Less carbon emissions of wheat-maize intercropping under reduced tillage in arid areas

Global warming is partly due to intensive monoculture farming that burns soil carbon into carbon dioxide (CO₂), a greenhouse gas, which is then transferred to the atmosphere. Alternative agriculture pratices are therefore needed to preserve soil carbon. Agronomists Hu et al. found that wheat-maize intercropping with reduced tillage and stubble mulching decreased carbon emission by 10% and increased yield by 11% compared to conventional tillage.