Ecological Suitability Evaluation of Chinese Pearleaf Crabapples in Horqin Right Wing Front Banner Based on GIS

Xiaozhen Lan, Jixuan Wang, Zhiyong Pei (), Ying Li (), Brian K. Via, Xinkai Peng and Yicheng Ma
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Xiaozhen Lan: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
Jixuan Wang: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
Zhiyong Pei: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
Ying Li: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
Brian K. Via: Forest Products Development Center, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Xinkai Peng: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
Yicheng Ma: School of Energy and Transportation Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: The Chinese pearleaf crabapple tree, belonging to the Rosaceae family and with the scientific name Malus asiatica , bears fruits that serve as both food and medicine. The Horqin Right Wing Front Banner is a critical node for ecological security in the northern border regions of China, exerting significant influence on ecological health in China. Additionally, the resources in this region are limited, and residents have historically relied solely on maize cultivation for sustenance. Therefore, local measures combining ecological conservation and economic development have been implemented in vigorously promoting the Chinese pearleaf crabapple industry. Hence, it is necessary to study the ecological suitability of the local Chinese pearleaf crabapple. In this study, 15 evaluation indicators are employed for this purpose, with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) used to calculate single-factor weights. Additionally, GIS is utilized to establish membership functions for achieving dimensionless evaluation indicators, as well as a weighted index and model used to compute comprehensive suitability scores. Using the natural breakpoint method, the overall scores were categorized into five groups: most suitable, more suitable, barely suitable, unsuitable, and not applicable. The validation of zoning results includes verification of existing planting locations and conducting principal component analysis of the characteristics and yield of Chinese pearleaf crabapple to ensure the accuracy of the zoning. It is found that the validation results are generally consistent with the zoning results. The results indicate that the most suitable, more suitable, suitable, barely suitable, and unsuitable represent 16.49%, 32.07%, 30.36%, 14.52%, and 6.55% of the total zoning area, respectively. These findings can be applied to land use planning and in expanding the planting area of Chinese pearleaf crabapple.

Keywords: ecological suitability evaluation system; analytic hierarchy process; membership function; principal component analysis; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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