Abstract:The aim of this research was to understand the effects of different planting methods on soil enzyme activities of Medicago ruthenica to provide a theoretical basis for the production of M.ruthenica in the arid area of central Gansu. A three-year (2017-2019) field experiment was conducted in Anding District of Xishi City.The experiments included: parallel to the ground treatment as the control,film mulching on ridge and furrow,film mulching parallel to the ground,film straw on ridge and furrow,film straw parallel to the ground,ridge and furrow,in total of six treatments.The soil enzyme activity was characterized under each mulching condition.The results showed that the activities of urease,sucrase,alkaline phosphatase,cellulase and catalase in the second and third years of M.ruthenica growth were significantly higher with the film straw on ridge and furrow and film straw parallel to the ground than those with other mulching treatments.In the 0~10 cm soil layer,compared to the parallel to the ground control treatment,with film mulching on ridge and furrow,film mulching parallel to the ground,film straw on ridge and furrow,film straw parallel to the ground and ridge and furrow with parallel to the ground treatment,the average soil urease activity in the second and third year increased by 24.4%,22.6%,33.9%,26.4% and 3.4%,respectively.The average soil cellulase activity in the second and third years of growth increased by 19.2%,4.9%,108.3%,105.0% and 0.9% respectively.In general,each treatment had a greater impact on the soil enzyme activity in the 0~10 cm soil layer of M.ruthenica grassland in the second and third years,and the soil enzyme activity with the straw mulch planting was the highest.