Green-depressing cropping system: A referential land use practice for fallow to ensure a harmonious human-land relationship in the farming-pastoral ecotone of northern China

•Nowadays, the green-depressing cropping system (GDCS) is still widely distributed in FPENC.•The GDCS has developed into various types.•The GDCS contributes to stabilizing grain production with a remarkable increase in crop yields in the subsequent year.•The GDCS helps to relieve the tense human-land relationship.•The GDCS can provide references for fallow policy regarding fallow region selection, management, and compensation.