Abstract: [Objective] To investigate the effects of applying different types of fertilizers on the production performance of Medicago sativa in the Xianyang region, providing theoretical reference and practical basis for the efficient cultivation and utilization of local M. sativa. [Methods] M. sativa in the Xianyang region was used as the test material, and a completely randomized block design was adopted with four treatments: urea （N≥46.4%, application rate 90 kg/hm²）, biochar-based fertilizer （N-P₂O₅-K₂O content 10%-13%-13%, C nutrient conten 20.0%, total nutrients≥36.0%, application rate 750 kg/hm²）, traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer （N-P₂O₅-K₂O≥100 g/L, irrigated with a 600-fold dilution）, and a no-fertilizer treatment as the control （CK）. Each treatment had three replicates. The effects of the different fertilization treatments on M. sativa growth characteristics were comprehensively analyzed by systematically measuring indicators including plant height, basal stem diameter, relative chlorophyll content （SPAD value）, leaf nitrogen content, and fresh forage yield. [Results] All three fertilizer treatments significantly （P<0.05） increased M. sativa plant height, basal stem diameter, nitrogen content, and fresh forage yield. The biochar-based fertilizer and traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer treatments significantly （P<0.05） increased the relative chlorophyll content, while the urea treatment did not significantly（P>0.05） increase in the relative chlorophyll content. Specifically, the traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer treatment yielded the best results for plant height and basal stem diameter; the biochar-based fertilizer treatment resulted in the highest relative chlorophyll content and nitrogen content; and the fresh forage yield followed the order: biochar-based fertilizer treatment group>Urea treatment group>traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer treatment group. Comprehensive analysis using the membership function showed that the overall improvement effect of the treatments on M. sativa followed the ranking: biochar-based fertilizer treatment group>traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer treatment group>urea treatment group>control group. Among them, the biochar-based fertilizer demonstrated the best performance in promoting M. sativa growth, nutrient accumulation, and yield increase. [Conclusion] The biochar-based fertilizer provides the optimal comprehensive improvement effect on M. sativa growth, nutrient accumulation, and yield, making it the preferred fertilizer for promoting M. sativa growth under the conditions of this experiment.

Key words: Medicago sativa, traditional Chinese medicine fertilizer, biochar-based fertilizer, production performance, Xianyang region