Effect of seed coating on soil microbes and plant growth during restoration of alpine degraded rangeland

Seeds of two forage species were coated with mixtures of algal powder and plantderived hygroscopic polysaccharide gums. The coated seeds were inoculated with spores of microorganism. Objectives of the study were to examine effects of seed coating and inoculation of spores on plant growth and sustainable effect of seed coating on plant growth and soil conditions. The results showed that dry weight（P0.01), nodule number (P0.05) and CO2 emission of soil (P0.05) of the coated seed plants were higher than those of the uncoated seed plants. The dry weight of Elymus nutans plant, of Vicia amoena plant and nodule number of V. amoena were positively correlated with CO2 emission of soil (P0.001). Dry weight, nodule number and CO2 emission of soil of plants from uncoated seeds sown in the soils,on which the coated seed plants were harvested previously, showed the same trends as those of the coated seed plants. It is suggested that activity of soil microbes has been enhanced due to nutrients provided by coating materials and algae. It may result in improvement of plant growth. Improvement of soil microbes and conditions can be sustained as well.