Neutral soil supports better growth and productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) than acidic soil in China

China is the world's third-largest sugar producer; however, its sugarcane industry faces the problem of low nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), resulting in economic losses and environmental pollution. This has become a bottleneck constraining the sustainable development of the industry. Therefore, this study compiled and analyzed multi-source data from 34 research studies, comprising 367 pairs of independent experiments, to systematically evaluate the effects of soil pH on yield traits and NUE in sugarcane cultivation systems across China. The findings indicated that soil pH is a primary limiting factor for sugarcane productivity in China, with sugarcane growth and production performing significantly better in neutral than in acidic soils. pH showed no significant correlation with most variables in neutral sugarcane fields. However, in acidic fields, both cane yield and sucrose content were positively correlated with pH, indicating that higher soil pH significantly improved sugarcane yield and quality. Individual stalk weight (ISW) exhibited the most sensitive response to soil pH. In sugarcane fields, ISW begins to decline when N fertilizer application exceeds the threshold of 450 kg ha −1 . Additionally, the threshold pH at which the partial factor productivity of N fertilizer started to improve with increasing pH was 4.58. In addition to regulating N application rates, increasing soil organic matter (SOM) content is a key approach for improving sugarcane yields in acidic fields. In the long term, integrated management practices that simultaneously regulate soil pH and enhance SOM content represent an optimal strategy for achieving sustainably high sugarcane productivity. • Soil pH is the primary limiting factor for China's sugarcane productivity. • Neutral soils outperform acidic soils in yield and nitrogen utilization. • Individual stalk weight shows highest sensitivity to soil pH variations. • PFPN tipping point occurs at pH 4.58. • ISW threshold reaches at nitrogen application of 450 kg ha −1 .