The improvement of soil properties in rice cropping systems using an integrated fertilization method to increase rice yield

The global food crisis provides an impetus for agricultural green transformation via optimized fertilization methods. While organic substitution, green manure incorporation, and targeted fertilization sites have individually shown promise in enhancing rice yield, there is still a gap between optimized fertilization methods and achieving sustainable rice production. To explore the factors influencing rice yield across different fertilization strategies, we conducted a field experiment in Southern China encompassing five treatments, such as CK (no N input), RN (broadcasting urea with recommended N rates), RON (broadcasting organic–inorganic fertilizer with recommended N rates), RONS (side‐deep placement of organic–inorganic fertilizer with recommended N rates), and RONSA (coupled RONS with Azolla [Azolla pinnata R. Brown]). Using a Minimum Data Set approach, we identified the primary variables influencing soil properties and rice production, with a focus on soil physicochemical characteristics and bacterial communities. Further, the soil properties index (SPI), calculated by multiplying the linear score with the weight of each variable, served as an indicator of soil properties variations. Our findings revealed that RONSA significantly increased the SPI by 21.1% compared with RN, predominantly because of higher soil labile organic carbon (LOC) and available N (SAN) fractions (p < .05). N uptake in rice plants (23.9%–28.4%) increased dramatically under RONSA leading to higher rice yield (11.0%–16.9%) and NUE (30.2%–36.1%) than RN (p < .05). The enhancement in soil properties, characterized by increased LOC, SAN fractions, and bacterial community diversity, was essential in boosting rice yields, with dissolved inorganic N emerging as the dominant contributor. In summary, our results highlight the effectiveness of integrated fertilization approaches in enhancing soil properties, subsequently leading to improved rice yields and NUE. This fertilizer strategy holds promise for guiding field fertilization practices and advancing sustainable rice production.