Traditional agricultural land consolidation and ecological restoration measures can address the challenges faced by agricultural land in the short term, but they often overlook the ecological benefits of the land and human well-being. Here, while emphasizing foreseeable project outcomes, we define a conceptual framework of Agricultural Land Consolidation and Ecological Restoration through Nature-based Solutions (ALC&ER-NbS) from three dimensions: ecological sustainability, economic viability, and human well-being, integrating the NbS concept with engineering project evaluation. Our study establishes 8 guidelines and 27 indicators, including scientific restoration, ecological connectivity, biodiversity enrichment, economic feasibility, public participation, benefit coordination, dynamic monitoring, and the promotion of successful cases. This results in an evaluation checklist covering 63 engineering and management details throughout the entire project design life cycle. By using a self-assessment tool for quantifying compatibility, the aim is to quickly verify the project’s degree of adaptation. This study is significant as it introduces a comprehensive evaluation system that not only addresses ecological and economic challenges but also prioritizes human well-being, distinguishing it from previous research. The innovative integration of NbS into agricultural land consolidation ensures sustainable development and offers a new approach for enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services.

To further enhance nutrient use efficiency for maize cultivation in the Changbai Mountains—Liaodong Hilly Region and to safeguard both grain production and soil quality, 2441 pairs of data points extracted from 47 publicly published papers were selected for analysis to investigate the effects of different fertilizer types, their application rates, and field management practices on spring maize yield enhancement, crop growth, and soil physicochemical properties. According to the subgroup analysis of the above indicators, the results demonstrated that various fertilization management practices can effectively increase maize yield and soil nutrient content. Specifically, applications of nitrogen fertilizer (39.78%) and top-dressing (34.10%) had the best effect on increasing maize yield. The combination of organic–inorganic application (22.93%) and straw returning (20.46%) had the best effect on increasing soil organic matter. Based on grain yield and its components, crop physiology and soil physicochemical properties, we recommend an optimal nutrient management strategy for this region: an application rate of 180 kg/ha for nitrogen and 70–100 kg/ha for both phosphorus and potassium, and the field management practice of combined application of chemical fertilizers and manure based on full-amount straw returning in the field. This study provides a reference for nutrient management of maize fields in the Changbai Mountains—Liaodong Hilly Region.