Abstract:

The paper takes the artificial forests in the plain and lake area in the middle reaches of the Yangtze river as the research object,and aims to evalmate the ecological benefits of different stand to provide theoretical basis for the afforestation in this area.Based on field investigation and laboratory experiment,this paper used analytic hierarchy process to evaluate the ecological benefits of different types of artificial forest in light of four aspects,including tree layer growth,litter layer hydrological benefits,herb layer biodiversity,and soil layer physical properties and nutrient contents.In respect of the growth of tree layer,populus×canadensis forest was better.The water resource conservation ability of cinnamomum camphora forest and taxodium ascendens forest were stronger than other forest types.The species diversity of herbaceous layer of cinnamomum camphora forest and salix sp.forest was better.The soil physical properties of salix jiangsuensis forest was superior to other forests,while the soil nutrient contents of populus×canadensis forest was richer than other forests. Based on the analysis,the ecological benefit of populus×canadensis forest and salix jiangsuensis forest was better as their comprehensive evaluation score was 0.72 and 0.67,respectively.A comparative study on mixed forests could be carried out along with afforestation in the region,with eftorts like matching trees with site condittions,changing cutting mode and adjusting planting dersity.

Key words: artificial forests, herbaceous layer, arborous layer, litter layer, soil layer, ecological benefits