Effect of plough pan thickness on crop growth parameters, nitrogen uptake and greenhouse gas (CO2 and N2O) emissions in a wheat-maize double-crop rotation in the Northern China Plain: A one-year study

•The average thickness of topsoil was 15 cm and plow pan distributed from 15 to 30 cm under topsoil in NCP.•Moderately breaking the original plow pan could optimize crop photosynthesis, crop yield, N utilization and NPP.•Plow pan thickness of 5 cm could gain optimal nitrogen utilization and relative better environment.