In order to compare the advantages and disadvantages of large-shed,middle-shed and small-shed upland seedling nurturing modes in japonica rice planting regions of North China, in this study, Tongyin 58, Tonghe 836 and Tonghe 835 were used as experimental materials and cultivated with large-shed, middle-shed and small-shed upland seedling nurturing modes to investigate active and effective accumulated temperature and rice seedling quality. According to the results, active and effective accumulated temperature in three different upland seedling nurturing treatments during seedling nurturing period were generally in a descending order of large shed 〉 middle shed 〉 small shed. The occurrence frequency of temperature exceeding the biological upper limit for rice growth in different upland seedling nurturing treatments demonstrated a descending order of large shed 〉 small shed 〉middle shed; the occurrence frequency of temperature below the biological lower limit demonstrated a descending order of small shed 〉 middle shed 〉 large shed.Plant height, root number, aboveground dry weight, underground dry weight and emergence rate varied significantly among different upland seedling nurturing modes,which showed a descending order of large shed 〉 middle shed 〉 small shed; leaf age and stem number in large shed was significantly higher than that in middle and small sheds, but there was no significant difference in leaf age and stem number between middle and small sheds; underground dry weight varied slightly between large and middle shed, but underground dry weight in large and middle shed was remarkably higher than that in small shed. In production, large-shed upland seedling nurturing is most appropriate technique, followed by middle-shed upland seedling nurturing. In large-shed upland seedling nurturing, ventilation and seedling hardening should be strengthened. Small-shed upland seedling nurturing technique is not recommended to be used in regions with low accumulated temperature at night. In small-shed upl
