A Systematic Review of the Diverse Applications of Alfalfa and Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture

Authors

  • Muhammad Adil *

    College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225217, China
  • Usama Shoukat

    Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
  • Muhammad Daud

    School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
  • Isma Gul

    College of Geographical Sciences, Faculty of Geographical Science and Engineering, Henan University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
  • Rifqa Afzal

    School of Health Science, Yangtze University, Wuhan 434023, China
  • Muhammad Aqib

    Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Information Technology, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan
  • Sajjad Shafeeq

    Department of Zoology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55121/nc.v5i2.1114
Received: 23 January 2026 | Revised: 23 March 2026 | Accepted: 30 March 2026 | Published Online: 6 April 2026

Abstract

This comprehensive review synthesizes literature from scientific databases, including ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar, to critically assess the diverse applications of alfalfa (lucerne; Medicago sativa L.). Renowned as a premier forage crop for silage, hay, and grazing, alfalfa delivers exceptional nutritional quality for ruminants, being rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Beyond its traditional role in animal nutrition, alfalfa is increasingly recognized as a potential functional vegetable for human consumption, with significant medicinal properties, including validated cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects attributed to its bioactive phytochemicals such as saponins and flavonoids. The crop also demonstrates considerable promise for environmental remediation, utilizing its deep root system and high biomass to stabilize heavy metals like cadmium and copper while degrading organic pollutants through phytoremediation mechanisms. Additionally, alfalfa offers viable applications in biofuel and fiber production. Its cultivation is integral to organic and sustainable farming systems, providing critical ecosystem services such as enhancing soil fertility, sequestering carbon, promoting biological nitrogen fixation, and supporting agricultural biodiversity including pollinators, beneficial insects, and avian species of conservation concern. By integrating these nutritional, medicinal, environmental, and agronomic dimensions, this paper consolidates current knowledge to highlight alfalfa’s integral role in promoting resilient and sustainable agricultural systems while addressing interconnected global challenges related to food security, climate change mitigation, and environmental health.

Keywords:

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Sustainable Production, Nutritional Quality, Multi-Purpose Crop, Organic Farming, Soil Fertility

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Adil, M., Shoukat, U., Daud, M., Gul, I., Afzal, R., Aqib, M., & Shafeeq, S. (2026). A Systematic Review of the Diverse Applications of Alfalfa and Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture. New Countryside, 5(2), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.55121/nc.v5i2.1114

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Vol. 5 No. 2 (April 2026): In Progress

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Review

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Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Adil, Usama Shoukat, Muhammad Daud, Isma Gul, Rifqa Afzal, Muhammad Aqib, Sajjad Shafeeq

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