We compare the differences in tenure security between contract land and wasteland, and examine the effect of tenure in(security) on intercropping decisions on the two types of land in rural Xinjiang, China.

Both contract land users and wasteland users are faced with insecure land tenure, but the security of tenure of wasteland is much lower than for contract land.

Secure tenure of contract land encourages farmers to take up intercropping as a long-term land investment strategy.

On wasteland, insecure tenure stimulates farmers to take up intercropping, as a way of increasing their perceived security of tenure.