Abstract: [Objective] To clarify the nutritional value of leguminous plants in Hunan grasslands.[Methods] Seventeen germplasm resources of leguminous plants at the flowering stage were collected. The contents of crude protein （CP）, dry matter （DM）, ether extract （EE）, crude fiber （CF）, crude ash （Ash）, and nitrogen-free extract （NFE） were determined and analyzed. The nutritional value was comprehensively evaluated using the grey relational analysis method. [Results] The analysis of nutritional composition revealed that the DM content of the 17 germplasms ranged from 10.49% to 50.79%, the CP content from 7.49% to 19.17%, the EE content from 0.82% to 4.60%, the CF content from 23.76% to 42.57%, the Ash content from 5.33% to 15.54%, and the NFE content from 37.50% to 50.72%. Lespedeza pilosa exhibited the highest DM content （50.79%） and the lowest Ash content （5.33%）; Vicia hirsuta had the highest CP content （19.17%）; Albizia julibrissin showed the highest EE content （4.60%）; Vigna angularis had the lowest CF content （23.76%）; Caragana sinica had the highest NFE content （50.72%）. The rankings based on equal-weight and weighted grey relational degrees were largely consistent, with Albizia julibrissin （0.859 6, 0.864 4）, Vicia hirsuta （0.788 5, 0.798 4）, Vigna angularis （0.751 4, 0.773 3）, Lespedeza pilosa （0.741 7, 0.733 6）, Caragana sinica （0.737 1, 0.754 6）, and Mucuna lamellata （0.736 2, 0.745 5） ranking higher overall. [Conclusion] In summary, among the 17 leguminous plant germplasms at the flowering stage in Hunan grasslands, Albizia julibrissin exhibited the best nutritional quality, followed by Vicia hirsuta and Vigna angularis.

Key words: Hunan grasslands, leguminous plants, nutritional quality, grey relational analysis, nutritional composition