Abstract: A systematic analysis was performed on the logical framework underlying fallow system in the typical countries and regions, along with its implications in China. This study aims to examine the current regional layout and practical effectiveness of the fallow practices in China. Subsequently, a differentiated fallow framework was proposed to tailor for the specific national conditions. The results revealed that: 1) There were the significant differences of the fallow systems in the various countries, in terms of the implementation background, design goals, implementation models and performance. Furthermore, the differentiated implementation logics were adopted by each country, in the key dimensions of the system design. Four operational logics were also found behind its fallow practice: the goal orientation, system adaptation, compensation design and implementation constraint logic. 2) Five key insights were emerged from the international fallow experiences applicable to China. The fallow space planning was required to integrate the diagnostics of the arable land’s natural resource endowments and regional ecological conditions; The scale of the fallow was estimated to fully meet the baseline requirements for the stable grain production and ecological civilization construction; The fallow model was selected to balance the long-term ecological restoration with the cyclic utilization of agricultural functions; The compensation standards were necessary to coordinate the linkage between economic returns and ecological protection benefits; The fallow policy was required for the synergistic advancement with the national rural revitalization and regional agricultural transformation. 3) The arable land fallow was evolved into the four conceptual phases in China: the “migratory” model that characterized by cyclical exploitation, the “rotational” model featuring planned alternation between cultivation and abandonment, the “seasonal” model driven by empirical practices, and the contemporary “storing grain in the ground and storing grain through technology” model in the sustainable development. Fallow behavior was observed from the early spontaneous, sporadic individual behavior to the institutional lead fallow behavior. 4) The specific variables were considered, such as the cultivated land pressure index, soil quality, climatic characteristics, the bottom line of food security, and the red line of cultivated land protection. There were the regional variations in the natural conditions, soil quality, climatic features, and socioeconomic development levels. The regional adaptability was also explored to implement the fallow policies under the dual goals of the ecological protection and food security. The finding can provide a strong reference to promote the coordinated development of the "quantity-quality-ecology" of the cultivated land for the long-term food security of the country. Some insights were also offered to promote the ecological protection and sustainable utilization of the cultivated land resources.