Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in Prioritizing Methods of Utilization Measurement in Eurotia ceratoides

The selection of appropriate methods of utilization assessment is of great importance for evaluation of grazing management. To compare accuracy, expenses and time requirement of some utilization measurement methods for Eurotia ceratoides, an investigation was conducted in Hanna range Semirom, Isfahan. In this study, paired cages (for control) before and after grazing, height-weight measurement, ocular estimate, reference unit, plant count, stem count, production index and twig length measurement methods were used. All methods were compared by using paired cages (control test) based on Duncan multiple regression test. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was also employed to rank the methods in terms of accuracy, expenses and time requirement. Comparing methods showed that the stem count method is the most rapid and least expensive method with 0.207 and 0.215 priority rates, respectively, for time and expenses appeared to be the most proper method. However, comparing all criteria (accuracy, cost and time) concerning the methods shows that the height-weight method with the priority rate of 0.14 is the most suitable method for utilization assessment in E. ceratoides.