The relationship between the metabolites in the seeds and the emergence and establishment of the seedlings were investigated in container experiments to improve the emergence and establishment of rice seedlings in direct seeded in fl ooded paddy fi eld. The plant length, the leaf age and the dry weight of vegetative parts at 14 days after seeding were highly and positively correlated with the emergence rate at 14 days after seeding. Early emergence of seedlings increased the fi nal emergence rate, and promoted the growth of aerial parts. The amounts of glucose and fructose in seeds were positively correlated, but the -amylase activity and the amount of sucrose in seeds were not correlated with the emergence rate at 3 days after seeding. The emergence rate and the amount of glucose in seeds were negatively correlated with the concentration of ammonium nitrogen derived from the basal dressing.