Improving the yield and quality of maize forage is of great importance in livestock nutrition. This study investigated the effects of different ammonium-to-nitrate ratios (0:100, 12.5:87.5, 25:75, 37.5:62.5, and 50:50) on the yield and forage quality of two maize cultivars (Single Cross 704 and 410) grown under soilless culture conditions. The results revealed significant interactions between ammonium-to-nitrate ratio and cultivar for most of the traits studied. The highest shoot nitrogen concentration was observed in cultivar 704 at the 37.5:62.5 ratio, showing a 72% increase compared to the control. The highest phosphorus concentration (2.3 times the control) was recorded in cultivar 704 at the 50:50 ratio, with no significant difference from cultivar 410 at the same ratio. The increasing trend of iron concentration continued up to the 25:75 ratio. The highest shoot dry weight (168.90 g plant⁻¹) was obtained at the 25:75 ratio, and the highest crude protein content (16.56%) and total chlorophyll (61% increase) were recorded in cultivar 704 at the 37.5:62.5 ratio. The highest activities of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase were observed at the 50:50 ratio. At the 37.5:62.5 ratio, neutral detergent fiber, crude fat, and ash content increased by 43.2%, 81%, and 33.3%, respectively, while water-soluble carbohydrates increased by 4.6 times compared to the control. Cultivar 704 outperformed cultivar 410 in most yield and quality traits. Overall, the 37.5:62.5 ammonium-to-nitrate ratio in combination with cultivar 704 appeared to provide the best balance between forage yield and quality in soilless culture systems.