Nitrogen losses from farmlands through volatilization, leaching and denitrification are a growing concern as environmental risks and induced low crop yields.Searching for solutions to minimize N losses has long been the focus of fertilizer technology development and plant nutrition research.Controlled release urea (CRU) is considered as both an environment-friendly and enhanced efficiency N fertilizer in crop production.The objectives of the studies reported here were to comprehensively and systematically examine the optimal rates and timing of CRU (Yi Duo Bao (YDB) manufactured by Agrium, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) to different crops including paddy rice, maize, potato, cotton, sugarcane and banana in China, and to evaluate its influence on crop yield, quality and N use efficiency.Various fertilizer N blends,with different proportions of CRU and regular urea (RU), were also tested on rice, maize and cotton.Since 2009 more than sixty field experiments have been conducted cross China—rice in Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Sichuan,Chongqing, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Anhui and Guangdong;maize in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Inner Mongolia and Yunnan;irrigated potato in Inner Mongolia;cotton in Hubei;banana and sugarcane in Guangdong and Guangxi.