Abstract: Based on the long-term field experiment in the black soil region of Northeast China, effects of fertilization, designed to have CK (no fertilizer), Treatment NP (chemical fertilizer) and Treatment NPM (chemical fertilizer plus pig manure), on water consumption of maize and soil water supply capacity were analyzed, using the data in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Results show that the peak of water consumption by maize was observed during the jointing - tasseling stage and tasseling-maturity, reaching 24.41% and 47.07% in water consumption module, respectively, and the average water consumption intensity of the crop throughout the whole growth period was 3.64 mm•d^-1. The characteristics were significantly affected by amount and distribution of rainfall. Higher water consumption and higher water consumption efficiency were found in Treatments NP and NPM in droughty years and some droughty periods during the maize growing season. In terms of soil water supply, the three treatments followed a decreasing order of NPM > NP > CK. So, application of pig manure in combination of chemical fertilizer is an effective practice to increase the soil water utilization efficiency of maize and mitigate seasonal drought stress.

Key words: black soil, fertilization practice, water consumption of maize, soil water supply