The influence of nitrogen fertilization on crop production and ecohydrology in an endorheic river basin

•The Community Land Model is employed to examine the effects of nitrogen fertilization on crop production and ecohydrological response.•Nitrogen fertilization elicits asymmetric responses in crop yield and gross primary production.•Evapotranspiration displays a limited response to nitrogen fertilization, while exhibiting a strong correlation with irrigation.•Different crops exhibit distinct patterns of water use efficiency (WUE) in relation to nitrogen fertilization rates.