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High grain yields of rice (Oryza sativa) under dry cultivation are primarily obtained through high levels of nitrogen (N) input. However, excessive inputs of N increase the risk of lodging. This study aimed to clarify the effect of N application rates on crop morphology, mechanical mechanisms of the stem, and chemical components in the basal stems of rice and their underlying mechanism in association with lodging resistance under dry cultivation. In this study, field experiments on rice were conducted under dry cultivation in early May to early October 2019 and 2020. Six rates of N applied at 0, 70, 140, 210, 280 and 350 kg ha−1 were set at a sowing rate of 150 kg ha−1 with Suijing 18 as the test material. The increased risk of lodging represented by lodging index (LI) and lodging rate with increasing N application was observed under both growing seasons. The plant height, basal internode length, particularly the second internode, and center of gravity height, which positively correlated with the LI, increased significantly with the increase in N application rates. In contrast, internode fullness and carbohydrate content of the basal second (S2) internode, which negatively correlated with LI, decreased significantly with increasing N application rates. A quadratic regression model between N application rates and grain yield showed that better grain yield could be achieved under an N application rate ranging from 210 to 228 kg ha−1. Therefore, the N application rate of (i.e., 210–228 kg N ha−1) could be recommended for the Suijing18 variety under dry cultivation in central Jilin Province for achieving high grain yield and great lodging resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]