A study looked at how different ways of returning rice straw to the soil affect rice grain yield and soil health in a double rice-cropping system. They compared using balanced fertilization, fertilization with cut straw, fertilization with burned straw, and no fertilization. Using cut straw with fertilization led to higher grain yields and increased soil carbon levels compared to the other methods. The soil health index also improved with this method. The study found a strong link between soil health and rice yield, showing that returning cut straw with fertilization can benefit both crop production and soil quality.