In order to investigate the effect of the combined application of N and Zn fertilizers on the growth,yield,nutrient absorption and distribution of rice,the indica hybrid rice variety Guangliangyou 35 and conventional japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare were treated with combined application of three Zn levels and four N levels in field experiment. We analyzed the shoot dry weight at different growth stages,the yield and its components at mature stage as well as the concentrations,accumulations and distributions of N and Zn in different organs and tissues. Results showed that the combined application of N and Zn fertilizers had synergistic effect on the rice biomass at the early growth stage and the yield at the mature stage. The combined application of N and Zn fertilizers had significant synergistic effect on rice panicle numbers. The significantly increased panicle numbers determined the increase of yield under the combined application of N and Zn fertilizers. The combined application of N and Zn fertilizers increased the concentrations of N and Zn in rice plant,and promoted the distribution of N and Zn to the reproductive organ (spikelet),which is one of the main physiological mechanisms of increasing yield under the combined application of N and Zn fertilizers.