Jianhua Wang , Xiaoying Li

Songyang County Shuimoshicang Agricultural Products Co., Ltd, Songyang 323499, Zhejiang
Author    Correspondence author
Legume Genomics and Genetics, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 2   
Received: 22 Feb., 2026    Accepted: 25 Mar., 2026    Published: 29 Apr., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Improving nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency (NUE) is a critical approach to achieving high yield and sustainable production in soybean cultivation. Based on existing research, this study systematically reviews the concepts, evaluation indices, fertilization strategies, and underlying mechanisms affecting soybean nitrogen use efficiency. Common evaluation indices such as NUE, nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE), and partial factor productivity of nitrogen (NPFP) are compared, and their influencing factors are analyzed. Furthermore, the theoretical basis of fertilization strategies, including nitrogen rate optimization, split application, and precision fertilization technologies, is discussed in detail. The study elucidates the mechanisms by which fertilization strategies regulate soil nitrogen transformation, root nitrogen uptake, biological nitrogen fixation, and nitrogen allocation within soybean plants. In addition, the effects of different fertilization strategies on soybean growth, yield components, and the synergistic relationship between yield and NUE are summarized. The interactions between environmental factors-such as soil type, climate conditions, and agronomic practices-and fertilization strategies are also highlighted. A case study further demonstrates the practical effectiveness of optimized fertilization strategies in improving nitrogen use efficiency and yield. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive theoretical basis and practical guidance for enhancing soybean nitrogen fertilizer management and promoting sustainable agricultural development.

Soybean; Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency; Fertilization strategies; Nitrogen management; Sustainable agriculture