Abstract: Efficient use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is essential for increased economic returns of maize and minimum potential nega-tive effects of N on water and soil. Efforts at improving yield potential have focused on maize varieties with high N use efficiency (NUE). The effects of N fertilizer on yield and NUE were determined in a conducted field experiment in Xuchang County of Henan Province, China. A total of about 15 common maize varieties in China were used under 3 N doses (0 kg·hm^?2, 120 kg·hm^?2 and 240 kg·hm^?2). The results showed that “Zhengdan958”, “32D22”, “Huayu14”, “Yufeng335”, “Xindan29”, “Zhongke11” and “Luodan9” had the highest grain yield at 120 kg·hm^?2 N dose. Also “Xianyu335”, “Xundan18”, “Liyu13”, “Xundan20”, “Nongda108”, “NE8”, “Yuhe988” and “Luoyu4” had the highest yield at 240 kg·hm?2 N treatment. Based on yield difference, 15 maize varieties were classified as high-yield varieties, medium-yield varieties and low-yield varieties. At the three N doses, “Liyu13” was identified as a high-yieldvariety, “Xianyu335” as a medium-yield variety, and “Yufeng335” and “Yuhe988” as low-yield varieties. Based on nitrogen efficiency (NE), 15 maize varieties were classified into 4 NE grades under medium and high nitrogen treatments. “Zhengdan958”, “Xundan20”, “Liyu13”, “Xundan18” and “Luodan9” were classified as double high-efficient type; and “Nongda108”, “NE8”, “Yuhe988”, “Yufeng335” and “Luoyu4” as double low-efficient type. Cluster analysis on yield and N efficiency showed that “Liyu13” and “Xundan20” were high-yield and high-NE varieties under medium and high N application dose; “Zhengdan958” and “Luodan9” were high-yield and high-NE varieties under medium N application dose; “Yufeng335”, “Yuhe988”, “NE8” and “Luoyu4” were low-yield and low-NE varieties under both medium and high N application doses; “Nongda108” was low-yield and low-NE variety under high N application dose. Correlation analysis for grain yield and N content showed that N uptake efficiency little influenced yield. While NUE inhibited straw N accumulation, it synergized N harvest index. Path analysis indicated that yield was determined mainly by NUE and that for all the treatments, N uptake efficiency little influenced yield. NUE and grain N uptake significantly in-fluenced yield under low N conditions, but it was true form NUE under high N conditions.