Abstract:The application of reasonable amount of nitrogen fertilizer could increase the activity of key enzymes in nitrogen (N) metabolism,promote N accumulation and utilization and achieve high yield for Leymus chinensis.This study aimed to determine the appropriate level of nitrogen for L.chinensis in the Horqin sand land and its physiological mechanisms for high yield.Two sample plots were selected and topdressed with different levels of N fertilizer (pure N) at 0,50,100,150,200 kg/ha (denoted by N0,N1,N2,N3,and N4,respectively),using a randomized block design.The enzyme activities related to N metabolism and N content of the leaves were measured on 20th May,and the yield was measured on July 10.The results showed that L.chinensis yield,nitrate reductase (NR),glutamine synthetase (GS),glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT),glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) activity and free amino acid (AA),and soluble protein (SP) content initially increased,followed by a decrease in response to the increasing N rates.Among them,NR,GS,GOT,GPT enzyme activity and AA content reached the maximum at the N3 level;the yield and SP content reaches its maximum at the N2 level.When topdressed with 150 kg/ha pure N fertilizer,L.chinensis grown in the Horqin sandy habitat had the strongest leaf N metabolism capacity,which was most beneficial to its dry matter accumulation.