Large fertilizer nitrogen (N) input has created favorable conditions for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in semi-arid areas. However, it remains to be determined whether the major contradictions between high yield and N2O emissions reduction can be reconciled by matching fertilization with water availability. A 3-year field experiment was conducted in the Loess Plateau of northwest China, monitored N2O fluxes over five N application rates (0, 120, 175, 230, and 285 kg N ha(-1)), and examined the environmental factors and crop production in a rainfed maize field. Results showed that available soil water storage at sowing (ASWS) is crucial in promoting soil N2O emissions by altering soil NO3--N, organic C, and organic N availability in semi-arid agroecosystems. The cumulative N2O emissions exponentially increased with increasing N rates. However, the cumulative N2O emissions were moderately low (1.20 kg N ha(-1)) at the N application rate of 230 kg ha(-1), where maize yield was maximized, after which N2O emissions remarkably increased by 27.88 %. This result suggests that reduced N application to levels satisfying crop needs could significantly reduce N2O emissions with a minor yield penalty. Furthermore, water availability determines the absorption and utilization of nutrients by crops on the Loess Plateau and ultimately determines grain yield. Therefore, an N2O emission-yield curve was established to determine whether the target crop yield could be obtained by adjusting water availability and N fertilization rates while reducing N2O emissions. Our results suggest that N application rates at 218.7-230.0 kg ha(-1), ensuring ASWS at 209.5-215.2 mm at sowing and precipitation within 61-90 days after sowing at 184.2-194.0 mm is ideal for matching fertilization with water availability to balancing high yield and mitigating N2O emissions in the study region.