The study aimed to reveal the characteristics of synergistic changes of soil water and salt and to clarify the effects of different irrigation quotas on yield and water use efficiency in the northwest arid region. Three irrigation quotas of 360，420 and 480 mm were set up. Soil water and salt content in 0-100 cm soil layer and its variability，maize yield and water utilization efficiency were analyzed. The results showed that the soil water distribution was striped when the irrigation quota was higher than 480 mm，and the soil water distribution was spotty when the irrigation quota was 360 mm. The soil salt content was spotty in the whole growth period of maize，and the spot center was located in the early stage of crop filling stage. The variation coefficient of soil water content and soil salt content ranged from 10.78% to 32.59% and from 7.68% to 13.59%，respectively，which both belonged to moderate variation intensity，while the coefficient of variation of soil total salt content was lower than that of soil water content. In conclusion，with the decrease of irrigation quota，soil salt content increased，and soil salt content in 0-100 cm soil layer showed a slowly accumulation. Different irrigation quota had significant effects on ear diameter，ear length，bald tip length and 100 grain weight of spring corn，but had no significant effects on ear row number.