| In this paper, water deficit under conditions of 75%, 50%, and 25% of precipitation guarantee rate at sowing, seedling, jointing, and filling stage of spring maize，and also drought intensity and drought climate risk at each stage were analyzed. The results showed that under 75% of precipitation guarantee rate, precipitation could not meet the water demand of maize at all 4 growth stages throughout Northeastern China, and water deficit was about 10~40 mm, 10~80 mm, 10~130 mm, and 10~130 mm, respectively. Under 50% of precipitation guarantee rate, water deficit was about 0~30 mm, 0~50 mm, 0~80 mm, and 0~80 mm at 4 growth stages, respectively in western part of Northeastern China, while it was about 0~30 mm in eastern area of Heilongjiang Province at jointing and filling stage. Under 25% of precipitation guarantee rate, only water deficit of 0~50 mm appears at sowing and filling stages in partial area of Western Jilin, Southwest of Songnen Plain in Heilongjiang Province and Western Liaoning. From 1981 to 2016, the maximum drought intensity at four growth stages of spring maize could reach 4 in western part of Northeastern China and some area of Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang Province，with the intensity values of 10.01~17.20, 7.83~24.70, 5.81~17.50, and 5.76~18.70. In 2000, the drought intensity reached 10.01~17.40 at jointing stage in western part of Liaoning and Heilongjiang Province. In 2014, the drought intensity reached 10.01~15.60 at sowing stage in Northwest of Songnen Plain in Heilongjiang Province, Western Baicheng of Jilin and partial area of Liaoning. The drought climate risk was higher at 4 maize growth stages in Western part of northeastern China, and there was also a higher drought risk in eastern area of Heilongjiang Province at sowing, jointing, and filling stages. According to the analysis above, the drought resistant management of spring maize in Northeastern China could be divided into four regions, and in each region maize production and drought resistance strategy could be reasonably arranged according to the water deficit characteristics and drought risk at different growth stages. |