Graphical abstract (IMAGE) Higher Education Press Caption Diagram illustrating the impact of natural factors, soil parameters, and nitrogen (N) application rate on the proportion of fertilizer-N losses to the applied N in the cropping seasons of wheat, rice, and maize. The histograms present the results from the random forest model, which reveal the importance of the parameters in the proportion of fertilizer N losses. The linear regressions indicate relationships between the amounts of fertilizer-N losses and N application rates under different soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. A and B on the fitting line represent the scenarios of implementing optimized N application rates in soils with low SOC levels and implementing conventional N application rates in soils with high SOC levels, respectively. Credit Jidong Wang, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences Usage Restrictions none License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.