The significance of N, K and P fertilizers on corn yield and smut incidence was evaluated in the field during the seasons 1988 and 1989. Rates of fertilizers were 30, 60 and 90 kg N/acre; 0, 50 and 100 kg K2O/acre and 0 and 30 kg P2O5/acre. The corn plants were artificially inoculated with U. maydis spore suspension at 6‐leaf growth stage. The results showed that N fertilization acted to enhance N content of ear‐leaf and smut index and imposed depressing effects on leaf K. Unlike N, enhanced K‐fertility performed opposite results on leaf N and smut index. A significant N x K interaction was detected on ear‐leaf K and smut index, due to the antagonistic effects between ions. Grain yield data showed positive response to each N, K and P application, but the effect was much greater at the highest application rates. Yield losses were clearly pronounced, along all of the applied nutrient fertilizers, on plants where galls are located above ear than those with galls below ear. On average, the relative losses were 12.8 and 5.9 %, respectively, compared with 3.7 % for the main plot treatment. The 2‐way interaction (except N × P) showed variable effects on yield performance.