Objective To solve the problems of high energy consumption, large equipment volume, and the need to use pressure vessels in traditional nitrogen production, this study develops a new pest prevention technology and applies it to the modified atmosphere storage of soybeans to effectively realize pest prevention.Methods Soybeans (pile size: 35.7 m×25.6 m×6 m) are stored for 3 months using a modified atmosphere storage technology under atmospheric pressure with a closed gas cycle, referred to as vacuum rotary nitrogen preparation with moisture control. The concentration of nitrogen is maintained at 98% for 28d, and then at 95% for 2 months. The oxygen reduction efficiency and the maintenance of low oxygen are monitored during the modified atmosphere storage. The insecticidal effect is evaluated, and the changes of soybean quality (including soybean damage rate, moisture content, peroxide value, crude fatty acid value, iodine value, protein solubility ratio, and total colony count) are determined before and after nitrogen filling. Finally, the energy consumption of nitrogen-controlled atmosphere storage (N₂-CAS) is analyzed.Results The oxygen concentration of each layer of the soybean pile is reduced to the insecticidal concentration (<2%) within 108 h, during which the equipment operates for 67 h. In the low-oxygen maintenance stage, the oxygen concentration in all layers of the soybean pile is kept stable for up to 171 h without operating the equipment, which only operates for a total of 38 h. When the hypoxia (oxygen concentration of 2% or less) is maintained for 20d, the mortality rate of the insects is 100%. Before and after N₂-CAS, there are no significant changes in soybean damage rate, moisture content, peroxide value, iodine value, protein solubility ratio, and total colony count. However, there is a significant difference in the crude fatty acid value of soybeans in the middle and lower layers of the control and N₂-CAS (P<0.05) piles. It indicates that N₂-CAS is able to delay the rancidity of soybeans.Conclusion The overall energy consumption per ton of the soybean for N₂-CAS is 0.88 kW·h/t, including 0.55 kW·h/t in the oxygen reduction stage and 0.33 kW·h/t in the low oxygen maintenance stage.