BACKGROUND: Nitrogen application is recognized as a principal factor influencing rice quality. However, there remains a paucity of research on the effects of different N levels on quality, particularly within the context of the improvement of rice varieties. RESULTS: This study examined 14 mid-season japonica rice varieties cultivated in Jiangsu province over the past 80 years under five N application levels (0, 90, 180, 270, and 360 kg N ha CONCLUSION: Modern varieties, with optimal N application and management, can achieve both high yield and good quality effectively. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.