Abstract: The nutrient N, P, K combinations liquid was designed using a ‘3414’ experimental design. Seeds from Glycyrrhiza uralensis were sown and cultivated under the different nutrient irrigations to explore rational fertilizer combinations, and to provide some evidence for its effects in seedling culture in soil or under soilless conditions. The N, P, K treatments had significant effects on the emergence quality and seedling growth of plants under Hoagland irrigation in a pure sand medium. Under the N₂K₂ fertilizer, the emergence quality was higher than that in the CK, but it deteriorated with increased levels of P fertilizer, resulting in an emergence quality ranking of: N₂P₀K₂＞N₂P₁K₂＞N₂P₂K₂＞N₂P₃K₂. However, the emergence vigor rank was N₂P₁K₂＞N₂P₀K₂＞N₂P₂K₂＞N₂P₃K₂. Both the N₂P₂K₂ and N₂P₁K₂ treatments improved the seedling root TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) vigor, establishing a good basis for healthy seedlings. Treatments lacking N or K but rich in N, P or K were all detrimental to seedling emergence and growth. These results suggest that the plants need a little P in the emergence stage, but the main P nutrient effect will appear after seedling emergence. Considering seedling culture efficiency and environmental protection, the optimum nutrient combination of N₂P₁K₂ is 80 mg/L NH₄NO₃, 89 mg/L KH₂PO₄ and 298 mg/L KNO₃ as N, P and K source respectively, applied once every 20 days during seedling culture. Some water should be applied immediately to take ammoniacal N to the bottom of the medium after fertilizing to, protecting the seedlings from NH₃ toxicity.