Effects of nitrogen (N)and phosphorus (P)fertilizer reduction and P application patterns on crop yields and soil nutrients were studied through two year field plot experiments of rice wheat rotation.The results showed that the reduction of N application by 10.8% and phosphorus by 25.0% on the basis of average accustomed fertilization application did not significantly decrease the yields of wheat and rice in the first anniversary and wheat in the second anniversary,but it significantly decreased the yield of rice in the second anniversary.The reduction of N and P application significantly decreased the contents of soil available P after rice was harvested in the second year,whereas it did not significantly decrease other soil indices including pH,organic matter,alkali hydrolysable N and available potassium.Under the reduction of N and P applications,there was no significant difference in yields of four season crops between the P applications in only wheat and that in both wheat and rice.On the basis of these results,the fertilizer applying rule “reduce N fertilizer application amount and apply P fertilizer in only wheat season” was suggested in rice wheat rotation system.The purpose of less fertilizer application,less labor input and simultaneously retaining crop yields could be realized through this rule.