In order to establish an efficient total nitrogen fertilizer application technology, and provide technical basis for simplified cultivation maize in arid area, a four-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (CRNF) application on yield, water and fertilizer use efficiency, dry matter accumulation and transfer of maize in Rain fed highland of China Loess Plateau from 2016—2019. Results showed that the CRNF could increase SPAD value of leaves and dry matter accumulation, as well the output and contribution rates of stem sheath and leaf dry matter at the grain filling stage. Regardless of what kind of rainfall years, the application of CRNF could optimize the maize yield composition. The grain number and grain weight increased by 4.0% and 4.9%, respectively, and maize yield significantly increased by 9.7% on average in four years. Under the significant increase in yield and no significant increase in water consumption, CRNF improved the water use efficiency of maize in arid area, with an increase of 4.0% on average in four years. Besides, CRNF significantly increased the partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency, with the increases of 9.5% and 24.7% on average in four years respectively, both decreased significantly with the increases of nitrogen application. Compared to the conventional nitrogen fertilization, the application of release-controlled urea (CU) could have a positive effect on maize aboveground growth, and increase yield, water and fertilizer use efficiencies of maize.