The study compared mulched drip irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation on corn growth. Corn water consumption increased with more irrigation water. Mulched drip irrigation had slightly higher water consumption than subsurface drip irrigation. Corn under mulched drip irrigation grew taller and had thicker stems before flowering and jointing stages. Subsurface drip irrigation promoted corn root growth. Mulched drip irrigation had higher corn yield than subsurface drip irrigation. The best irrigation amount for subsurface drip irrigation was 85% of mulched drip irrigation, with a water use efficiency of 2.92kg/hm^2 and a yield of 11,154kg/hm^2.