Abstract: In this paper, the effects of NaCl stress with different concentrations(0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mmol·L^-1) on seed germination and the alleviating effect of soaking seeds with exogenous γ-aminobutyric acid（GABA） on salt stress of Elymus nutans variety ’Kangbei’ were studied. The results showed that the germination indexes, embryo length and radicle length of E. nutans seeds were decreased with the increase of NaCl stress concentration. Under 100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl stress, the soaking seeds with 0.2-2 mmol·L^-1 GABA could alleviate the effect of salt stress on the germination of E. nutans seeds, and improved the germination rate, germination potential, germination index and vigor index and increased the weight of seedlings. Simultaneously, the alleviating ability was enhanced with the increase of GABA concentration, and seed-soaking treatment with 2 mmol·L^-1 GABA had the best effect.