Normal urea (NU) often requires multiple applications to increase crop yield and nitrogen (N) fertilizer utilization efficiency by improving the synchronization of crop N demand, which increases the labor input. Controlled-release urea (CRU) has excellent N release performance, and it can significantly increase crop productivity with only one application as a base fertilizer. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of whether CRU can replace the split application of NU (split-NU) to increase crop yield and N fertilizer use efficiency, as this would reduce the necessary labor. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether CRU can replace split-NU nationwide. To this end, we collected peer-reviewed articles on CRU and split-NU that were published in recent decades and performed a meta-analysis. The results showed that, compared with all NU as base fertilizer, CRU and split-NU increased crop yield by 10.08% and 8.11%, respectively, and N use efficiency by 47.55% and 45.21%, respectively. In general, CRU had a better substitution effect on split-NU nationwide. However, due to regional climate factors, soil physicochemical factors, and field management measures, the substitution effect of CRU on split-NU varied. In most cases, CRU had a good substitution effect on split-NU, but when the soil available N content (< 50 mg kg⁻¹) and the N application rate (< 150 kg ha⁻¹) are both low, the planted crop was wheat, CRU had a poor substitution effect on split-NU. In addition, we found that CRU had a good substitution effect on split-NU in reducing N loss (greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching) and increasing economic benefits. Therefore, we highlighted the threefold benefits of CRU, as it can improve crop productivity, reduce N loss, and decrease labor input; thus, it can be widely applied nationwide.

普通尿素（NU）往往需要多次施用，通过提高作物对氮需求的同步性来提高作物产量和氮肥利用效率，从而增加劳动力投入。控释尿素 (CRU) 具有优异的氮释放性能，仅作为基肥施用一次即可显着提高作物产量。然而，CRU能否替代NU分施（split-NU）以提高作物产量和氮肥利用效率，减少必要劳动力，目前尚缺乏综合评价。因此，本研究的目的是评估 CRU 是否可以在全国范围内取代 split-NU。为此，我们收集了近几十年来发表的关于 CRU 和 split-NU 的同行评审文章，并进行了荟萃分析。结果表明，与全NU作基肥相比，CRU和split-NU分别提高作物产量10.08%和8.11%，氮素利用率分别提高47.55%和45.21%。总的来说，CRU对全国split-NU有较好的替代效果。然而，受区域气候因素、土壤理化因素和田间管理措施的影响，CRU对分裂NU的替代效应各不相同。在大多数情况下，CRU 对分裂 NU 具有良好的替代效果，但当土壤有效 N 含量（< 50 mg kg CRU 对分裂 NU 的替代效应各不相同。在大多数情况下，CRU 对分裂 NU 具有良好的替代效果，但当土壤有效 N 含量（< 50 mg kg CRU 对分裂 NU 的替代效应各不相同。在大多数情况下，CRU 对分裂 NU 具有良好的替代效果，但当土壤有效 N 含量（< 50 mg kg^-1 ) 和施氮量 (< 150 kg ha ^-1 ) 都较低，种植的作物是小麦，CRU 对 split-NU 的替代效果较差。此外，我们发现CRU在减少N损失（温室气体排放和硝酸盐浸出）和提高经济效益方面对split-NU具有良好的替代作用。因此，我们强调了 CRU 的三重好处，因为它可以提高作物生产力、减少氮损失和减少劳动力投入；因此，它可以在全国范围内广泛应用。