Abstract:One-off fertilization is an urgent need for light and simplified agricultural production in China. The long-term effects of controlled-release fertilizers are less reported in comparation with those of short-term effects, thus, this study aims to explore the effects of long-term application of one-off controlled-release urea on the yields, soil fertilities, nitrogen use efficiencies and environmental effects of the major food crops to provide the supports for the light and green sustainable production of agriculture in China. We collected the related papers (as of December 20, 2021) from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (http://www.cnki.net/) and analyzed the effects of controlled-release urea (CRU) continuous application for five years or more on the yields, soil fertilities, and nitrogen use efficiencies of three major food crops (wheat, maize and rice) as well as the effects of CRU continuous application for three years or more on the ecological environment of farmlands. Compared with the normal urea split application, CRU continuous application for 5 years or more can increase the yields of wheat, maize and rice by 4.9%-19.6%, 0-14.4% and 0-17.6%, nitrogen use efficiencies by 24.2%-52.0%, 14.3%-80.3%, 4.4%-80.7%, soil total nitrogen by 0-8.7%, 0-6.7% and 0-23.8%, organic matter by 3.8%-11.8%, 0-6.4% and 0-16.6%, and inorganic nitrogen (NO3--N, NH4+-N) by 0-77.2%, 0-66.3% and 0-42.4%, respectively. While CRU continuous application for three years or more can reduce N2O emission by 16.9%-43.3%, 5.1%-56.0%, 5.6%-43.2% and NH3 volatilization by 18.6%-37.6%, 6.1%-52.4%, 37.2%-66.0%, respectively in wheat, maize and rice fields. In conclusion, one-off CRU application continuously can not only maintain soil fertility and crop yield in the long term, but also improve nitrogen use efficiency and reduce N losses for the three major food crops.