Abstract: Nitrogen (N) plays an indispensable role in wheat-maize rotation system. The application of controlled-release N fertilizer improves the growth characteristics and N utilization efficiency of wheat-maize rotation system, ensures its high quality and stable yield, and reduces the risk of leaching pollution, which is consistent with the law of N demand in each growth period of wheat and maize. In this review, the properties of controlled-release N fertilizer and its effects on the yields of wheat-maize rotation system, N use efficiency, agronomic properties, soil N and acidity-alkalinity properties were summarized. The problems and countermeasures in the application of controlled-release N fertilizer were discussed. Suggestions and prospects for the research and development of controlled-release N fertilizer in the future were put forward, which would further promote the application of controlled-release N fertilizer in China's wheat-maize rotation system and lay the theoretical foundation.