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10. Suggestions for further study

10.1. Environmental Analysis

• Study further the environmental effects of maintenance practices

  • The relationship between mowing height and water and fertilizer use (Shorter grass has a higher growth rate [and shallower roots], and thus higher water and fertilizer needs ["Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas"]).

  • Proper timing of fertilizer application.

  • Feasibility of leaving the grass clippings on the grass after mowing, as this practice can reduce fertilizer needs by 20-40% (Rieke).

  • Lawnmower emission. Possibly by getting a smog check performed on one (thought that they are 8-12 times more inefficient than cars).

  • Continue sampling and analyzing groundwater for nutrients. If the grounds crew decides to fertilize less, it will be important to monitor the differences in nutrient concentrations in the groundwater.

  • Analyze pesticide chemicals in the groundwater. May need an analytical chemist to perform this task.

• Continue study of experimental plot, specifically water and pesticide use.

• Look into buying a chipper to make our own mulch on campus. What would be the energy costs of such an endeavor?

• Study of feasibility and environmental benefits of collecting rainwater or recycling gray water on campus for landscape use.

10.2. Social Analysis

• Carry out additional analysis of survey data:

  • Analyze different age groups reactions to native landscapes.

  • Study in more detail the participant's familiarity with the various landscapes.

  • Study effect of education on populations familiar with a native landscape compared to those without such a familiarity?

• If a second survey is constructed:

  • Pay more attention to the wording in trade-off questions. However, more should be included.

  • Do analysis of what exactly people want out of the landscape. Examine the community's favorite places (Newell) to determine how the campus may be improved for the general population.

  • Monitor the changing opinions of the community if alternative landscapes are implemented.

10.3. Economic Analysis

• Do a more in-depth analysis of the hidden costs associated with current and alternative landscapes, particularly:

  • Fossil fuel and energy use, contribution to global climate change

  • Water use, contribution to increasing water scarcity

  • Chemical use, contribution to water pollution, other environmental effects

  • Discontinuous landscape compared to native regional landscape, effects on local biodiversity and community structure

  • Inability of HMC to produce technological leaders that have a solid understanding of the impacts of natural resource and chemical use, what are the costs to students who need this background

  • Rising prices of resource, quantify predictions for rising costs of maintaining the HMC landscape

  • Investment into HMC, are investors begin to look more critically at the need for college education to include socioeconomic analysis

• Perform economic analysis of the costs and benefits of resource recycling on campus

  • Rainwater / runoff water collection

  • Wastewater recycling

  • Re-application of campus food and plant wastes to fertilize landscape

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