The yield and plant physiological parameters of different FAO maize hybrids grown over a large area in Hungary were examined under drip irrigation conditions. The results of the study showed that hybrid H4 was the best performing hybrid in terms of yield, specific grain weight, ear weight and thousand kernel weight. Hybrid H6 showed similarly good results, especially in grain number, suggesting that it may also play a role in increasing yield. The medium performance of hybrids H5 and H3 indicates that they are potentially competitive. The trends observed in the analysis of NDVI values provide important information on the growth patterns of the examined hybrids. For hybrid H1, the sharp decline in the second half of the growing season is indicative of the stress situation of the plants. Hybrids H1, H2 and H3 developed under optimal conditions in the V12 phenological phase, but could not maintain the early growth stage in the later phases. In contrast, hybrid H4, which had a longer growing season, was able to maintain its vegetative activity after the V12 phase. When SPAD values were examined, the H1, H5 and H6 hybrids maintained growth until the V12 phase, then declined after the R4 phase. Hybrid H4 showed the highest SPAD values in the R5 phase, while hybrids H1, H5 and H6 showed more stable SPAD values, but decreased in the later phases. Overall, the outstanding performance of hybrids H4 and H6 suggests that these hybrids should be preferred in intensive production environments with good yield potential.