Benefit Evaluation of Soil-Reinforcement by Roots between Five Plants by Analytic Hierarchy Process

Abstract

Caragana microphylla Lam, Salix psammophila C.wang et Ch.Y.Yang, Sabina vulgaris Ant, Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch and Hippophae rhamnides Linn are common plants used in soil and water conservation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Inner Mongolia. In order to screen the soil-reinforcement and anti-erosion plants for this area, the tensile mechanical property, root-soil surface friction property, and the root-soil composite shear property of roots were studied. During the summer drought period, ten factors of the five kinds of four-age plants were evaluated by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that the benefit index of soil-reinforcement by roots were Caragana microphylla(0.72)> Sabina vulgaris(0.38)> Salix psammophila(0.03)> Artemisia sphaerocephala(-0.23)> Hippophae rhamnides(-0.90). Therefore, Caragana microphylla Lam should be considered as the preferred reference specie in soil-reinforcement and anti-erosion for the arid and semi-arid regions of China.