Abstract: With the field and pot experiments, the dynamic growth of maize roots was studied in the damp soil and shajiang black soil, and the result showed that in damp soil, roots of maize grew better than other stages in the length, dry weight and activity of roots, and the senescence time of roots was earler in the later period of development. Most of the roots of the maize plant was distributed in the top layer of the soil (0~20 cm), whereas only a smaller proportion of them could reach the deeper layers. In shajiang black soil, the whole roots had good root characteristics in the middle-later period of development, but the length, dry weight and activity of roots changes more intensity. The whole roots were well-distributed in the different soil layers, and there were many roots in deeper soil.

Key words: Damp soil, Shajiang black soil, Maize root system, Growth and development