By field experiment,the effect of water retaining fertilizer on soil properties and the optimal fertilization were studied in Hexi Corridor.The result showed that the effect of factors which influenced corn yield was:CO(NH₂)₂>(NH₄)₂HPO₄>furfural residue>water retaining fertilizer>ZnSO₄·7H₂O.The optimal factor combination was:CO(NH₂)₂600kg/hm²,(NH₄)₂HPO₄350kg/hm²,ZnSO₄·7H₂O 30kg/hm², water retaining fertilizer 19.98kg/hm²,and furfural residue 15 000kg/hm².Dosage of fertilizer was negatively correlated with soil bulk density,and positively correlated with porosity,water storage capacity,botany and economic properties of corn.Corn grain number,grain weight,and corn yield increased with the amount of fertilizer application,but the marginal output decreased.The regression equation of quadratic equation on fertilizer dosage and yield was provided.The optimal fertilization was 9.99t/hm².