Abstract: 【Objective】The effects of drip irrigation and trickle furrow irrigation on maize growth, yield and water use efficiency were studied.【Method】Taking Zhengdan 958 as the research object, a field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2021. The soil water content of 0-50 cm under narrow row, root zone and wide row was measured by a tubular moisture meter to study the effects of drip irrigation and trickle furrow irrigation under film on soil water distribution and its effects on maize plant height, leaf area index, chlorophyll content, biomass, yield and water use efficiency.【Result】Drip irrigation under mulch gives priority to supplement soil moisture in narrow row and root zone, while trickle furrow irrigation gives priority to supplement surface moisture in wide row. The water consumption of maize was mainly concentrated in 0-30 cm soil layer, and the soil water content in narrow row and 0-30cm root zone of drip irrigation under film was higher than that of trickle furrow irrigation; With the increase of depth, the effect of irrigation on soil water content decreases, and the 40-50 cm water dynamics is less affected by irrigation methods. Drip irrigation under mulch could significantly promote the growth of Maize at flowering and mature stages and increase leaf area index compared with trickle furrow irrigation. Compared with trickle irrigation, the plant height and leaf area index of drip irrigation under film increased by 4.3% and 8.3% at flowering stage, and increased by 4.9% and 15.1% at mature stage. The total biomass of Maize at flowering stage and mature stage was drip irrigation under film > trickle furrow irrigation treatment, with an increase of 11.8% at flowering stage. The mature period increased by 11.5%. The amount of dry matter transfer, the rate of dry matter transfer and the contribution rate of dry matter transfer of Maize under drip irrigation were significantly higher than those under trickle irrigation, increasing by 17.8%, 3.8% and 3.5% respectively. Drip irrigation under plastic film significantly increased maize yield and irrigation water utilization rate, with an average yield increase of 14.4%, and irrigation water utilization rate increased by 14.3%.【Conclusion】Under the condition of equal irrigation volume, drip irrigation under film can increase the water content in maize root zone, promote the growth of maize, facilitate the accumulation and transportation of dry matter of maize, improve the yield, and achieve water saving and efficiency increasing; Compared with trickle furrow irrigation, the average yield increased by 2131.68 kg hm^-2, and the irrigation water use efficiency increased by 8.8%-24.1%. Therefore, drip irrigation under plastic film is a high-yield and efficient irrigation method for maize planting in Northern Xinjiang.

Key words: drip irrigation under mulch, trickle furrow irrigation, maize, water use efficiency, yield, growth index, Xinjiang