Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer Reduction Combined with Foliar Fertilizer Application on the Physiological Characteristics and Yield of High-Quality Japonica Rice

High-quality japonica rice, distinguished by its unique flavor and enriched nutritional value, has attracted significant attention across Asia. The over-application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers, however, is a growing concern, threatening both the rice quality and the environmental sustainability of its production. This situation calls for a reevaluation and modification of traditional agricultural practices. Our study investigates the effects of reduced N fertilizer use, complemented by foliar fertilizer application, on the physiological attributes and yield of high-quality japonica rice. The aim is to achieve efficient N use and enhanced crop productivity. The experiment employed ‘Sujing 1180’, a high-quality japonica rice cultivar, utilizing urea as the N source and a comprehensive macronutrient-rich water-soluble fertilizer for foliar application. Five treatments were established: conventional N application (270 kg ha^− 1, N₁₀₀), 10% N reduction (N₉₀), 10% N reduction with foliar application (N₉₀ + FF), 20% N reduction (N₈₀), and 20% N reduction with foliar application (N₈₀ + FF). These treatments were meticulously examined throughout various growth stages. Photosynthetic parameter analysis indicated that N₉₀ + FF significantly boosted the net photosynthetic rate during the heading stage. N₈₀ + FF maintained higher stomatal conductance at the maturity stage, suggesting that foliar fertilizer is effective in enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal conductance. In terms of N metabolism, N₉₀ + FF notably increased the accumulation of nitrate N during the jointing stage, surpassing other treatments. While N₉₀ and N₈₀ showed reductions in both nitrate and ammonium N levels compared to N₁₀₀, N₉₀ + FF was particularly effective in elevating nitrate and ammonium N as well as free amino acid concentrations. Regarding N fertilizer efficiency, N₉₀ + FF surpassed N₁₀₀ across several critical parameters, specifically total N absorption, N recovery efficiency, N agronomic efficiency, and N physiological efficiency. Significantly, N₉₀ + FF showed marked improvements in both N agronomic efficiency and N partial factor productivity. In examining yield and its components, the N₉₀ + FF treatment achieved a higher yield of 9872.48 kg ha^− 1, surpassing the 9383.75 kg ha^− 1 of N₁₀₀. N₉₀ + FF had better results in seed-setting rate and average grain number per panicle, with its 1000-grain weight similar to that of N₁₀₀. The N₉₀ and N₈₀ treatments, however, were less effective in terms of yield and its components. The integrated study findings demonstrate that a strategy incorporating moderate N reduction and foliar fertilizer application markedly optimizes rice photosynthesis, augments N metabolism, and enhances utilization efficiency, leading to increased yields. These insights are valuable for advancing precision agriculture, enhancing japonica rice production efficiency, and promoting sustainable farming.