A field experiment was carried out to study the effects of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (CRNF) application on rice yield, nitrogen use efficiency and leaching loss in Ningxia, to provide technical basis for the application of CRNF in the Yellow River irrigation area. Using Ningjing No.50 rice variety as the research object, with no nitrogen fertilizer (CK) as control, according to the local farmers conventional nitrogen application rate (FP), four controlled release nitrogen fertilizer reduction treatments were set up:CRNF 135 kg/hm² (C-135), CRNF 180 kg/hm² (C-180), CRNF 225 kg/hm² (C-225) and CRNF 270 kg/hm² (C -270). The rice yield, nitrogen uptake and use efficiency, and the concentration of leachate at different soil depth and different rice growth stages were measured. Results showed that the rice grain yields under C-180 and C-225 treatments were not reduced under the reduced nitrogen fertilizer application by 25% and 40%, respectively. That was because the effective panicle number and kernel number of rice were increased. Compared with FP treatment, the nitrogen use efficiencies of CRNF were significantly increased when the nitrogen application rates were below 270 kg/hm², which were 10.22%, 11.10%, and 12.75% higher than FP under C-135, C-180 and C-225 treatments, respectively. The concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) in the surface water and the leachate at different soil depth during the growth period of rice under CRNF were lower than those of FP, and delayed the peak time of TN concentration in the surface water, which reduced the nitrogen loss caused by rice field drainage and runoff. The total nitrogen leaching loss during the whole growth period of FP was 24.57 kg/hm², and the corresponding valueswere between 11.54 kg/hm² to 17.35 kg/hm² under CRNF treatments. The total nitrogen leaching loss was reduced by 46.17% and 49.40% under C-180 and C-225 treatments compared with FP. Considering rice yield and nitrogen loss, the reasonable CRNF application rate in Ningxia is between 180 kg/hm² to 225 kg/hm².