<p>Water-saving and drought-resistant rice (WDR) is a type of cultivated rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) developed to maintain yield under water-scarce conditions. The rhizosphere microorganisms play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and improving soil conditions. However, the microbial communities present in the rhizosphere of WDR have been inadequately characterized. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of soil microbial communities in drought-resistant rice Hanyou73 (HY73), upland rice Baishahan (BS), and wetland rice Huanghuazhan (HH) in May and October. Two irrigation regimes and 30 blocks (3&#xa0;m x5 m each) were set up in the field: full water irrigation, and 50% water irrigation. Our findings revealed that the yield of HY73 was 64.71% and 50.41% higher than that of HH and BS under 50% water irrigation, respectively. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation between the water content and both ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen (NN) in soil. Moreover, phosphorus availability was strongly influenced by soil pH. Furthermore, microbial communities were characterized via high-throughput DNA sequencing. The diversity of the rhizosphere microbial community was reduced under 50% water irrigation. In October, soil NN levels were higher under 50% water irrigation than under full water irrigation. Under condition of 50% water irrigation, the NN levels in HY73 soil were 7.8% lower compared to HH, and 22.0% lower than BS. Rice yield was positively correlated by Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Ascomycota. An increase in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria was observed during the tillering stage, especially in the soils of HY73. These findings provide insights into the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in enhancing the drought resistance and yield potential of water-saving rice varieties, which may contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural practices in water-limited regions.</p>