Sustainable agriculture is a central focus of global agricultural transformation; straw return and optimised nitrogen fertilizer management emerging as key technologies for achieving efficient resource utilization. Therefore, clarifying the substitution effect of straw nitrogen release on chemical nitrogen fertilizers and quantifying the comprehensive impact of different nitrogen fertilizer application rates under straw return conditions on yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and system sustainability are crucial for identifying optimal nitrogen fertilizer management strategies. From 2017–2023, field trials are conducted on the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system on the North China Plain. These trials systematically investigate the combined effects of varying straw-return rates and nitrogen fertilizer application levels on crop yield, economic benefit, nitrogen use efficiency, and environmental impact. Results indicate that straw decomposition of maize and wheat can provide 47.6 kg ha−1 and 28.5 kg ha−1 of nitrogen to the crop-soil system in the later season, respectively. Based on the characteristics of nitrogen release, the application of 178.5 kg ha−1 of nitrogen fertilizer (S-15 %N treatment) following straw return can maintain high yield and yield stability of crops while reducing fertilizer by 15 % and considerably enhancing nitrogen use efficiency. When compared with conventional nitrogen application (SN, 210 kg ha−1), the S-15 %N treatment demonstrates superior resource use efficiency and environmental sustainability while effectively meeting crop nitrogen nutrition requirements were met. By establishing a sustainability evaluation system incorporating multidimensional indicators such as yield, economic returns, nitrogen loss mitigation, and carbon emissions reduction, this study clearly demonstrates, for the first time, that the S-15 %N treatment achieves the highest sustainability performance score. The promotion of this model in the North China Plain can reduce about 0.96 Mt of nitrogen loss and 649 kg ha−1 of carbon emissions per year, with notable environmental and ecological benefits. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for implementing green, low-carbon fertilization practices in the wheat-maize rotation system on the North China Plain.
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