Abstract: The nutrient indices of four different N-efficiency maize inbred lines: high yield with high N efficiency, high yield with low N efficiency, low yield with high N efficiency and low yield with low N efficiency, were studied under high and low nitrogen fertilizer application rates. The results show that the N contents in stems and leaves and their transfer amount to grains are important indices for the screening of high yield with high N-efficiency genotype of maize, regardless of the N fertilizer application rates. The application of N fertilizer can increase the absorption and transfer of N from vegetative parts to grains. The contribution rate to grain N accumulation transferred from the vegetative parts are higher than from the roots at anthesis stage in all genotypes of maize under both high and low N application rates, but the N absorption amount and transfer rate from roots to grains are higher with high yield with high N\|efficiency genotype when N is applied at low level. The contribution rate to grain N accumulation through the transfer from vegetative parts in high yield with high N efficiency type is higher than that in high yield with low N\|efficiency type at both N application conditions. Therefore, both the N absorb amount and the total N content in the stem and leaf are important indices for the screening of high yield with high N\|efficiency genotype of maize.