Mechanisms sustaining stable crop yields under long-term drip irrigation in arid regions

Drip irrigation has been widely practiced in the arid zones of Northwest China for three decades, yet its long-term impacts on soil salinization dynamics remain hotly debated. While drip irrigation effectively desalinates crop root zones, it simultaneously induces salt accumulation at wetting fronts, in inter-film soils, and between crop rows, posing a potential risk of secondary salinization. The coupling of drip irrigation with autumn-winter irrigation achieves off-season salt leaching, thereby sustaining long-term soil health and stabilizing crop yield. Under the constraint of limited reservoir water storage capacity, this integrated system enables the reuse of otherwise idle winter water to maintain a stable soil water-salt balance, providing valuable insights for the sustainable development of agriculture in arid regions across the globe.