2013, 26(1): 123-128.
In order to select the poplar clones suitable to be planted on the beach land of Yangtse River, twenty clones of poplar were cultivated on the beach land in Ma’anshan City, Anhui province, China. The growth, survival rate and lodging situation of each clone were measured three years after planting, and their comprehensive performances were evaluated by improved Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The result showed that the growth (including diameter at breast height, height and volume), survival rate, height under the branches and tilt angle were significantly different among these four-year-old poplar clones. The integrated evaluation showed that the comprehensive qualities of poplar clones were significantly different. The integrated values of poplar clone 895, clone 324 and clone 1388 were higher, and the integrated values of clones 447, clone 136 and clone 316 were lower than the others. This indicated that the performances of four-year-old clone 895, clone 324 and clone 1388 were better than that of the other clones, and the three poplar clones could be selected to plant on the beach land of Yangtse River.