Abstract: Abstract: Plough layer construction is regarded as one of important methods for solving rainfed farmland problems. In order to explore the effect of plough layer construction on crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring maize, four tillage methods, including up loose and down compaction plough layer (ULDC, CK), all loose plough layer (AL), furrow loose and ridge compaction plough layer (FLRC) and all compaction plough layer (AC), were carried out in a long-term experimental station of Fuxin. The result showed that the yield of spring maize was significantly influenced by different plough layer constructions. For the years of 2011 and 2012, the maize yield under FLRC was the highest, followed by those under AL and CK; the yield under AC was the lowest. The average maize yield of the two years under FLRC was 16.39% higher than that under CK, and the yield under AL was 5.30% higher than that under CK, which were contributed by the increase in hundred kernel weight; the yield under AC was 5.73% lower than that under CK. The above-ground biomass (AGB) of maize and the harvest index were also examined. The result showed a significant impact of different plough layer constructions on AGB and harvest index of the maize. The FLRC treatment in 2011 was significant different from the others (P<0.05), while the difference between the treatments of AL and CK was not significant (P>0.05). The yield under FLRC was 7.18%, 7.19% and 12.87% higher than those under AL, CK and AC, respectively. The yield under FLRC in 2011 was generally consistent with that in 2012, without significant difference (P>0.05). The harvest indices for the four treatments ranged from 0.38 to 0.44. The findings also showed that soil moisture contents under of FLRC and AL were higher than those under AC and CK. The soil water storage (0-100 cm) under the four treatments (FLRC, AL, CK and AC) were 247.36, 248.97, 242.84 and 239.48 mm, respectively, indicating that FLRC and AL could efficiently loose soil, increase water penetration and soil water storage, and improve soil moisture contents significantly. For both normal year (2011) and wet year (2012), the soil under FLRC could utilize precipitation of growing season effectively, and promote precipitation use efficiency of maize. An 11.95% increase of rainfall use efficiency was observed under FLRC than that under CK in 2011; FLRC and AL showed the increases of 21.23% and 12.43% of rainfall use efficiency comparing to CK in 2012, respectively. WUE of the crops differed in different years and plough layer constructions. In 2011, a 15.68% increase in WUE was observed under FLRC comparing to that under CK, the similar trend was also appeared in 2012, a 23.13% increase for CK in WUE. Averaging the result of two year, an 18.43% increase in WUE was observed comparing to that of CK. Consequently, furrow loose and ridge compaction plough layer was an efficient construction for improving production and WUE of cropland in semi-arid zone of northeastern China.