A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2001 at the Agriculture Research Station, Mugad, Dharwad to study the effect of nitrogen(N) management using leaf colour chart (LCC) as a tool to decide the rate and time of N application in drill sown rainfed rice. The results revealed that application of recommended dose of N in more number of splits @ 20 kg N ha-1 at critical value of LCC-3 was more beneficial in enhancing the growth and yield parameters of the rainfed rice. A basal application of N @ 20 kg ha-1 though increased the growth parameters, the yield and yield parameters appeared to be not influenced by the basal dose of N. The yield and yield components of rice were significantly and favourably influenced when N was supplied up to reproductive phase (panicle initiation to ten per cent flowering) under LCC guided N management. Application of recommended dose of nitrogen @ 20 kg N ha-1 at LCC-3 value at bi weekly observations after 21 days after rice emergence was found to be a better method of nitrogen management in rainfed rice.