In order to further investigate the influence of different irrigation systems on water use efficiency of maize in black soil of the cold regions, based on the experimental data of maize fields, the patterns of water consumption and water use efficiency were analyzed at different scales, in order to find a irrigation scheme that meets the requirement of water saving and high yield of maize in Northeast China;the relationship between stable carbon isotope resolution (Δ13C) and water use efficiency (WUE) of maize leaves and grains was analyzed, the indicated effect of stable carbon isotope discrimination of maize on water use efficiency of different levels of crops was validated. The results showed that the irrigation quota was 800m3/hm2 during the whole growth period, and the corn yield was up to 14920.62kg/hm2at four times, but the yield level of water use efficiency (WUEy) was low;the whole growth period irrigation quota was 600m3/hm2, four times irrigation maize WUEywas up to 3.74kg/m3, but yield was low. Considering yield and water use efficiency, the conclusion was drawn that the irrigation scheme that met the requirement of high water saving and yield of maize in this area was irrigation quota of 800m3/hm2 and irrigation three times (at seedling stage, jointing stage and tasselling stage) in the whole growth period. At this situation, the WUEy of maize was 3.65kg/m3, and there was no significant decline in output. The stable carbon isotope discrimination of maize leaves at elongation stage (ΔLB), leaf carbon isotope discrimination at fruit maturation stage (ΔLC) and fruit carbon isotope discrimination (ΔF) were between 0.451% and 0.542%, 0.505% and 0.598%, 0.496% and 0.526%, respectively, ΔL and ΔF were negatively correlated with WUEi, WUEn and WUEy, respectively. Furthermore, ΔL showed a better indicating capacity on WUEn than on WUEi under different water treatments, the effect of ΔF on WUEy was better than the effect of ΔLon WUEy. Thus ΔL and ΔF could be used as important evaluation indexes of WUEn and WUEy in crop leaves respectively, the results can provide theoretical support and data reference for maize production in Northeast China.