Excessive application of fertilizers is one of the major problems that hinder the sustainable development of dryland agriculture. Summer maize was taken as the object in the paper, and the rain-proof barrel experiment was conducted to accurately control the water and fertilizer supply, then the effects of super aborbent polymer(SAP) and five kinds ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (1:4, 2:3, 1:1, 3:2, 4:1) on soil fertility, plant growth, nutrient uptake and utilization of maize were studied. The results showed that the balanced application of SAP with N and P could promote plant growth and the absorption and utilization of nutrients. The average plant height and the leaf area increased by 3.36%~7.19% and 5.36%~29.26%, respectively. Compared with other treatments, the dry matter accumulation and nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation increased by 13.79%~27.61%, 15.91%~32.47%, 18.66%~33.75%, respectively. Compared with no SAP treatment, the soil inorganic nitrogen content decreased by 5.42%, and the available phosphorus content increased by 3.55%.Under the conditions of this experiment, the maximum yield of 113.93 g/pot was obtained by applying SAP 1.68 g/pot, N 2.89 g/pot, P 2.89 g/pot, and the yield at harvest increased by 18.69%~30.94%.The results provide a reference for the application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers for summer maize under the condition of applying SAP in North China.