Abstract: In order to clarify the effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on the number of tillers and leaf area index of rice, the main varieties of Yongnongsimiao and Hemeizhan were used as test materials, and five nitrogen fertilizer levels were set for the experiment. The results showed that during the same growth period, the total stem tiller number, ineffective tillers and leaf area index of rice plants increased with the increase of nitrogen application rate; among them, the nitrogen application amount, tiller number and leaf area index, there was a significant positive correlation between them （r>0.8）. Appropriate amount of nitrogen application can increase the number of tillers and leaf area index of rice and promote its growth and development, but excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer will increase the number of ineffective tillers and reduce the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer.

Key words: rice, tiller number, leaf area index, nitrogen levels