Abstract: In order to characterize the production performance of different alfalfa varieties introduced in Otog Front Banner of Ordos City of Inner Mongolia, a total of 5 alfalfa varieties ('SK3010' 'Giant energy No.2' 'SR4030' 'Caribou' 'Golden queen') planted and utilized in large area in this region were used as experimental research objects, and their production performance, yield and nutritional components were determiend and statistically compared. The results showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) correlation between leaf length and branch number and number of main stem nodes; there was a also significant (P<0.05) correlation between yield and plant height and number of lateral branches; the similarity equation between yield and plant height was y₁=25 802+17.26x₁, and a significantly (P<0.05) positive correlation between them was observed; the similarity equation between yield and number of lateral branches was y₂=26 842+4.20x₂, and they were significantly (P<0.05) positively related; the order of multi-year yield of the tested alfalfa varieties was 'Giant energy No.2' > 'SR4030' > 'Golden queen' > 'SK3010' > 'Caribou'; the protein content of 'Caribou', 'Golden queen' and 'Giant energy No.2' all exceeded the international standards (17.00%), and the order of crude protein content was 'Caribou' = 'Golden queen' > 'Giant energy No.2' > 'SR4030' > 'SK3010'; the crude fat content of 'Golden queen', 'Caribou' and 'SR4030' were all higher than 10.00%; the crude fiber content of 'Giant energy No.2', 'SR4030', 'SK3010' and 'Golden queen' all exceeded 30.00%. Based on the yield and quality indicators, our results demonstrated that the alfalfa varieties of 'Giant energy No.2' 'SR4030' 'Golden queen' and the other tested varieties were feasible to be large-scale popularized and utilized in Otog Front Banner.

Key words: alfalfa, yield, plant height, number of lateral branches, crude protein