Significance of disposable presowing irrigation in wheat in increasing water use efficiency and maintaining high yield under winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain

•A water-saving method considering winter wheat-summer maize rotation was investigated.•New method saved 1126 m3 ha−1 of water with comparable rotation yield to the current irrigation management.•Increased maize yield compensated the elimination in wheat yield.•Higher received precipitation in maize while not temperature explained increased yield.