Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a legume forage with medium tolerance to saline-alkali soil.Planting alfalfa in saline-alkali soil has high economic and ecological benefits.This paper reviewed the adaptive mechanism and cultivation strategy of alfalfa in saline-alkali soil.Under saline-alkali stress,alfalfa maintains metabolic balance by increasing the accumulation of osmotic adjustment substances,increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and protecting membrane system.aAlfalfa inhibits the entry of poisonous ions into the plant and improves the efficiency of water transportation and metabolism by adjusting the tissue structure of roots,stems and leaves.Development of appropriate irrigation and drainage systems enables the transformation of saline-alkali soils and helps to reduce soil salt content.Use of beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms can improve the rhizosphere microenvironment and increase the alfalfa's resistance to environmental stresses.The combination of conventional breeding and genetic engineering technologies is an important approach to breed new varieties with tolerance to salt and alkali.The integration of research methodologies in the fields of plant genetics and breeding,plant physiology and biochemistry,and molecular biology should be the focus of future research on alfalfa's tolerance to soil salinity.