Engineer, Water Resources Research Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Meng Duan is a dedicated engineer and researcher in the field of agricultural water resource management, currently working at the Water Resources Research Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He earned his Ph.D. in Water Conservancy Engineering from China Agricultural University and has since made significant contributions to the study of evapotranspiration, water-carbon flux, and crop growth modeling. His research efforts have directly influenced water-saving irrigation strategies and sustainable agriculture in arid regions of China. With funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and collaborations with top institutions, Duan’s work bridges scientific innovation and field application. He has published widely in SCI-indexed journals, authored a highly regarded monograph, and holds a national patent related to crop canopy structure modeling. Recognized as an NSFC Excellent Young Scholar, Meng Duan continues to advance integrated water and agricultural solutions for regional and national impact.
Profile
Orcid
Education
Meng Duan received his doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Water Conservancy Engineering from China Agricultural University, one of China’s premier agricultural and environmental research institutions. His doctoral studies focused on integrated water resource management and crop modeling, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. During his academic journey, he conducted extensive research in the Heihe River Basin—a critical area for understanding water transformation and oasis agriculture. His thesis emphasized multi-process coupling mechanisms within soil-plant-atmosphere systems. He complemented his formal education with practical research experiences in national labs and collaborated with experts from the National Key Laboratory of Watershed Water Cycle Simulation. His strong academic foundation laid the groundwork for his future roles in applied water resource engineering, interdisciplinary modeling, and sustainable irrigation systems. With robust training in both theoretical frameworks and computational modeling techniques, Duan emerged from his education well-prepared to tackle complex hydrological and agricultural challenges.
Professional Experience
Meng Duan currently serves as an Engineer at the Water Resources Research Institute of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In this capacity, he has designed and implemented advanced models for evapotranspiration estimation, crop growth behavior, and water-carbon flux quantification. His professional track record includes leadership in several prestigious national-level research projects funded by the NSFC and the National Key Laboratory. Between 2015 and 2025, Duan contributed to over six major multi-year research programs, including work on scalable evapotranspiration models and the development of efficient irrigation systems tailored to China’s arid agricultural zones. Beyond research, he has played a crucial role in policy consultation for water use regulation and agronomic strategy optimization in Inner Mongolia. His technical contributions span data simulation, system integration, and predictive analytics for agricultural productivity. Through collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams and institutions, Duan has gained a reputation as a practical and visionary water resource engineer.
Research Focus
Meng Duan’s research is centered on sustainable agricultural water management in arid and semi-arid regions. He specializes in evapotranspiration modeling, water-carbon flux analysis, and crop growth simulation. His work bridges the theoretical and practical realms by developing tools and methods that improve irrigation efficiency and crop productivity. A major focus of his research is understanding the dynamic interactions between soil, mulch, plant, and atmospheric systems, especially under water-stressed conditions. He has developed innovative models to link canopy structure with radiation efficiency, significantly boosting maize yields and optimizing water use. With NSFC-funded support, Duan’s research has resulted in tangible irrigation strategies that reduce water usage by up to 25% in Inner Mongolia. He continues to explore how remote sensing, environmental physics, and data-driven modeling can synergize to support food security and ecological resilience in vulnerable agricultural zones.
Publication Top Notes
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Meng Duan, Baozhong Zhang. (2025).
Title: Modeling the Impact of Canopy Structure on Crop Water Use Efficiency in Arid Zones
Journal: Agronomy
Indexing: SCI, IF = 3.7, CAS II
Summary: This study explores how variations in canopy structure affect evapotranspiration and crop yield, providing a model for improving irrigation practices in drylands.
Conclusion:
Meng Duan stands out as a highly competent and impactful early-career researcher, especially in the specialized field of agricultural water resources engineering. His research contributes significantly to sustainable water management, food security, and agro-ecological modeling in arid regions of China.