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This study investigated the effects of two bacteriocin-producing <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> strains on fermentation, bacterial communities, and their functions of alfalfa silage with two dry matter (DM) contents of 355 (moderate DM) and 428 (high DM) g/kg fresh weight. Before ensiling, alfalfa was treated with (1) distilled water (control), (2) the commercial strain <i>L. plantarum</i> MTD/1, (3) bacteriocin-producing <i>L. plantarum</i> ATCC14917, and (4) bacteriocin-producing <i>L. plantarum</i> LP1-4, and ensiled for 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 60 d, and 90 d, respectively. Application of ATCC14917 promoted lactic acid production in the moderate DM silage at the early fermentation stage (3 d). Silages treated with ATCC14917 and LP1-4 showed lower DM losses and non-protein nitrogen concentrations versus the control or MDT/1-treated silage (<i>p</i> < 0.05). During fermentation, a high proportion of <i>Weissella cibaria</i> was observed in the silages with high DM content from 3 to 60 d of ensiling, and the functions of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms of silage bacterial community were decreased by ATCC14917 before 60 d of ensiling. In addition, ATCC14917 also inhibited the growth of <i>Aerococcus</i> and <i>Enterobacter</i> in silage. Therefore, the bacteriocin-producing <i>L. plantarum</i> ATCC14917 has a great potential to improve alfalfa silage quality, nutritive value, and safety as well.