In order to find out the shallow buried drip irrigation mode of saving water and increasing grain yield of maize, field planting experiments were carried out in Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia in 2021. Based on different irrigation levels of low water (W1=125.4 mm), medium water (W2=153.6 mm) and high water (W3=166.8 mm), as well as 100% water volume of drip irrigation as control (CK=179.8 mm), the characteristics of soil water change under different treatments and their effects on crop water consumption, water use efficiency and plant growth were analyzed. The results showed that the water content of 0-60 cm cultivated soil changed significantly with the increase of irrigation water; With the development of the growth period, the soil water content decreased from jointing stage to filling stage; The water consumption of corn crops is different as a whole, as CK ＞W3 ＞W2 ＞W1; The variation trend of maize growth characteristics was quite different, and W2 treatment had the highest plant height, stem diameter and leaf area index; The overall change of water consumption of maize in each growth period showed a fluctuating trend, reaching the peak in JT growth period; The yield of maize did not increase with the increase of irrigation amount. The yield of maize in W2 treatment was the highest, 5.65% higher than that in CK treatment, and the water use efficiency was the highest, 3.48 kg/m³. Before further optimizing water-saving technology and membrane pollution, W2 treatment of shallow buried drip irrigation may be the appropriate method for farmers. The research results can provide reference for water-saving irrigation of corn in semi-arid areas of China.