In order to provide a theoretical basis for nitrogen utilization efficiency in the cultivation of Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.)，a field experiment with annual rhizome of A. lancea was carried out to study the effects of different nitrogen forms on the photosynthetic characteristics and nitrogen absorption. Four different nitrogen forms were without nitrogen(CK)，amide nitrogen fertilizer(ANF)，nitrate nitrogen fertilizer(NNF)and ammonium nitrogen fertilizer(NHF)，and the photosynthetic parameters，biomass and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency(PNUE)were analyzed. The result showed that application of nitrogen fertilizer improved leaf photosynthetic characteristics. The increments of SPAD value，apparent quantum efficiency，maximum net photosynthetic rate，light saturation point，net photosynthetic rate，stomatal conductance and transpiration rate under NNF treatment were the highest，but light compensation point and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration under NNF treatment were significantly lower than those of the other treatments. Meanwhile，NNF treatment promoted nitrogen uptake and plant growth by increasing leaf area and reducing specific leaf weight，which increased the biomass by 6.89% and 17.05%，respectively，compared with NNF and NHF treatments. In addition，PNUE under NNF treatment was increased by 2.43% and 6.76%，respectively，compared with NHF and ANF treatments，and achieved the highest value. These results indicated that A. lancea was more sensitive genotype to nitrate nitrogen，application of nitrate nitrogen fertilizer was most suitable for promoting leaf photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen utilization.