Abstract: To further understand characteristics of nitrogen （N） utilization efficiency in different rice genotypes with varied grain yields， which would be helpful for the breeding of rice cultivars with higher N use efficiency， field experiments were conducted in Jiaxing City， Zhejiang Province. Grain yield， N accumulation， N translocation efficiency and amount， N physiological use efficiency of 10 rice cultivars in 3 study sites were analyzed. The results showed that rice grain yield and other indexes related to N utilization properties among rice cultivars were significantly different in each study site. The same results were also found among 3 study sites for each rice genotype. Furthermore， rice cultivars had significant interaction with study sites. There were significantly（P<0.01） positive relationship between grain yield and total N accumulation during periods of whole growth stage and heading stage， and N redistribution amount， as well as N physiological use efficiency. N physiological use efficiency showed significantly（P<0.01） negative correlation with N accumulation at tillering， heading and mature stages obviously. However， N redistribution efficiency and redistribution amount had significantly（P<0.01） positive relationship with N physiological use efficiency. Therefore， rice with larger amount of N accumulation might appear lower N physiological use efficiency， although it might increase N uptake efficiency. Increasing N redistribution efficiency and amount after rice heading stage would be favorable for higher N physiological use efficiency.

Key words: rice, nitrogen, grain yield, use efficiency, correlation