High yielding and widely adapted, alfalfa is also cultivated throughout other temperate regions of the world. As a legume, alfalfa fixes atmospheric nitrogen when properly inoculated with Sinorhizobium .
Perennial alfalfa stands also limit erosion by providing continuous soil coverage.
The deep tap roots of alfalfa improve water infiltration and help break hardpans created by tillage implements. Alfalfa can be harvested as hay, pasture, or silage, making it an attractive crop for most livestock and dairy systems. Cultivated alfalfa, M. sativa subsp. The closely related subspecies M. sativa subsp. M. sativa subsp.