Abstract: Alfalfa was recorded in many classical publications including Jiuhuang Bencao, Bencao Gangmu, Qunfang Pu, Nongzheng Quanshu, Emperor Chronicles from the Ming Dynasty and Local Chronicles, indicating that alfalfa was important, studied commonly and cultivated widely. Based on the ancient codes and records of alfalfa in the Ming dynasty, plant textology principles and methods were applied to create modern research findings concerning alfalfa during this period. This included alfalfa distribution and state of cultivation, ecological and biological characteristics, cultivation and utilization. This revealed that in the Ming dynasty alfalfa was planted in Shanxi, Shannxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Gansu and Ningxia provinces and in Beijing. The countries planting alfalfa the most were Sanjin, followed by Qin and Lu, and Yan and Zhao. The accurate description of alfalfa plant morphology, flower color, pod attachment, and pod and seed shape had reached levels seen in modern phytology; they were excellent. The alfalfa tap toot was recognized. Purple and yellow flowered varieties were recorded in the Ming Dynasty. Alfalfa was often planted with buckwheat, because of its ability to fix nitrogen. Alfalfa was typically planted in July or August and cut three times a year, but when cultivated for seed production was cut once a year. Alfalfa went into an exuberant period three years after planting, and was turned over after 7 or 8 years because of declining production. It was cut for horse and cattle forage when it flowered, indicating that farmers were aware of the optimum time to harvest. Alfalfa was also used when offering tributes.

Key words: alfalfa, Ming Dynasty, cultivation and utilizing, alfalfa history