Abstract: With the increasing occurrence of global climate change, dryland agriculture and ecosystem sustainability have been receiving more attention from the governments and ecologists worldwide. This paper reviewed all the 28 presentations in the International Workshop on Arid Agriculture and Ecosystem Sustainability held at Lanzhou University from 15 to 18 October, 2013. The presentations focused on the workshop theme of “efficient use of water resources and sustainable management of ecosystem”. Major aspects were summarized in this workshop such as opportunities and challenges in dryland agriculture, efficient utilization of rainwater resources, conservation of biodiversity in dry areas, construction of bioinformation system, sustainable ecosystem management, and enhancement of international cooperation among developing countries. Finally, on the basis of stratified feature and distinct theory of ecosystem management, we summarized the progress in agricultural water resources utilization and ecosystem management in dry areas in recent years. A conceptual diagram regarding coupling relationship between ecological conservation and agricultural production was constructed. It was aimed to provide potential theoretical evidence for food security, farmers’ livelihood improvement, sustainable ecosystem management and harmonious socioeconomic development under the background of climate change.

Key words: yield, exogenous Ca²⁺, reactive oxygen, salt stress, agronomic characters