Abstract: North China and its adjacent areas are major centres of 20th century agricultural transformation in China. Obvious changes in agricultural technology were evident, partly driven by Western learning spreading to the East. Alfalfa is a major forage crop in North China and its adjacent areas (Hebei, Chahar, Beiping, Tianjin, Henan, Shanxi, Suiyuan, Shandong and Northern Jiangsu), and played an important role in this agricultural development. The article synthesises textual criticism of agriculture-related works and scientific information from modern research, to understand the evolution of the cultivation and utilization of alfalfa in North China and adjacent regions in the modern times. We found that Qi Ru-shan examined the dialectal rendition of alfalfa in North China, and noted that alfalfa was often read as Kisu, rather than Mùxu. According to our incomplete examination of the records, alfalfa was planted in 72 counties (offices and districts) in North China in recent years. Shandong had the highest count (27 Counties), followed by Hebei (19 Counties), and Shanxi (11 Counties). These three Provinces account for 78% of the total records. Because alfalfa has been cultivated in the region for more than a millennium, some local varieties have emerged, including ‘Jinnan', ‘Weixian', ‘Wudi' and ‘Huaiyin', among others. In order to facilitate alfalfa planting in North China, the government has also created a number of policies to encourage alfalfa planting. Alfalfa has a growth pattern well suited to the climate in the North China region, and is both fed to livestock during the growing season and conserved as hay. When young, alfalfa is also suitable for human consumption. Alfalfa also plays an important role in the improvement of land with saline or alkaline soils, especially in the Shandong saline soil reclamation area and Northern Jiangsu saline soil reclamation areas. Alfalfa is normally cultivated by sowing seed in a well prepared seed bed of fine tilth. Once established, it is typically cut three times a year, with a sickle bar mower. Alfalfa stands can persist for more than 10 years, but stand longevity is reduced by waterlogging.

Key words: alfalfa, modern, north china, alfalfa history