In order to determine the effect of conservation tillage practices on soil hydrothermal condition and maize yield in cold black soil region of Northeast China, four treatments (FM: widenarrow row planting patterns with straw mulching; LM: well-distributed row planting patterns with straw mulching; LX: rotary tillage with straw returning; LN: conventional ridge cultivation) were designed based on the conservation tillage method with straw returning. The effect of different treatments on soil hydrothermal effects, dry matter mass, maize yield and water and nitrogen utilization in cold black soil region was investigated. The results showed that during the maize growth period, conservation tillage can significantly increase soil water content, adjust soil temperature, and “increase and cool down” according to different air temperature changes. The average soil water content of the 0~60cm soil layer in the LM treatment was increased by 27.28%~63.86% than that of LN treatment. The average soil temperature was decreased by 3.20%~7.63% when air temperature was the highest, and increased by 2.32%~5.37% when the air temperature decreased at the mature stage. Conservation tillage practices significantly improved WUE and nitrogen uptake and utilization of maize during the growth period. Compared with LN treatment, LM treatment increased WUE by 7.26%~12.90%, while NUE and NHI were increased by 14.29%~42.86% and 4.00%~12.00%, respectively. Conservation tillage practices could effectively improve maize yield and promote the accumulation of dry matter. Compared with LN treatment, LM treatment increased maize yield and dry matter mass by 37.7~431.0kg/hm2 and 2322.3~5451.7kg/hm2, respectively. The LM treatment had the smallest yield variation coefficient and was the most suitable conservation tillage practice with stable yield in cold black soil region.