Average grain yields of maize, undoubtedly the most common field crop grown in the Balkans, are still significantly lower than its genetic and practical potential. All known cultural practices have not yet been applied sufficiently. Hence the constant need to conduct trials to confirm the necessity to employ known technological practices in the cultivation of old and novel maize hybrids. The generally low average yields of maize grown under dryland conditions can be increased by available cultural practices including the selection of drought-tolerant hybrids, adequate crop rotation, the use of the most suitable tillage system and basic fertilization, optimal plant density, interrow cultivation and fertilization. The trial was set up as a randomized block design on leached alluvial soil. The following hybrids were studied: NS 50402, NS 540, ZP 570, ZP 580 and ZP 599, being fertilized under three treatments: basic treatment (30 t/ha manure and 400 t/ha of composite 15:15:15 fertilizer prior to sowing), N1 (250 kg/ha CAN) and N2 (500 kg/ha CAN). The average yield of dry maize grain was 9.65 t/ha. Averagely for the hybrids, the low and high nitrogen application rates induced 0.32 t/ha and 0.55 t/ha yield increases, respectively. The plot fertilized every second year with manure and composite mineral fertilizer gave a satisfactory yield of 9.36 t/ha. The highest average yield of 10.61 t/ha under all treatments was produced by ZP580 hybrid. The above-average yield, achieved under non-irrigated conditions, was largely induced by combined organic and mineral fertilization, since the plants were able to better tolerate the drought conditions due to a sufficient amount of readily available nutrients.
