ABSTRACT Using of traditional fertilizers to enhance plant productivity extensively causes nutrient loss and environmental hazards. Urea-coated fertilizers are expected to balance the riddle between soil fertility and plant productivity. This study aimed to optimize grain yield prediction based on plant type, soil type, and coated urea levels through the Design Expert Model. Experimental investigations were carried out using sulfur-coated urea (SCU) and urea-formaldehyde (UF) on wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and maize ( Zea mays L.) plants across multiple winter/summer seasons (2019/2020-2020/2021) in a split-plot design. The main plots represented sandy, loamy, and clayey soils, and subgroups (T1, T2, T3) denoted urea, SCU, and UF, respectively, at recommended nitrogen doses. The central composite face-centered (CCFC) model explained 89 % of the total variability, highlighting the optimal 100 % coated urea dose for maximum grain yield. The application of sulfur-coated urea (SCU) enhanced soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) availability, dehydrogenase (DHA), and urease activities. The N-coated fertilizers positively correlated with soil fertility and soil microbial biomass (SMB), organic matter (OM), grain yield, and microbial population. The highest wheat and maize yields were observed with SCU application in clayey soil. The principal component analysis (PCA) reinforced the positive correlations between SMB, OM, DHA, and urease, emphasizing their significance in grain and straw yield. Consequently, the application of SCU as a slow-release fertilizer for sulfur and nitrogen nutrients proved beneficial in improving soil characteristics and enhancing plant productivity. hazards Ureacoated Urea type Model sulfurcoated (SCU ureaformaldehyde formaldehyde UF (UF L. L wintersummer winter summer 2019/20202020/2021 2019202020202021 2019/2020 2020/2021 2019 2020 2021 (2019/2020-2020/2021 splitplot split plot design sandy loamy soils T1, T1 T (T1 T2 T3 respectively doses facecentered face centered CCFC (CCFC 8 variability 10 pH EC, EC , (EC) N, N (N) P, P (P) K (K availability DHA (DHA) activities Ncoated SMB (SMB) OM (OM) population PCA (PCA Consequently slowrelease slow release 20202020 2019/20202020/202 201920202020202 20192020 2019/202 20202021 2020/202 201 202 (2019/2020-2020/202 (T 1 (EC (N (P (DHA (SMB (OM 2020202 2019/20202020/20 20192020202020 2019202 2019/20 2020/20 20 (2019/2020-2020/20 202020 2019/20202020/2 2019202020202 201920 2019/2 2020/2 2 (2019/2020-2020/2 20202 2019/20202020/ 201920202020 20192 2019/ 2020/ (2019/2020-2020/ 2019/20202020 20192020202 (2019/2020-2020 2019/2020202 2019202020 (2019/2020-202 2019/202020 201920202 (2019/2020-20 2019/20202 (2019/2020-2 (2019/2020- (2019/2020 (2019/202 (2019/20 (2019/2 (2019/ (2019 (201 (20 (2