Characteristics of dew/hoar frost from Artemisia ordosica and bare soil based on weighing lysimeters in a semi-arid region

•We determine the amount, frequency, and duration of dew and hoar frost based on the weighing lysimeter data.•The characteristics of dew and hoar frost from Artemisia ordosica and bare soil are compared.•Dew can provide 30% of the water for the survival of Artemisia ordosica during the extreme drought periods.