the comprehensive development of ecological aesthetic value and the applicability of different groups of residents.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Liang, Li, Xue, Liu, Jin, Wang, Gao, Chen, Li, Qiu and Gao.