To establish a scientific and reasonable evaluation system of Xanthoceras sorbifolia resources in Hexi, Gansu Province, and to make comprehensive evaluation and screening of excellent varieties of Xanthoceras sorbifolia suitable for local application, to provide a theoretical basis for the development of Xanthoceras sorbifolia ecological industry in arid and semi-arid regions of Hexi Corridor.

Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to build an analytical model to calculate the index weight, using the principle of grey relational grade analysis (GRA) to build “Ideal varieties” and reference series, and calculating the weighted grey relational grade, the 17 introduced new germplasm were evaluated and sorted from adaptability, ornamental and high yield, and finally completed comprehensive evaluation and screening.

On the basis of verifying the rationality of the analytic hierarchy process AHP-RRB- model, the weight values obtained were used to calculate the weighted correlation degree of each germplasm evaluation index, the results showed that the weighted correlation degree of SW-2, SH-2, NSJH, NSZH, LD was above 0.8 (including 0.8) and classified as Grade I germplasm NSF, LX, ZS-7, ZS-9, SW-1, SH-5, SH-5 were classified as Grade II germplasm according to the weighted grey correlation between 0.7 and 0.8(including 0.7). The weighted grey correlation degree of SKX, NH-1, ZS-4, LG-4, LG-8, ZS-1 was less than 0.7 and classified as Grade III germplasm.

The grade I germplasm has high ornamental value, high seed yield, large oil yield and strong adaptability, and its comprehensive scores are close to “Ideal variety” grade II plants have either high ornamental value, general oil potential and low yield, or high yield and good oil yield, but general ornamental value. In a word, their comprehensive characters are slightly worse than those of grade I plants, the germplasm with high ornamental value should be applied in urban landscaping, and the germplasm with high yield and oil yield should be widely planted in Xanthoceras sorbifolia industrial development base, it is suitable for high yield garden, grade III germplasm has poor comprehensive characters, and its ornamental value, yield and oil yield are all average, but this kind of planting is not suitable for local planting, or need to do further introduction and domestication and screening work.