An interactive layered subsoil shovel was designed on the basis of material (soil, straw and stubble) characteristics, sliding-cut principle and the effect of subsoiler on soil before EDEM simulation analysis in order to improve the stubble breaking ratio of sub-soiling and reduce soil disturbance and energy consumption under the condition of maize straw returning. Firstly, the structure parameters of the front shovel were obtained according to the material characteristic and the sliding-cut principle. Secondly, the shovel handle of the interaction section of the backhoe to form the sliding interaction with the backhoe was designed and the structural parameters of the backhoe were obtained according to the position and direction of the maximum acceleration of the backhoe soil in the simulation process of the front shovel, at the same time, the handle of the upper and lower section of the shovel was designed according to the material characteristics and the sliding-cut principle. Finally, the distance between the front shovel and the backhoe in sliding interaction was in the sliding state according to the moving speed of the front shovel and the time of soil particles returning to the maximum acceleration. The direction of the maximum acceleration of soil particles selected in the simulation process of the interactive layered subsoil shovel and the front shovel was compared to verify the rationality of the design idea. The results of the discrete element simulation showed that it was possible to reduce the soil disturbance effectively through the interactive layered subsoil shovel. In terms of the average force on the stubble, it was increased by 22.14% and 26.98% respectively compared with the ordinary layered subsoil shovel and the circular arc single shovel. In terms of the average resistance, it was declined by 14.25%, 26.02% and 8.71% respectively compared with the non interactive layered subsoil shovel, the ordinary layered subsoil shovel and the circular arc single shovel. The interactive layered subsoil shovel was endowed with the high stubble breaking rate, the small soil disturbance and the low energy consumption, which met the requirements of sub-soiling.