The research team led by Mei Xurong at the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development for Agriculture of CAAS has been conducting synergic and innovative research for over 16 years. In view of the issues related to frequent drought and variable climate, excessive soil and water use, and decline in production stability in China’s northern dryland, the research has revealed the changing dynamics of crop water supply and demand and, for the first time, determined the technical suitability and crop priorities of drought-resistant and rain-adaptive planting in the northern dryland. It has also determined the mechanisms of increasing field water holding capacity by soil carbon enhancement, reducing soil evaporation by surface mulching, and improving crop-producing efficiency by canopy shaping. These mechanisms contributed to establishing the theory and method of Soil-Surface-Canopy synergic control for drought-resistant and rain-adaptive planting. All the above research findings were integrated to develop the leading technologies, corresponding accessories, and technical standards for drought-resistant and rain-adaptive planting in main dryland areas in northern China. From 2017 to 2019, such integrated technologies were successfully implemented and applied on over 7.7 million ha in three main dryland areas in northern China, increasing grain production by 4.59 million tons, raising output value by 8.65 billion RMB, and saving 1.2 billion cubic meters of irrigation water. The research has significant economic, social, and ecological benefits. The research outputs provide an essential scientific basis and critical technical support for implementing the national dryland agricultural planning and dryland water-saving agriculture demonstration.

Crop planting priority and technical rainfall suitability for drought-resistant and rain-adaptive planting in dryland of North China