Abstract: Two kinds of soil modifiers were applied to improve soil physical structure and microbial activity in northern Shaanxi arid region， and its effects on growth and yield of maize were determined. The results showed that the basal application of soil modifier could significantly increase the plant height， stem diameter， fresh weight， grain NPK content and yield. The application of microbial soil modifier was more beneficial to the absorption of N and P and improved the grain quality than to the polymer soil modifier which only improved the physical structure of the soil.

Key words: soil improver, maize, yield, northern Shaanxi arid region