Deficit irrigation (DI) and alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI) are widely recognized water-saving irrigation methods. This meta-analysis provided a systematic and quantitative result of the relative changes in yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of seven agricultural products (maize, wheat, cotton, potato, tomato, apple and grape) under conventional full irrigation (FULL), APRI and DI globally. Three comparisons were performed: (1) APRI by FULL, (2) APRI by DI and (3) DI by FULL. The results showed that the relative changes of yield and WUE differed among the three comparisons. Higher yield and WUE were achieved in fruits (apple and grape) under APRI compared with FULL or DI. However, the percentage changes in yield and WUE under APRI were not significantly different in vegetables (potato and tomato) and crops (maize, wheat and cotton). Compared with FULL, APRI performed better for acidic soils, clay loam or sandy loam, high bulk density (≥ 1.35 g cm⁻³), irrigation amount of 80–100% FULL, and was more appropriate for furrow irrigation in drier and colder environments. Compared with FULL, DI performed better for clay loam, low bulk density (< 1.35 g cm⁻³) and precipitation > 200 mm. Yields under APRI and DI were remarkably lower than those under FULL, while the corresponding WUE were significantly higher. Compared with DI, fruits with furrow irrigation and in soils with clay and sandy loam were better under APRI. There was no significant difference in yield between APRI and DI, but WUE under APRI was higher. APRI increased both yield and WUE in regions with low average annual temperature (< 9 ℃). It is critical to weigh the cost of yield penalty, the economic benefit of saving water and the cost of implementing irrigation method before choosing an effective water-saving irrigation method.

亏缺灌溉（DI）和部分根区交替灌溉（APRI）是公认的节水灌溉方法。这项荟萃分析提供了系统和定量的结果，显示了常规全面灌溉（FULL）下七种农产品（玉米，小麦，棉花，马铃薯，番茄，苹果和葡萄）的产量和水分利用效率（WUE）的相对变化，全球APRI和DI。进行了三个比较：（1）FULL的APRI，（2）DI的APRI和（3）FULL的DI。结果表明，在三个比较中，产量和水分利用效率的相对变化有所不同。与FULL或DI相比，在APRI下水果（苹果和葡萄）的单产和WUE更高。但是，在蔬菜（马铃薯和番茄）和农作物（玉米，小麦和棉花）下，APRI下的产量和水分利用效率的百分比变化没有显着差异。⁻³），灌溉量为FULL的80-100％，更适合在干燥和寒冷的环境中进行沟灌。与FULL相比，DI对粘土壤土表现更好，堆积密度低（<1.35 g cm ^-3），且降水量> 200毫米。在APRI和DI下的产量显着低于FULL下的产量，而相应的WUE则明显更高。与DI相比，在APRI下，沟灌和在粘土和沙壤土中的土壤效果更好。APRI和DI之间的产量没有显着差异，但APRI下的WUE较高。在年平均气温较低（<9℃）的地区，APRI提高了产量和WUE。在选择有效的节水灌溉方法之前，必须权衡产量损失的成本，节水的经济效益和实施灌溉方法的成本。