Abstract: 【Objective】 To explore suitable irrigation methods for alfalfa cultivation in arid and semi-arid areas of northwest China. 【Methods】 Three kinds of irrigation methods, rolling irrigation W₁, pointer sprinkler irrigation W₂ and shallow drip irrigation W₃, were designed to implement irrigation, and the quantitative effects of various irrigation methods on land moisture, alfalfa yield and irrigation water efficiency were compared and studied. 【Results】 The results showed that shallow-buried drip irrigation treatment significantly increased soil water content at 0-100 cm during the growth period of alfalfa compared with rolling sprinkler irrigation treatment and pointer sprinkler irrigation treatment (P<0.05), and shallow-buried drip irrigation could effectively improve soil water content.The total yield of shallow-buried drip irrigation was 15,094.10 kg/hm², which was increased by 7.15% and 6.67% compared with rolling and pointer sprinkler irrigation.The average water use efficiency of four crops increased by 40.59% and 41.29%.The net profit of shallow-buried drip irrigation was 6,263.56 yuan /hm², which was 37.86% and 34.69% higher than that of rolling sprinkler irrigation and pointer sprinkler irrigation. 【Conclusion】 Comprehensive analysis shows that shallow-buried drip irrigation can significantly improve soil moisture status, improve alfalfa yield and irrigation water utilization efficiency, and increase the profit of alfalfa planting.Therefore, shallow-buried drip irrigation is recommended as an irrigation method in water resource shortage areas.