Shortages of water and poor soil fertility limit crop production in semiarid areas. A study tested different fertilizer rates in a ridge and furrow rainfall harvesting system for maize growth. Results showed that higher fertilizer rates increased maize yield and water use efficiency. The best strategy was applying 265.0 kg/ha of nitrogen and 132.5 kg/ha of P2O5. In wet years, lower fertilizer rates were better, but in normal and dry years, medium rates were more effective. This system helps crops use fertilizers by managing soil moisture, leading to better yields in semiarid regions of China.