TY - JOUR
T1 - Home gardening in Muscat, Oman
T2 - Gardeners’ practices, perceptions and motivations
AU - Al-Mayahi, Ahmed
AU - Al-Ismaily, Said
AU - Gibreel, Tarig
AU - Kacimov, Anvar
AU - Al-Maktoumi, Ali
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by Sultan Qaboos higher Center for Culture and Science – Diwan of Royal Court and the Research Council of Oman (TRC) [ RC/AGR/SWAE/17/01 ]. We would like to acknowledge Hemesiri Kotagama, Amani Al-Alawi, Rhonda Janke and Hamed Al-Busaidi for reviewing the questionnaire. Helpful comments, critique and editing by two anonymous referees and editors are appreciated.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier GmbH
PY - 2019/2
Y1 - 2019/2
N2 - Omani home-gardens are jeopardized by the poor agronomic practices and unqualified gardeners. This study aimed to find: (i) gardening characteristics, practices and gardener's perception to irrigation water management, soil preparation-fertility, (ii) determinants of use of water saving methods (WSM), and (iii) reasons for garden adoption. A questionnaire was distributed and 125 responses received from residents of individual houses. Substantial differences were detected in garden composition and diversity of plants (ornamentals, lawn grass, crops and medicinal plants). Cultivation in ground and in pots with organic fertilizers is practiced. Educational level, garden size, cultivation of ornamental plants and vegetables, increasing water bill, and willingness to purchase irrigation tools were significant positive determinants in using WSM. The age of homeowners, type of plants (grass and fruits), and status of the person taking care of the garden were negative determinants. The top gardening motives were: aesthetic, shading, joy of hobby, source for food, physical exercise and protecting environment. The top five reasons for non-gardening were: pavement of the yard (commonly practiced by local building designers), lack of free land (construction of the house occupied most of the possessed urban plot), adverse weather, high water bill and lack of knowledge about gardening. Our results set a foundation for future studies on better planning and management of urban green areas and associated water resources in Oman and the neighboring Gulf countries.
AB - Omani home-gardens are jeopardized by the poor agronomic practices and unqualified gardeners. This study aimed to find: (i) gardening characteristics, practices and gardener's perception to irrigation water management, soil preparation-fertility, (ii) determinants of use of water saving methods (WSM), and (iii) reasons for garden adoption. A questionnaire was distributed and 125 responses received from residents of individual houses. Substantial differences were detected in garden composition and diversity of plants (ornamentals, lawn grass, crops and medicinal plants). Cultivation in ground and in pots with organic fertilizers is practiced. Educational level, garden size, cultivation of ornamental plants and vegetables, increasing water bill, and willingness to purchase irrigation tools were significant positive determinants in using WSM. The age of homeowners, type of plants (grass and fruits), and status of the person taking care of the garden were negative determinants. The top gardening motives were: aesthetic, shading, joy of hobby, source for food, physical exercise and protecting environment. The top five reasons for non-gardening were: pavement of the yard (commonly practiced by local building designers), lack of free land (construction of the house occupied most of the possessed urban plot), adverse weather, high water bill and lack of knowledge about gardening. Our results set a foundation for future studies on better planning and management of urban green areas and associated water resources in Oman and the neighboring Gulf countries.
KW - Arabian Gulf countries
KW - Gardeners mindsets
KW - Irrigation efficiency
KW - Urban planning
KW - Water shortage
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ufug.2019.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.ufug.2019.01.011
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85060451199
SN - 1618-8667
VL - 38
SP - 286
EP - 294
JO - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
JF - Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
ER -