Objectives The intelligent fertilizer recommendations based on yield response and agronomic efficiency has demonstrated convincing results for crops across various regions and species in China. This study aimed to establish a fertilization recommendation method tailored to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in China, targeting production efficiency and reduced environmental risks.

Methods Using keywords “oilseed rape”, “oilseed rape + yield”, “oilseed rape + nutrient uptake”, and “oilseed rape + fertilizer use efficiency”, we collected field fertilizer trial data in winter oilseed rape published during 2000 to 2023. The QUEFTS model was employed to analyze nutrient uptake characteristics and optimize agronomic parameters including yield response and agronomic efficiency, then the nutrient expert recommendation system (NE) was constructed tailored for winter oilseed rape. From 2021 to 2023, 65 field validation trials were conducted across Hubei Province, and three fertilization treatments were included in each trail: Nutrient Expert recommendation (NE), farmers’ conventional practice (FP), and soil testing recommendation (ST). The yield, nutrient use efficiency, and economic benefits of oilseed rape production were investigated.

Results The QUEFTS model analysis revealed that the N, P, and K requirement in aboveground biomass are 43.5 kg, 11.0 kg, and 44.6 kg for producing 1 ton of winter oilseed rape seeds, the average yield responses to N, P, and K fertilization are averaged 1.08, 0.63, and 0.42 t/hm², respectively, with corresponding agronomic efficiencies of 6.26, 8.24, and 4.97 kg/kg. The relationships between fertilization and yield were quantified as: y=−0.8043x2+6.9351x−0.0648 for N, y=−2.6103x2+16.139x−0.408 for P, and y=−3.0654x2+14.031x−0.1571 for K. Compared to the ST treatment, NE recommendation reduced N rate by 20 kg/hm², increased P₂O₅ rate by 7 kg/hm², and remained similar K₂O rate. As a result, NEs decreased total fertilizer cost by 989 CNY/hm², increased yield and net profit by an average of 0.11 t/hm² and 898 CNY/hm², respectively, and improved agronomic efficiencies of N and K fertilizers by 1.39 and 2.83 kg/kg.

Conclusions The intelligent fertilization recommendation tailored to winter oilseed rape production in China outperformed other methods in balancing and reducing fertilizer cost, increasing fertilizer nutrient use efficiency, soilseed rape yield and profits, so is an effective and efficient recommendation system.