Abstract: To explore efficient vegetable production in south China, experiments were conducted to investigate the nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate of major vegetables in south China using the“3414”experimental method. We conducted field experiments in vegetable production areas in south China, and analyzed the partial factor productivity (PEPN), agronomic efficiency (NAE), apparent recovery efficiency (AREN), physiological efficiency (NPE), fertilizer contribution rate (FCR) and soil contribution rate (SCR) of nitrogen fertilizers in vegetables under the experimental conditions. The average values of PEPN, NAE, AREN, NPE, FCR and SCR were as follows: in leafy vegetables: 173.1 kg/kg, 38.3 kg/kg, 18.4% , 291.5 kg/kg, 38.6% and 61.4% , respectively; in gourd vegetables: 145.5 kg/kg, 55.6 kg/kg, 19.7% , 315.3 kg/kg, 36.6% and 63.4% , respectively; and in leguminous vegetables: 204.5 kg/kg, 42.4 kg/kg, 19.6%, 228.4 kg/kg, 20.6%, 79.5%, respectively. Different vegetables showed a different distribution in nutrient use efficiency percentage. In leafy vegetables, 40 samples (34%) had AREN＜10%, 43 samples (36%) had AREN of 10%-20%, 19 samples (16%) showed 20%-30% AREN, 16 samples (14%) had AREN ＞ 30%. In gourd vegetables, 48 samples (31%) had AREN＜10%, 51 samples (33%) had 10%-20% AREN, 32 samples (21%) showed 20%-30% AREN, and 25 samples (15%) had AREN＞30%. In leguminous vegetables, 54 samples (39%) had AREN ＜ 10%, 36 samples (26%) had 10%-20% AREN, 23 samples (17%) had 20%-30% AREN, and 26 samples (18%) had AREN＞30% . More than 80% of samples showed less than 30% AREN, suggesting that under current conditions, the nitrogen use efficiency of each type of vegetable was low. Issues such as high yield and improvements in nutrient use efficiency need to be addressed simultaneously during vegetable production.