Abstract: Abstract: Soil anti-erodibility is an important parameter to evaluate the soil resistance to erosion ability. Severe soil erosion on sloping farmland in hilly areas of Sichuan has resulted in deterioration of soil quality= and therefore has an adverse impact on the sustainable agricultural development. To clarify the nature of soil anti-erodibility, a field experiment was conducted to study the characteristic of soil anti-erodibility and the factors that influence it during the growing stages of maize. Soil anti-erodibility index was selected to evaluate the soil resistance to erosion in different growing stages of maize in purple soil areas. At the same time, based on soil physico-chemical properties and maize root parameters, the influencing factors of soil anti-erodibility were analyzed. The results indicated that the soil anti-erodibility index decreased with increasing soaking time during the growth period of maize. The soil anti-erodibility indices of the 0-20 cm soil layer were higher than those of the >20-40 cm soil layer. The soil anti-erodibility index varied greatly during the growth period of maize. The soil anti-erodibility index increased slightly from seedling to small flare stage, increased significantly from small flare stage to anthesis stage, and decreased gradually from anthesis stage to maturity stage. Soil anti-erodibility showed a rising-and-falling trend with the development stages of maize, such as tasseling stage, mature stage, big flare stage, small flare stage and seedling stage. Enhancing effect of maize on soil anti-erodibility was stronger from the big flare stage to mature stage, and the enhanced effect of soil anti-erodibility in the 0-20 cm layer was better than that of >20-40 cm layer. There was a significant, positive correlation between soil anti-erodibility and soil bulk density and >2 mm water-stable aggregates. Maize roots played a key role in soil and water conservation. Therefore, it has aroused the attention of the domestic and overseas scholars. There were very significant positive correlations between soil anti-erodibility and soil organic matter, root number amount, root surface area, and root volume. So the maize roots played an important part in soil reinforcement in the different growing stages. However, there was very significant negative correlation between soil anti-erodibility and < 0.25 mm water-stable aggregates. The results suggested that soil anti-erodibility was poor in the seedling stage and small flare stage, and soil anti-erodibility was greatest in the anthesis stage. It is possible to enhance soil anti-erodibility of sloping farmland by rational intercropping in the seedling stage and small flare stage in hilly areas of Sichuan. At the same time, some measures would be conducive to increase soil anti-erodibility, including the improvement of soil physico-chemical properties and cultivation of maize varieties with strong root systems. This study provides a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing the configuration of soil conservation measures and the prediction of soil erosion.