The Hetao Irrigation District serves as a vital grain production base in China. To enhance the allocation of water and soil resources within this district, this study conducted field experiments specifically in the Hetao Irrigation District. Utilizing long-term soil salinity simulations, various scenario schemes were established to optimize the cultivated-wasteland ratio and crop irrigation quotas in the area under investigation. The results indicate that over the next decade, soil salinity levels in wasteland, cultivated land, and the transition zone above the drain level are expected to decrease, whereas soil salinity in the transition zone below the drain level is projected to increase. The optimal cultivated-wasteland ratio identified for the study area is 12:1, with a suitable sunflower-maize planting ratio threshold of 4:1. The optimal irrigation quotas for maize and sunflower are determined to be 286 and 175 mm, respectively, which represent water savings of 15% and 5% compared to the existing irrigation quotas, thereby effectively controlling soil salinization. Additionally, the suitable threshold for irrigation water salinity in this area is established at 1.0 dS·m^–1. This study provides a scientific foundation for the prevention and control of soil salinization, as well as the efficient utilization of water and soil resources within the irrigation district.

To tackle the challenges of resource consumption and environmental pressure in agricultural production systems, quantifying sustainability performance and identifying its driving mechanisms are critical. This study introduces an integrated framework based on emergy analysis and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI), covering production investigation, system analysis, sustainability evaluation, and driver exploration, and ultimately guiding targeted production recommendations. The results reveal that tobacco energy output rose from 3.5 × 10¹⁶ J in 2004 to 5.1 × 10¹⁶ J in 2013, before declining to 3.3 × 10¹⁶ J in 2021. Total emergy input exhibited a similar pattern, peaking at 2.2 × 10²² sej in 2013. From 2004 to 2021, the environmental sustainability index increased from 0.46 to 0.54, while the environmental loading ratio decreased from 3.36 to 3.00, indicating a steady improvement in sustainability. Significant spatial variability was observed across provinces. LMDI decomposition revealed that economic efficiency contributed significantly to the sustainability improvement (0.53), while changes in renewable resource dependency offset –0.52 of this gain. Based on this framework, targeted strategies are proposed to optimize curing energy utilization, refine fertilizer management, and enhance economic efficiency. These findings offer practical support for promoting the sustainable transformation of the tobacco production system.

The harvest index (HI) has remained stagnant in modern maize despite decades of breeding efforts. Recent work by Guo et al. published in Cell identifies the HI1-BRR1 regulatory module as a “molecular valve” governing source-sink carbon and nitrogen allocation. This commentary highlights the engineering significance of this discovery, emphasizing its potential to overcome the yield plateau imposed by high-density planting and environmental stresses. We also discuss how integrating this module into hybrid breeding programs, combined with precision nutrient management, can drive the next generation of “smart” maize cultivars tailored for high-efficiency agricultural systems.