The yield, water utilisation and nutrient reaction of the SY Afinity maize hybrid were examined on calcareous chernozem soil in the Hajdúság region in a small plot long-term experiment in the case of different nutrient supply levels in 2011 and 2012. Six nutrient levels were tested in the experiment. The basic dose was 30 kg N, 22.5 kg P2O2 and 26.5 kg K2O. We applied two-three-four-five times the basic dose on the experiment plots. It was established that the large quantity (175.0 mm) of precipitation in the period of silking and fertilisation greatly contributed to the favourable yield obtained in 2011. The 2011 yield was between 11 617 kg ha-1 and 15 963 kg ha-1, while it was between 10 768 kg ha-1 and 14 972 kg ha-1 in 2012. The optimal fertiliser dose was shown to be N120+PK in 2011 and N90+PK in 2012. In 2011, yield per 1 mm precipitation was 37.8 kg in 2011 and 42.4 kg in 2012. The most favourable water utilisation was obtained in the case of N120+PK in 2011 (51.9 kg mm-1). In 2012, the most favourable water utilisation characteristics were observed in the case of the N90+PK fertiliser dose (59.0 kg mm-1). Yield per 1 kg NPK active ingredient showed that the highest yield surplus in comparison with the control treatment was obtained at the N30+PK fertiliser level. This surplus was 42.5 kg per 1 kg NPK in 2011 and 18.0 kg per 1 kg NPK in 2012. In 2011, minimum increase (3.9 kg per 1 kg NPK) was observed at the N60+PK fertiliser level in comparison with the N30+PK level. In contrast, yield decrease was observed in the N90+PK fertiliser treatment (-1.4 kg per 1 kg NPK). In 2012, yield per 1 kg NPK active ingredient was hardly any different at the three examined fertiliser doses. N30+PK: 18.0 kg kg-1, N60+PK: 17.5 kg kg-1, N90+PK: 17.7 kg kg-1. In the case of the N120+PK fertiliser treatment, we observed yield reduction (-11.4 kg per 1 kg NPK) in comparison with the yield obtained at the N90+PK fertiliser level. In 2011, the optimal fertiliser dose was 117 kg ha-1 N+PK active ingredient which provided the highest yield (15 963 kg ha-1). In 2012, a fertiliser dose containing 111 kg N+PK active ingredient was needed to achieve the highest yield (14 972 kg ha-1).

Keywords: maize, yield, fertilisation, nutrient level, water utilisation