Jordan Valley is considered as one of the main intensified irrigated agricultural areas in Jordan with high use of fertilizers especially of nitrogen source which lead to increased ground water pollution with nitrate. A field trial was conducted at the National Agricultural Research Center in Jordan Valley, North West Amman. Six soil treatments with organic cattle manure at the following rates were applied in summer 2014 and 2015: 0 (control), 8, 12, 16 and 20 tons ha −1. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design using four replicates. Nitrogen fertilizer from ammonium sulphate, as source of nitrogen, labeled with 1% 15 N isotope was added at a rate of 75 kg ha −1. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different rates of organic cattle manure on nitrogen uptake from ammonium sulphate fertilizer by grains of maize (Zea mays L.) plants using 15 N isotope-tracer technology. It was found that nitrogen use efficiency was decreased as the amount of applied cattle manure increased owing to the high competition of organic versus mineral nitrogen. Whereas cattle manure positively affected the uptake of Zn, Fe and Cu by maize grains, causing increased mineral uptake instances, the uptake of K, P and Ca was not or slightly affected by cattle manure at various levels. The results of the present study could be beneficial for the development of an efficient fertilization schedule that would satisfy maize plant requirement of major elements, in particular N without its accumulation in the soil and the subsequent hazards to environment.