The discipline of Grassland Science at Northeast Forestry University was established as a new first-level master’s degree program in 2024. Currently, the discipline focuses on two research areas: Grassland Science and Turfgrass & Landscape Science.

The discipline has five doctoral supervisors and ten master’s supervisors, which include five professors and eight associate professors. In recent years, faculty members have undertaken numerous national and provincial/ministerial research projects, won over ten provincial/ministerial awards, and published more than 150 papers in prestigious journals such as SCI and CSSCI. These accomplishments have established a robust research foundation for advancing Grassland Science.

Supported by two national and provincial research and teaching platforms—the National Forestry and Grassland Cold Zone Functional Grass Engineering Technology Research Center and the Provincial Key Laboratory of Cold Zone Garden Plant Germplasm Resource Development and Landscape Ecological Restoration—the discipline is rooted in northern cold regions. It addresses the economic and social development needs of these areas. It emphasizes synergistic development between forests and grasslands in cold zones.

On one hand, aiming to protect grassland resources and restore ecological security, the discipline focuses on high-quality, stress-tolerant plant materials in cold-region grasslands. Research includes wild herbaceous plant resource conservation, trait exploration, salt tolerance physiology, and rhizosphere microorganism studies. On the other hand, targeting stress-tolerant turfgrass, groundcover plants, and ecological grasses for high-altitude areas in Northeast China, the discipline utilizes cold-region grassland and understory wild turfgrass/ornamental groundcover materials. Research involves breeding drought-resistant, low-maintenance, and cold-tolerant turfgrass/groundcover varieties and studying their stress resistance mechanisms.

Through scientific research advancements and talent cultivation, the discipline provides critical technological support and skilled professionals for China’s grass and forage industry, turfgrass industry, and ecological environment construction.