Table 5 Pairwise comparison matrix, factor weights, the largest eigenvalues and CRs of the different layers

Criterion layer

 [1] Advantage area

1

 [2] Thickness of crusted layers

1/4

1

 [3] Thickness of loose layers

1/3

1/2

1

 λ_max=  3.1079, CR = 0.0930 < 0.1

Index layer

 Advantage area (B₁)

[1]

[2]

 [1] Porosity (C₁)

1

 [2] Shrinkage limit (C₂)

2

1

[1] Porosity (C₃)

1

0.1596

[2] Shrinkage limit (C₄)

3

1

0.3825

[3] Clay content (C₅)

1/4

1/6

1

0.0428

[4] Coarse silt content (C₆)

1/3

1/5

2

1

0.0641

[5] Annual rainfall (C₇)

2

1/2

5

4

1

0.2504

[6] Annual evaporation (C₈)

1/2

1/4

3

2

1/3

1

0.1006

λ_max=  6.1225, CR = 0.0198 < 0.1

[1] Porosity (C₉)

1

0.0531

[2] Shrinkage limit (C₁₀)

4

1

0.2242

[3] Coarse silt content (C₁₁)

2

1/3

1

0.0858

[4] Annual rainfall (C₁₂)

7

3

5

1

0.4978

[5] Annual evaporation (C₁₃)

3

1/2

2

1/4

1

0.1392

λ_max=  5.0778, CR = 0.0174 < 0.1