Agricultural management in the cinnamon soil region of Northeast China has historically focused on yield and water conservation. However, a critical gap persists in understanding the synergies and trade-offs between resource use and environmental impacts, as no study has concurrently evaluated the water footprint (WF), carbon footprint (CF), and energy dynamics of maize production. This study introduces an innovative integrated assessment framework that bridges this gap, synthesizing these three methodologies to provide a holistic perspective on environmental sustainability. Our decade-long (2012-2021) analysis revealed a WF of 0.82-2.12 m(3)/kg, strongly correlated with yield and precipitation (p < 0.01), and a CF of 1.10-1.52 million t CO2-eq, primarily driven by plowing, fertilizer, and diesel use (p < 0.01). Energy evaluation indicated progress in resource efficiency. The major novelty of this work lies in its integrative approach, which uncovers the interconnected drivers across water, carbon, and energy systems. This systemic understanding is crucial for transitioning from single-objective management to multi-dimensional sustainability. Our findings demonstrate that achieving sustainable maize production in this arid region requires optimized irrigation, enhanced energy efficiency, and the adoption of water-saving and renewable technologies. This integrated framework offers a replicable model for comprehensive environmental assessment in other agricultural regions, providing a robust scientific basis for policymakers and farmers to formulate strategies that simultaneously ensure productivity, resource conservation, and climate mitigation.