The breakthrough in super hybrid rice yield has significantly contributed to China’s and global food security. However, the inherent conflict between high productivity and environmentally sustainable agriculture poses substantial challenges. Issues such as water scarcity, energy crises, escalating greenhouse gas emissions, and diminishing farm profitability threaten long-term agricultural sustainability. In response, we applied a holistic food–carbon–nitrogen–water–energy–profit (FCNWEP) nexus framework to comprehensively assessthe sustainability of distinct crop management strategies across three sub-sites in Central China. Field experiments were conducted in Hubei and Hunan provinces from 2017 to 2021 using a widely adopted elite super hybrid ricecultivar (Y-liangyou 900). Four crop management treatments were implemented: a control (CK, 0kg N ha⁻¹), conventional crop management (CCM, 210–250kg N ha⁻¹, 7:3 basal:mid-tiller fertilizer ratio), and two integrated crop management (ICM) treatments (ICM1, 180–210kg N ha⁻¹, 5:2:3 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation fertilizer ratio; ICM2, 240–270kg N ha⁻¹, 5:2:2:1 basal:mid-tiller:panicle initiation:flowering fertilizer ratio). Variables assessed included grain yield, carbon footprint, nitrogen footprint, water footprint, energy footprint, nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits. Our results showed significant yield variations, with ICM2 consistently outperforming CCM and ICM1 across all three sites. In Jingzhou, Suizhou, and Changsha, ICM2’s grain yield was 30.2, 24.7, and 13.3% higher than CCM, respectively. Net profits under ICM2 exceeded those of CCM and ICM1 by 31.8 and 115.2% in Jingzhou, 32.2 and 109.9% in Suizhou, and 15.4 and 34.0% in Changsha, respectively. Integrated crop management, particularly ICM2, demonstrated improved nitrogen and energy use efficiency, leading to reduced carbon, nitrogen, water, and energy footprints. Overall, composite sustainability scores derived from the FCNWEP framework indicated that both ICM2 and ICM1 exhibited higher sustainability levels compared to CCM. This study provides valuable insights into practical management methodologies and offers recommendations for enhancing agricultural sustainability.

cotton  /  anther  /  male sterility  /  lipid metabolism  /  alpha-linolenic acid