【Objective】Jilin Province is one of the leading maize production regions in China, and could be divided into three ecological zones, i.e. Central semi-humid plain area (CSPA), Eastern humid mountainous area (EHMA) and Western semi-arid plain area (WSPA), based on their significant differences in environment including topography, landform, climate condition and vegetation. Interestingly, the maize crops growing in these eco-zones differ in yield, yield response to fertilization and use efficiency of N fertilizer. But how it comes about is still not well understood. 【Method】Hence, a field experiment, coded as “3414”, was conducted with plots distributed in all the eco-zones of Jilin Province as a part of the national soil-test-based fertilization recommendation program during the years of 2005-2013. The field experiment was designed to have two treatments, i.e. Treatment–N (No N fertilizer applied) and Treatment +N (N fertilizer applied as recommended).The data of the two treatments were collected for analysis of yield response to fertilization and use efficiencies of N fertilizer of the crop relative to eco-zone, and their influencing factors. 【Result】Results show that the crop varied sharply in yield with the eco-zone, being the highest in the CSPA, medium in the EHMA, and the lowest in the WSPA. On average, the maize yield of Treatments –N was 8.1 t hm^-2 in the CSPA (ranging from 3.1 to 13.5 t hm^-2), 7.3 t hm^-2 in the EHMA (ranging from 2.4 to 12.7 t hm^-2) and 7.2 t hm^-2 in the WSPA (ranging from 3.7 to 11.7 t hm^-2); while that of Treatments +N was 10.5 t hm^-2 (ranging from 5.4 to 15.8 t hm^-2), 9.8 t hm^-2 (ranging from 5.3 to 16.9 t hm^-2) and 9.4 t hm^-2 (ranging from 4.3 to 14.9 t hm^-2) in the three ecological zones, respectively. Not only was maize yield significantly affected by ecological zone, yield response of the crop to N fertilizer was too. The highest maize yield responses to N fertilizer were observed in the EHMA, being 2.44 t hm^-2 and 38.4%, on average, in absolute and relative yield increase, respectively. Correspondingly, the absolute and relative yield increase was 2.40 t hm^-2 and 34.3%, respectively, in the CSPA and 2.21 t hm^-2 and 33.4%, respectively, in the WSPA. Under the present maize production condition, N use efficiency was significantly higher in the EHMA than in the others. On average, agronomic efficiency (AE), partial factor productivity (PFP), and fertilizer contribution rate (FCR) of N fertilizer was 16.6 kg kg^-1, 65.9 kg kg^-1 and 25.0%, respectively, in the EHMA13.6 kg kg^-1, 60.2 kg kg^-1 and 22.8%, respectively, in the CSPA and 13.6 kg kg^-1, 58.2 kg kg^-1 and 23.1%, respectively, in the WSPA. With the maize yield in Treatments-N rising, Treatments +N showed similar rising trends in yield, but declining ones in FCR in all the three eco-zones, but more significantly in the WSPA than in the others. The relationships fit the linear correlation and logarithmic regression models, respectively. The variability of maize yield of treatment +N and FCR with the yield of treatment –N were relatively higher in the WSPA, compared with those in the EHMA and CSPA. 【Conclusion】In conclusion, N fertilizer for maize production in Jilin Province should be allocated and applied appropriately in the light of regional environmental conditions and characteristics of the crop responding to N fertilization. It is suggested that the current N application rate be reduced properly in line with the demand of the crop for N in the CSPA, while it be increased slightly in combination with effective cultivation practices in the EHMA, aiming to counter the yield limiting factors, such as insufficient light and low temperature, and in the WSPA, the technology of efficient and water saving irrigation be widely extrapolated in addition to soil fertility building to bring the coupling effects of water and nitrogen into full play and thereby to achieve high crop yield and high N efficiency.