The study looked at how plants use water efficiently in different areas of China. They found that during droughts, plants change how they use water, affecting their efficiency. Plants in dry areas are better at conserving water. The way plants use water is more stable in some seasons than others. In wet areas, plant growth mainly affects water efficiency, while in dry areas, both plant growth and water loss play a role. A type of plant growth data is better at showing how drought affects plants. This research helps us understand how plants balance water and carbon in different environments.