【Objective】Cleistogenes songorica is a perennial Gramineae grasses known for its stronger drought resistance and wide distribution in arid and semiarid areas. However,due to seed dormancy and the lengthy period from germination to seedling establishment,the emergence rate and survival rate of C. songorica are often insufficient to meet the demands of seed producer.【Method】 To address solve this problem,seven commonly available substrates (peat,sawdust,fine sand,mushroom residue,vermiculite,perlite,ceramsite) were selected as incubation media for a cultivation experiment with C. songorica in a glasshouse. The physical and chemical properties of each substrate were measured along with germination and seedling growth‐related indexes【Result】 The study found that the germination potential,germination rate,germination index,vigor index and coleoptile length of C. songorica incubated with fine sand,peat,sawdust and vermiculite were superior to other treatments. The germination rate of C. songorica incubated in sawdust,fine sand,peat and vermiculite was significantly higher than that in mushroom residue,with rates 6. 4 times,6. 3 times,5. 9 times and 5. 8 times higher,respectively.【Conclusion】 A comprehensive evaluation using the membership function method for each medium was conducted,resulting in the following sequence: sawdust > vermiculite > fine sand > perlite > peat > mushroom residue > ceramide. It is recommended to use a mixture of fine sand with peat,sawdust and vermiculite as soilless culture substrate for the establishment of C. songorica and lawn formation.