Abstract: Revealing the mechanism underlying the responses of maize to different drip irrigation modes can provide a theoretical basis for water saving and efficient maize production. During 2020 and 2021, an experiment was carried out in movable rainproof sheds in Jilin semi-arid area. Six treatments were set, including L1 (ridge drip irrigation, 300 mm), L2 (ridge drip irrigation, 400 mm), L3 (ridge drip irrigation, 500 mm), Q1 (shallow buried drip irrigation, 300 mm), Q2 (shallow buried drip irrigation, 400 mm), and Q3 (shallow buried drip irrigation, 500 mm). We examined the effects of different drip irrigation modes on photosynthetic variables, growth and development, yield and water use characteristics of maize. The results showed that net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of Q2, Q3, and L3 treatments was significantly higher than that of L1, L2, and Q1 treatments at the same light quantum density, when the optical quantum density exceeded 400 μmol·m^-2·s^-1. The apparent quantum efficiency, light saturation point, dark respiration rate, and maximum net photosynthetic rate at light saturation point of L3, Q2 and Q3 treatments were significantly higher than those of L1, L2 and Q1 treatments at flowering stage and filling stage. ThePn of L1, Q1, and L2 treatments was significantly lower than that of L3, Q2, and Q3 treatments at the same CO₂ concentration when it exceeded 200 μmol·mol^-1. The CO₂ compensation point, CO₂ saturation point, maximum net photosynthetic rate, Rubisco maximum carboxylation efficiency, propyl phosphate utilization and maximum electron transfer rate of L3, Q2, and Q3 treatments were significantly higher than those of L1, L2, and Q1 treatments. The grain yield, 100-grain weight, ear length, number of grains per ear, dry matter mass and leaf area index of L3, Q2, and Q3 treatments at different growth stages were significantly higher than those of L1, L2, and Q1 treatments. There was no difference in the photosynthetic response parameters, growth, and yield formation of maize leaves among L3, Q2 and Q3 treatments. Water use efficiency of Q2 treatment was significantly higher than that of the other five treatments. In conclusion, the Q2 treatment showed better photosynthetic response characteristics, growth and development, yield formation and water use, which realized yield increase and high water efficiency. This study provides a reference for the efficient production of maize and the formulation of irrigation schedule when shallow drip irrigation technology is applied in the semi-arid area of Jilin Province.

Key words: maize, drip irrigation, growth and development, water use characteristics, photosynthetic response.