The tillage systems differently affect the soil fertility and the maize yield. Irrigation is prominent cropping practice for yield increasing irrespective to fact that rain-fed is still the most broadly applied cultivation practice in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of different tillage systems (conventional, reduced and no-till) and fertiliser levels on changes of the soil N content during three vegetative stages (sprouting, anthesis and harvesting), as well as maize grain yield under rain-fed and irrigation conditions in 2005-2008. The rain-fed cropping only in no-till cropping induced increase of soil moisture during anthesis. The highest N amount in soil in dry season (2008) was kept under conventional tillage in rain-fed cropping. As well, the highest grain yield was observed with conventional tillage practice. Irrigation diminished differences between cropping years and fertilization regimes.
