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BACKGROUND Improving irrigation water productivity is vital for sustaining high maize yield in Hetao irrigated area of northwest China. Whether ridge cropping and furrow irrigation systems (planting both on ridges and in furrows) fulfill water‐saving and maize yield‐increasing is unclear. A 2‐year trial was conducted to reveal the influence of irrigation with three levels (270, 225, 180 mm, represented as I270, I225, I180, respectively) under two planting systems [traditional flat planting system (TFI) and ridge cropping and furrow irrigation system (RFI)] on maize growth, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IUE). RESULTS RFI system increased soil water storage in 0–100 cm layer (P < 0.05), but did not cause excess water consumption, compared to TFI system. Logistic equation simulation showed that RFI system advanced the time of maximum dry matter growth rate (Tmax, 2.6–4.9 days) and prolonged the duration of dry matter accumulation (Td, 3.2–4.7 days), ultimately obtained a 4.2–9.5% improvement of dry matter. Compared with TFI system, RFI system increased WUE by 8.0–21.2%, IUE by 8.3–20.5% and grain yield increased by 9.4–21.4%. RFI225 satisfied water‐saving by 16.6% and yield‐increasing by 3.6–14.7%. CONCLUSION Ridge cropping and furrow irrigation systems brought an improvement of soil water storage and dry matter accumulation and kernel per spike, and ultimately obtained an increase of grain yield and water productivity. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

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