While the current food security is fulfilled in China, the substantial nitrogen fertilizer use has caused many far-reaching environmental problems. Therefore, reforming the fertilizer management is the key toward sustainable agriculture for 1.3 billion people. The present study is intended to test the applicability of a nitrogen fertilizer management approach for corn production developed in U.S. to regions with different climates in China. Through field work, it was found that the so-called Late Season Cornstalk Nitrate Test approach may have to be adapted to dry continental climate and irrigation water conditions, but meanwhile appeared workable under sub-humid warm temperate continental monsoon climate in China. A hypothesis was made to explain the findings and a simple cure was suggested. Moreover, the importance of applying this approach to China was discussed in relation to GHG emission reduction and national fertilizer subsidy policy. Finally, a new fertilizer management scheme was proposed.