Current situation and development measures of herbage seed industry in Heilongjiang Province

Forage seed source is one of the most important factors on improving degenerated rangeland, establishing artificial grassland and raising pastural animal production. The local pasture and stock breeding development was inhibited in Heilongjiang for long time due to the low level of forage seed production. According to investigation and consulting on relevant data in Heilongjiang, there are that more than 2 000 forage germplasm resources have been collected; 19 varieties have been officially recognized; 9 local standards of forage seed productions have been established in Heilongjiang Province so far. In addition, the seedbreeding development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was especially studied; and the seed yield has been improved from 150 to 225 kg/ha. Although the annual seed yield in Heilongjiang is around 700 t, the existing forage seed production can hardly satisfy the requirement of pastural development. There are still many problems of forage seed production, i.e. imperfect laws and regulation, lack of good varieties, and low degree of mechanization, etc.