[Objective] The paper was to study the effects of different drying methods on moisture content and nutrient composition of alfalfa.[Method] Alfalfa collected from the same piece of land in early flowering period were dried through three different drying methods, solar drying,outdoor drying in the sun and outdoor drying in the shade, and the effects of different drying methods on contents of moisture, crude protein, crude ash and neutral detergent fiber(NDF) were measured. [Result] The moisture evaporation rate of different drying methods over the same period successively were solar drying > outdoor drying in the sun > outdoor drying in the shade. The crude protein content of alfalfa was the highest through solar drying(P<0.05), followed by outdoor drying in the shade, and the crude protein content through outdoor drying in the sun was the lowest. Under the condition of different moisture contents, the crude protein content of dried samples through outdoor drying in the sun decreased by 6.86%-22.43% compared to solar drying, and that through outdoor drying in the shade reduced by 4.92%-17.20%. Under the same moisture content, the crude ash content successively were outdoor drying in the shade > outdoor drying in the sun > solar drying; the crude ash content of alfalfa through solar drying was 3.72%-19.22% lower than outdoor drying in the sun, and 8.12%-29.93% lower than outdoor drying in the shade. The NDF content of alfalfa through outdoor drying in the sun was the highest, significantly higher than the other two drying methods( P<0.05). The NDF content through solar drying was the lowest, 9.08%-27.25% lower than outdoor drying in the sun, and 4.84%-24.84% lower than outdoor drying in the shade. [Conclusion] The paper will provide some references for selection of appropriate alfalfa drying method.
