Abstract: In order to screen out the herbage varieties suitable for planting in the harsh ecological environment of Guangxi rocky desertification area and improve the ecological environment, 14 high-yield and high-quality herbage varieties were introduced for planting on the hillside in Guangxi rocky desertification area to observe the growth adaptation and measure the plant height, yield and soil nutrient changes. The results showed that Pennisetum purpureum Schumab cv. Purple, Aeschynomene americana L., Tephrosia candida DC., Paspalum wettsteinii Hackel and Stylosanthes guianensis （Aubl.） Sw had a better performance, and their coverage were up to 80%~100%, which were competitive with weeds, the annual output of fresh grass of P. purpureum Schumab cv. Purple was 15.63 t / 667 m². The output of fresh grass of other varieties of A. americana L., P. wettsteinii Hackel and S. guianensis （Aubl.） Sw was 2.01, 2.51, 1.96 t /667 m², which could be cut 3 to 4 times per year. In particular, S. guianensis （Aubl.） Sw could significantly increase the content of soil organic matter by 7.12% compared with the control group. Meanwhile, the content of hydrolyzed nitrogen in the soil was also increased by 13.68% compared with the control group. Tephrosia candida DC. seeds germinated less in the first year because of seeds hard, but the coverage also reached 80% in the second year. Therefore, P. purpureum Schumab cv. Purple, A. americana L., T. candida DC., P. wettsteinii Hackel and S. guianensis （Aubl.） Sw were suitable for planting in the rocky desertification area of Guangxi, and the control effect of rocky desertification was better. Meanwile, forage grass can be used for cattle and sheep breeding, developing rocky desertification mountain animal husbandry.

Key words: rocky desertification area, forage grass, soil nutrient, Guangxi