Objective The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) footprints of the agricultural industry in the three northeastern provinces were accounted for a comprehensive database of C and N footprints, and the main influencing factors were revealed, in order to provide data support for the healthy and sustainable development of the agricultural industry in these provinces.

Method The C and N footprints of the cropping industry in the three northeastern provinces of China were studied. A system for accounting C and N footprint was developed using the life cycle assessment method and the input-output method, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model was employed to decompose the driving factors of the C and N footprints of the cropping industry.

Result The C and N footprints and emissions in Liaoning Province and Jilin Province showed a decreasing trend, while their C and N carrying capacities exhibited an increasing trend. In contrast, Heilongjiang Province showed an upward trend in C and N footprints and emissions, with its C carrying capacity on the rise and N carrying capacity on the decline. All three northeastern provinces achieved C surplus in 2020, with Jilin Province also attaining N surplus, whereas Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province remain in a state of N deficit. Regions with higher C and N emissions from agriculture were primarily located in the Songnen Plain, Sanjiang Plain, and Liaohe Plain. Agricultural efficiency is a key driver in reducing C and N footprints.

Conclusion Liaoning and Jilin provinces have achieved significant results in reducing pollution and C emissions in agriculture. However, C and N emissions from agriculture in Heilongjiang Province continue to rise. It is recommended to increase investment in agricultural economics, improve agricultural production efficiency, expand the scale of cultivation, reduce the input-output ratio, transfer surplus rural labor, optimize fertilizer application, reduce C and N emission intensity, and promote green and high-quality development of agriculture in the three northeastern provinces.