| An experimental design including nine treatments, 3 irrigation methods (drip, sprinkler and flood irrigation), and 3 sowing dates on April 10, April 20 and April 30 was carried out at dessert ecological and agthe ricultural meteorological station of Wuwei. Through analyzing the effects of different irrigation method and sowing dates, the most suitable irrigation method, sowing date in saving water, and improvement in yield for this area were desired to be investigated. The results showed that compared with other two irrigation methods, sprinkling irrigation and flood irrigation, sprinkling irrigation could mostly improve the total accumulation dry matter of maize, 11.2%～26.2% and 13.9%～53.9% higher than drip and flood irrigations, respectively. In addition, the transfer and distribution rates of the organ dry matter and the ear weight were also highest with sprinkling irrigation, 9.0%～25.9% and 19.2%～59.3% higher than those with flood and drip irrigations, respectively. The second sowing date (April 20th) was the most suitable sowing time for this area among the three sowing dates. For maize planted on the second sowing date, the total accumulation of dry matter was improved by 0.1%～53.5% and 8.8%～22.0% more than those planted on the first sowing date and the third sowing date. Also, the transfer and distribution rates of leaf and dry matter accumulation of ear from the second sowing date were higher than those from the two other sowing dates (0.2%～54.7% and 10.4%～18.8% higher, respectively). |