Objectives The study compared the differences in yield, agronomic traits, dry matter accumulation, and nutrient utilization efficiency among various maize varieties, aiming to identify the typical biological characteristics of high-yielding maize varieties, and offer a scientific basis for the selection of high-yielding maize varieties.

Methods A total of 76 maize varieties, which were widely promoted in the central Hebei Plain, were collected and tested in a field experiment in Wangdu, Hebei Province. At physiological maturity, plant height, ear height, and stem diameter were investigated. The accumulation of dry matter and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in different parts of maize were determined. Yield and yield components were also analyzed. Finally, we used the correlation and path analysis to identify the main traits influencing high-yielding maize.

Results The yields of 76 maize varieties ranged from 7.4 t/hm² to 13.5 t/hm², with a maximum yield gap of 6.1 t/hm². Using cluster analysis with a Euclidean distance of 1.8 t/hm², the 76 varieties were classified into high-yield (50 varieties), medium-yield (21 varieties), and low-yield (5 varieties) types. Compared to low-yielding varieties, the high-yielding varieties exhibited significantly greater ear length, kernels per row, and kernels per ear by 11.6%, 9.4%, and 11.0%, respectively, and lower bald tip length by 50.0%. Compared to medium and low-yielding varieties, the high-yielding varieties showed significant increases in 100-kernel weight, grain and total dry matter accumulation by 6.1% and 21.6%, 25.1% and 56.6%, and 16.6% and 40.1%, respectively. Additionally, the accumulation of N, P, and K in leaves, grains, and overall, as well as the K accumulation in the cob, along with the nutrient use efficiency of N, P, and K, were all significantly improved. Kernels per ear, 100-kernel weight, ear length, bald tip length, total dry matter accumulation, total N and P accumulation, and grain K accumulation of high-yielding varieties were all (extremely) significantly correlated with yield. These eight indicators could explain 75.1% of the yield variation. The direct impact on yield ranked as follows kernels per ear>100-kernel weight>total N accumulation>bald tip length>ear length>grain K accumulation>total P accumulation>total dry matter accumulation. 100-kernel weight had the greatest indirect impact on yield, followed by total dry matter accumulation.

Conclusions Genotype plays a significant role in determining the yield level of maize. High-yielding maize varieties demonstrated superior performance in terms of kernels per ear, 100-kernel weight, ear length, dry matter accumulation, and N, P, and K accumulation, along with notably shorter bald tip lengths. Therefore, for the selection of high-yielding maize in the central Hebei Plain, attention should be paid to the coordination of both apparent agronomic traits (e.g., kernels per ear, 100-kernel weight, ear length, and bald tip length) and internal physiological indicators (e.g., N, P, K, and dry matter accumulation).