Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (3): 872-882.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.03.20

Previous Articles     Next Articles

A health evaluation of a Haloxylon ammodendron plantation in the Shiyang River lower reaches

LI Xuening1,2(),XU Xianying1,2,ZHENG Guiheng3,MA Quanlin1(),ZHANG Yunian1,LIU Hujun1,ZHAO Peng1(),YANG Xuemei1   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of desertification and Aeolian Sand Disaster Combating, Gansu Desert Control Research Institute, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
    2. Institute of Desertification, Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100091, China
    3. Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091
  • Received:2021-07-24 Revised:2021-09-21 Online:2022-05-15 Published:2022-05-30
  • Contact: Quanlin MA,Peng ZHAO E-mail:1914046927@qq.com;zhpg1987@sina.com

Abstract:

A Haloxylon ammodendron forest is a protected ecological forest in a desert area. It not only reduces the impact of wind sand disasters, controls soil erosion, and maintains the ecological stability of desert oasis but also improves soil quality and increases carbon storage of the desert ecosystem. Recently, the H. ammodendron forest has been declining in Minqin. Determining sustainable management of the artificial H. ammodendron forest is critical for the health status and function of wind prevention and sand fixation for this forest over time. In this study, the artificial H. ammodendron forest in the lower reaches of the Shiyang River was selected as the research focus. Through a literature review and expert consultation, a health evaluation system of the artificial H. ammodendron forest with 5 primary indicators and 19 secondary indicators was constructed. Analytic hierarchy process combined with an entropy method was used to determine the weight of each index. Based on the ecological health index (HI) and field survey data, the health status of the artificial H. ammodendron forest was evaluated. Results show the following: the HI value of the artificial H. ammodendron forest in the lower reaches of the Shiyang River is between 0.50 and 0.67; the average comprehensive HI is 0.617, which is in a sub-health state; and to improve the stability of the artificial H. ammodendron forest, we should take measures such as stubble and enclosure.

Key words: the lower reaches of Shiyang River, artificial Haloxylon ammodendron forest, construction of evaluation system, analytic hierarchy process, entropy method, sustainable management