Abstract: Nutrient quality characters and field performance of three ordinary maize varieties were evaluated to screen the suitable maize varieties for food and fodder dual-purpose in the Huang-Huai-Hai region. Three ordinary maize varieties and the silage maize‘Yayu8’were planted. Agronomic characters and lodging resistance were investigated during the growth period. The whole plant was harvested in the mature period, and then biomass and quality characters were determined. There was obvious difference in fresh matter content among the varieties, and‘Xundan509’had the highest yield with 78139.05 kg/hm2, and increased by 5.22% compared with the control. Dry matter content of‘Yongyou1573’was the highest (26.70%).‘Xundan509’had the highest plant height (288.89 cm), the longest length of three-ear-leaves (94.63 cm) and the largest width of three-ear-leaves (9.89 cm). There was no significant difference in the major quality characters among the three maize varieties.‘Xundan509’had lower acidic detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, which was 22.33% and 48.85% respectively.‘Zhengdan958’had the highest content of crude protein with 10.2%. The crude fat contents of three varieties were all less than that of the control.‘Yongyou1573’had the highest rind-penetration-resistance level (62.80 N/mm2). Taken together, ‘Xundan509’ is suitable for planting as silage maize,‘Yongyou1573’and‘Zhengdan958’could be used as improved varieties of silage maize.