Abstract:In order to find out the response mechanism of wheat/maize intercropping population under different water stresses, three intercropping treatments with sufficient water stress levels and two sufficient irrigation singles were used for the control treatment. The results showed that the water capture equivalent ratio of wheat strips was higher than that of corn strips in the intercropping period. With the increase of water stress, the trend became more and more obvious. With the growth of the growth period, the trend became weaker and even appeared reverse, while the relative competitiveness of water between the belts showed a gradual decline. In terms of root distribution characteristics, the average root distribution depth of the intercropped population under full irrigation was 17.15~17.24cm, and the root mass density was 90.42%~90.77% distributed in the plough layer, of which 87.49%~88.70% was wheat and 92.63%~92.81% was corn, and water stress can significantly affect the spatial distribution of intercropping population roots. In terms of intercropping advantages, it was necessary to have the intercropping advantage to satisfy the field water holding rate of at least 80% per water. With the increase of water stress degree, the land equivalent ratio of the intercropping group showed a slight increase and then declined, and the intercropping of corn was partial land. The rate of decline in equivalence ratio was faster than that of intercropped wheat. In terms of relative competition ability between species, it showed that with the increase of water stress, the wheat was decreased rapidly and gradually disappeared after it was slightly increased. In short, the particularity of the intercropping group caused the difference in soil moisture between the two crops in time and space, which in turn caused the difference in irrigation water infiltration rate and total infiltration, and water stress increased this trend, which was certain to the extent that the optimal location of irrigation water was satisfied, the water use efficiency of the intercropping group was improved, and the mechanism of water saving and yield increase of the intercropping group was revealed.