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Fast development of farming practices in China is projected to result in additional carbon emissions and thus affect farmland ecosystems' environmental performance. Based on 454 farm surveys on the North and Northeast China Plain, the carbon footprint (CF) of two farmland ecosystems (irrigated system for wheat and maize on the North China Plain and rainfed system for maize on the Northeast Plain) were assessed and emission reduction pathways explored by quantifying greenhouse gas emissions of agricultural inputs and farm practices during the entire crop growing seasons with an agricultural footprint model. The results demonstrated that the GHG emissions from wheat and maize rotation in the irrigated system were 7.63 t CO 2 eq ha−1 and 3.17 t CO 2 eq ha−1 for single season maize in the rainfed system. While energy consumption accounted for 12.5%–21.3% of the carbon footprint in both systems, the group assessment found that the largest difference in GHG emissions between the high and low emission groups came from mechanical energy consumption. Approximately 50.6% and 39.2% of the mechanical carbon footprint of wheat and maize, respectively, were caused by irrigation practices in the irrigated system. Regarding the rainfed system, where 46.6% of mechanical carbon emissions were generated by maize tillage operations. In addition, scenario analysis indicated that the mechanical carbon footprint could be reduced to 56 kg CO 2 eq t−1 for NCP-wheat and 26 kg CO 2 eq t−1 for NCP-maize, respectively, by optimizing yields and irrigation practices in irrigated systems and that the mechanical carbon footprint of NEP-maize could be reduced to 25 kg CO 2 eq t−1 by optimizing yields and tillage practices in rainfed systems. Therefore, improvement in mechanization in irrigation and tillage practices can contribute to reduce GHG emissions in China. Water-saving irrigation technology is recommended in irrigated area and conservation tillage is recommended in rainfed agricultural area to reduce carbon footprints. [Display omitted] • Carbon footprint of farming practices was studied on the North and Northeast China Plains. • Irrigation practice affects the carbon footprint of the winter wheat–summer maize system. • Tillage practice determines the carbon footprint of the rain-fed spring maize system. • Promoting drip irrigation in irrigated system and strip-tillage in rainfed system could reduce the carbon intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]