Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 162-174 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 172 9 Conclusion Enhancing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rice is essential for sustainable agriculture, addressing the dual challenges of environmental degradation and economic inefficiency caused by excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization. Several strategies have been developed to improve NUE, focusing on genetic, agronomic, and technological innovations. Genetic approaches involve advances in molecular genetics and conventional breeding, aiming to develop rice varieties with enhanced NUE by targeting key traits related to N uptake, transport, and assimilation. Despite the complexity of these traits, technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 offer promising avenues for precise genetic modifications. Agronomic practices, including balanced fertilization, the use of slow-release N fertilizers, split applications, and site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), have demonstrated effectiveness in improving NUE. Simplified nitrogen-reduced practices (SNRP) have further optimized N application and grain yield. Meanwhile, technological innovations like digital decision support tools (e.g., Rice Crop Manager and Nutrient Expert) have enabled precise N management by providing real-time field data, reducing N losses and improving efficiency. Looking ahead, the future of sustainable rice farming lies in integrating these genetic, agronomic, and technological strategies. Research into the genetic basis of NUE will continue to be vital, with a focus on incorporating genes regulating N assimilation and remobilization into high-yielding rice varieties. Agronomic synergies, such as combining N-efficient rice varieties with SSNM and SNRP, will enhance both NUE and yield stability across diverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, advancements in digital tools and precision agriculture technologies will support real-time analytics and data-driven decision-making, ensuring efficient and sustainable N management. A holistic approach that merges genetic, agronomic, and technological innovations holds the potential to revolutionize rice farming, improving NUE while promoting environmental conservation and economic sustainability. Acknowledgments The author expresses deep gratitude to Professor R. Cai from the Zhejiang Agronomist College for his thorough review of the manuscript and constructive suggestions. The author also extends thanks to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their valuable revision recommendations. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The author affirms that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Alam M., Khanam M., and Rahman M., 2023, Environment-friendly nitrogen management practices in wetland paddy cultivation, ront. Sustain. Food Syst., 7: 1020570. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1020570 Alfatih A., Wu J., Zhang Z., Xia J., Jan S., Yu L., and Xiang C., 2020, Rice NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 1 rapidly responds to nitrogen deficiency and improves yield and nitrogen use efficiency, Journal of Experimental Botany, 71(19): 6032-6042. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/eraa292 Argento F., Anken T., Abt F., Vogelsanger E., Walter A., and Liebisch F., 2020, Site-specific nitrogen management in winter wheat supported by low-altitude remote sensing and soil data, Precision Agriculture, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-020-09733-3 Baral B., Pande K., Gaihre Y., Baral K., Sah S., Thapa Y., and Singh U., 2020, Increasing nitrogen use efficiency in rice through fertilizer application method under rainfed drought conditions in Nepal, Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 118: 103-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-020-10086-6 Blaise D., 2021. Nitrogen use efficiency in crops with new and available technologies, Annals of Plant and Soil Research, 23(3): 256-266. https://doi.org/10.47815/apsr.2021.10068 Chen J., Arafat Y., Din U., Yang B., Zhou L., Wang J., Letuma P., Wu H., Qin X., Wu L., Lin S., Zhang Z., and Lin W., 2019, Nitrogen fertilizer amendment alter the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and improve crop yield, Frontiers in Microbiology, 10: 2623. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.02623 Chen P., Mo C., He C., Cui H., Lin J., and Yang J., 2021, Shift of microbial turnover time and metabolic efficiency strongly regulates rhizosphere priming effect under nitrogen fertilization in paddy soil, The Science of the Total Environment, 800: 149590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149590
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