【Background】The project of grassland desertification control was conducted in the northwest of Liaoning Province in 2009~2012. Zhangwu County was one of the key controlling areas. Because of the long-term lack of control of grassland weeds, Cenchrus pauciflorus spread all over the county rapidly, leading to severe impacts to the grassland ecological environment. 【Method】Several herbicides (combinations) species, quizalofopp-ethyl, sethoxydim, imazethapy, nicosulfuron, acetachlor+nicosulfuron， oxyfluorfen and haloxytop-r-methyl were tested for screening, and large area demonstration measure their controlling effects. 【Result】The results showed that seven herbicides (combinations) tested on C.pauciflorus has some effects. The two aryloxyphenoxy propionic acid ester herbicides, quizalofopp-ethyl and haloxytop-r-methyl, were the best to control invasive weeds. They effectively controlled growth and caused damage, with rates of 89% and 79% respectively 15 d after spraying. In addition, herbicide screening tests showed that imazethapyr, nicosulfuron and acetochlor+nicosulfuron had good performance reaching more than 80% 19 d after application. Oxyfluorfen control effect was the least efficient with only 66% success rate. 【Conclusion and significance】Quizalofopp-ethyl EC at a concentration of 5% was the most effective for C.pauciflorus control among all herbicides tested, although it caused some damage to other grass forage. In areas being restored by seeding Melilotus suaveolens and Caragana microphylla, no phytotoxicity of quizalofop p-ethyl was detected suggesting that it can be part of a Cenchrus pauciflorus comprehensive management.