In maize, drought effects during the flowering time induce significant grain yield reductions. 28-maize inbred lines were evaluated by using field and experimental system experiments. In addition, those experiments were conducted under irrigation and drought stress at flowering time. The main objectives of this study were to: i) test the feasibility of an experimental system to induce artificially drought stress and ii) determine the drought response of a group of maize inbred lines on yield and yield components. Experimental system was comprised by growing maize plants in 22-liter pots and providing water with drip irrigation. All the experiments were conducted under a 5 x 6 rectangular lattice design, with three replications, and 14 plants as experimental unit. Response variables were; ears per plant, kernels per ear, 100-kernel weight and grain yield. Analyses of variance revealed significant differences among lines and between water conditions for all the measured variables. Reduction in grain yield caused by drought stress was about 51%. The experimental system demonstrated its usefulness for inducing and managing artificial drought effects in maize inbred lines.