Abstract: The APSIM crop model was used to simulate the changes of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, soil greenhouse gas emissions and yield in the North China Plain from 1981 to 2014 under summer maize, winter wheat-summer maize, winter wheat-summer maize-early maize 1 (10 days in advance), winter wheat-summer maize -early maize 2 (20 days in advance) four cropping patterns. The results showed that among the four cropping patterns, the soil N₂O emission in summer maize planting mode was the lowest, which was 514.81kg·ha⁻¹, the average greenhouse gas emission of soil was 0.30MgCO_2-eq·ha⁻¹.The average change of soil organic carbon in winter wheat-summer maize-early maize1 (10 days in advance) cropping pattern was the least, which was 120.78kg·ha⁻¹. The average greenhouse gas emission of winter wheat-summer maize -early maize (20 days in advance) was 0.76MgCO_2-eq·ha⁻¹. Among the four planting patterns, the average yield of winter wheat-summer maize was the highest, which was 23405.47kg·ha⁻¹,the summer maize planting pattern had the best effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions(GHG=0.02 MgCO_2-eq·ha⁻¹), followed by the winter wheat-summer maize -early maize 2 (20 days advance) planting pattern(GHG=0.04 MgCO2_-eq·ha⁻¹). On the premise of ensuring the yield, considering the aspects of food security, resource conservation and environmental friendliness, the planting pattern of winter wheat-summer maize-early maize 2 (20 days in advance) will be an ideal planting system in the North China Plain.

Key words: North China Plain, APSIM model, Greenhouse gas emission, Yield, Cropping pattern