Desertification is a significant ecological problem that affects our country and the world with water being the crucial issue. In arid and semi-arid sandy lands, soil water carrying capacity should be fully considered in vegetation species selection, land cover patterns (i.e., the spatial distribution of different vegetation types) configuration, and planting density design when carrying out afforestation for desertification control. The low-coverage desertification control theory provides a new perspective for desertification control, and it is of great importance to address the conflict between water demand of revegetation and the limited water resources carrying capacity in these areas and enhance the stability and sustainability of sand-fixing forests in the drylands. Based on the density of natural sparse forests in arid regions, the theory of low coverage desertification control suggests that by reducing the current coverage of sand-fixing forests and altering the land cover distribution pattern, the benefits of desertification prevention and control can be maintained. The composite sand-fixing and vegetation restoration model based on low-coverage desertification control theory constructs sand-fixing shelterbelts (i.e., forests, barriers) at a coverage rate of 15% to 25% while allowing 75% to 85% of the area to be bare land or natural recovery zonal vegetation thus ensuring water balance in sandy areas and the stable and sustainable development of rain-fed vegetation. Based on the low-coverage desertification control theory, we have designed sand-fixing systems such as "one row-one band" composite sand barrier laying model, "two row-one band" laying model, "two row-one band" trees and shrubs mixed planting laying model, "two row-one band" agroforestry laying model for different climate zones. Moreover, several innovative practices of the low-coverage desertification control theory are introduced, including combinations with traditional technical models, wing bag sand barriers, and the optimal allocation and regulation of the spatial pattern of forests, farmlands, grasslands and sands based on water balance and near-nature ecological restoration. Practice results indicate that in the low-coverage sand-fixing forests/barriers, soil water consumption of plantations decreased due to the reduction in the density of plantings. Meanwhile, the remaining soil seepage and recharge zone in the banded land cover pattern can effectively maintain the dynamic water cycling of precipitation, soil water, groundwater, and finally solve the problem of recession and death of sand-fixing forests caused by soil water deficit. The banded vegetation can also support local agriculture and livestock production, providing significant ecological and economic benefits. In the future, the demonstration research of the combination of desertification control and sand industries based on the low-coverage desertification control theory should be strengthened.