CONTEXT: Irrigation is essential for the coordinated and sustainable development of the agricultural water-landenergy-carbon-food (WLECF) nexus in water-scarce areas. Although several water-saving irrigation modes have been promoted recent years in China, the quantitative differences in their effects remain to be explored, including ensuring food security, contributing to eco-friendly agriculture, and enhancing farmers' income. Moreover, the interactions among different elements of irrigated agricultural systems have yet to be comprehensively described. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore how field facilities and cropping management practices of different irrigation systems affect resource input, productivity, environmental impacts, economic benefits and coupling coordination level of WLECF nexus. METHODS: Based on micro-survey data and Ecoinvent database, the integrated benefits of the different irrigation systems were evaluated by life cycle assessment, life cycle cost, cost-benefit analysis, coupled coordination degree under potato cropping. Furthermore, simulation was conducted to explore the regional development potential of the optimal irrigation mode. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that mulched drip irrigation (MDI) can reduce water inputs, enhance productivity, economic benefits and coupling coordination level, contribute to expanding irrigable land, reducing energy consumption, regulating carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emission. The scenario simulations show that under China's water resource quota policy, potato cultivation in China can save 10% of arable land, reduce about 9% of energy consumption, reduce about 12% of carbon emissions, increase 23% of potato production, increase more than 100% of cost-benefit ratio, generate carbon trading economic benefit 277 million Chinese yuan by converting general irrigation into the MDI. SIGNIFICANCE: This study emphasizes the significance of enhancing precise crop management practices, advanced field technologies, and effective water-saving incentives and regulatory policies to promote the optimal irrigation mode. These findings can provide practical reference for promoting water-saving irrigation in Yellow River Basin and even other arid regions.