This study has confirmed the view that high doses of nitrogen in the cultivation of malting barley adversely affect the quality of malts and worts. Fertilization at the dose of SO kg N·ha-1 is more appropriate to obtain barley of acceptable high malting quality. Each of the barley varieties tested had a quality index Q exceeding the threshold value, and therefore were eligible for processing into malt. The 3- and 4-day malts showed a tendency to have higher values of index Q when nitrogen fertilization was applying at an average dose (a1). Intensive level of mineral fertilization (a2) resulted most often in malting quality deterioration. The extended malting time from 3 to 5 days did not bring a substantial improvement of the malt quality, the 4-day malts had the best processing properties.