Responses of agricultural drought to meteorological drought under different climatic zones and vegetation types

•The response of agricultural drought to meteorological drought in humid (II ∼ IV) regions is sensitive and transient.•The response time of agricultural drought to meteorological drought is most rapid in Grains.•Compared with rainfed agriculture, irrigation condition is an important factor affecting drought response time.•The higher the crop planting intensity, the shorter the drought response time.