This research was conducted at the University of Debrecen Látókép Research Station and is part of an ongoing long-term polyfactorial experiment. The impact of three tillage systems (Mouldboard plowing-MT, Strip tillage-ST, Ripper tillage-RT) and two levels of fertilizer treatments (N₈₀ kg ha^-1, N₁₆₀ kg ha^-1) along with a control (N₀ kg ha^-1) on the yield of maize hybrids (Armagnac- FAO 490 & Loupiac-FAO 380) cultivated in rotation with winter wheat was evaluated during a two-year period (2017–2018).

Amongst the three tillage treatments evaluated, ripper tillage (RT) had the highest average yield (10.14 t ha^-1) followed by mouldboard tillage (MT) and strip tillage (ST) with 9.84 and 9.21 t ha^-1 respectively. Yield difference between RT and MT was not significant (P>0.05), as compared to ST (P<0.05). Soil moisture content varied significantly with tillage practices and was highest in ST, followed by RT and MT (ST>RT>MT). Yield of RT was 7–9% higher than MT in monoculture plots, while MT reign superior in biculture plots (monoculture: RT>MT>ST; biculture: MT>RT>ST).

A positive interaction between tillage and fertilization was observed, with higher yield variation (CV=40.70) in the non-fertilized (N₀) plots, compared to those which received the N₈₀ (CV=19.50) and N₁₆₀ kg ha^-1 (CV=11.59) treatments.

Incremental yield gain from increase fertilizer dosages was significantly higher in monoculture, compared to biculture. There was no significant difference in yield between N₁₆₀ and N₈₀ in the biculture plots (12.29 vs 12.02 t ha^-1). However, in monoculture plots, N₁₆₀ yield was 23% higher than the N₈₀ kg ha^-1 (N₁₆₀=11.74 vs N₈₀=9.56 t ha^-1).

Mean yield of maize in rotation with winter wheat was 28% (2.47 tons) higher than monoculture maize. The greatest benefit of crop rotation was observed in the control plots (N₀) with an incremental yield gain of 4.39 tons ha^-1 over monculture maize (9.92 vs 5.43 t ha^-1).

Yield increased with higher fertilizer dosages in irrigated plots. Fertilizer application greatly increased the yield of maize and accounted for 48.9% of yield variances. The highest yield (11.92 t ha^-1) was obtained with N₁₆₀ kg ha^-1 treatment, followed by N₈₀ kg ha^-1 (10.38 t ha^-1) and N₀ kg ha^-1 (6.89 t ha^-1) respectively.

Overall mean yield difference between the two hybrids was not statistically significant, however, yield of FAO 380 was 3.9% higher (9.06 vs. 8.72 t ha^-1) than FAO 490 in monoculture plots, while in biculture plots, FAO 490 was 4.1% higher than FAO 380.

Average yield in 2018 was 13.6% (1.24 t ha^-1) higher than 2017 for the same set of agrotechnical inputs, thus, highlighting the significant effect of cropyear.

Armagnac (FAO 490) cultivated in rotation with winter wheat, under ripper tillage and N₈₀ kg ha^-1 is the best combination of treatments for optimum yield.