The low germination rate of long-term stored seed of Chinese milk vetch （Astragalus sinicus L.） is an important factor limiting production， and exploring methods to promote the germination can improve their utilization and productivity. In this study， Chinese milk vetch seeds stored for 17 years and 3 years were used as materials. After soaking in distilled water （CK） and 400 mg·L^-1 gibberellin （GA₃（400）） solution， the seeds were placed in different germination substrates， including paper bed （FZ）， coconut coir （YK）， and vermiculite （ZS）， and the germination rate and seedling growth were measured . GA₃， germination substrate and the interaction between the two treatments significantly promoted the germination and seedling growth of Chinese milk vetch. Compared with CK， after soaking in GA₃， the germination rate of seeds stored for 17 years and 3 years was increased by 1.5 fold and 0.9 fold， the plant height increased by 42.6% and 72.5%， the primary root length increased by 19.1% and 45.1%， the fresh weight of aboveground increased by 12.4% and 32.3%， the fresh weight of roots increased by 7.8% and 62.8%， respectively. After soaking in GA₃， for seeds stored for 17 years and 3 years， the plant height， main root length， and root fresh weight was significantly higher under ZS than under FZ and YK. Using the membership function method to comprehensively evaluate each treatment， soaking seeds in GA₃ and planting in ZS was a suitable method to promote seed germination and seedling growth of long-term stored seed of Chinese milk vetch.

Long-term stored seed of Chinese milk vetch  /  GA₃  /  Germination substrate  /  Germination rate  /  Seedling growth