Abstract: The aim of the study was to clarify the effects of slow-release fertilizer application on the nitrogen (N) accumulation and distribution, and its contribution to the yield of the summer maize varieties. Using two maize hybrids ( ‘Suyu29’and‘Suyu30’ ) as materials, the changes of N accumulation and distribution under various slow-release fertilizer treatments (N 0, 270, 315, 360, 405, 450, and 495 kg/hm², respectively) were conducted by a field trial with split plot design in 2013. With the increase of slow- release levels, the N accumulation amount and N use efficiency rose first, fell later and peaked at N 405 kg/hm², and these two parameters of‘Suyu29’were higher than those of‘Suyu30’ . The N-requirement for 100 kg grain also rose first and fell later and peaked at N 405 kg/hm² for both varieties, while the change trend for grains per kg N production was on the contrary. The partial fertilizer productivity gradually decreased with the increase of N amount. Under the treatment with the highest yield at N 405 kg/hm², the N translocation rate of leaf, stem and sheath and their contribution to grain yield were higher than those of the other N treatments. The results of regression analysis showed that the high N distribution percentage in leaf at maturity was in favor of high yield for‘Suyu29’ , and high N distribution percentage in bract and cob were in favor of high yield for ‘Suyu30’ . In this study, the two varieties with N 405 kg/hm² had the highest grain yield, N accumulation amount, N use efficiency, N-requirement for 100 kg grain, and the N translocation rate of leaf, stem and sheath and their contribution to yield were higher than that of other treatments.