[Objective] A study on the growth and yield of spring maize by different irrigation quota under shallow subsurface drip irrigation was conducted. We aimed to find out the most effective irrigation quota that was suitable for Eastern Inner Mongolia region, which was expected to provide theoretical support for application and popularization of shallow subsurface drip irrigation. [Methods] A field experiment with 6 irrigation quotas as 400.20 m³/hm²(CK), 1 050.53 m³/hm²(DG₁), 1 700.85 m³/hm²(DG₂), 2 351.18 m³/hm²(DG₃), 3 001.50 m³/hm²(DG₄), and routing irrigation 3 201.60 m³/hm²(GG) was conducted. [Results] (1) Height, leaf area index and relative chlorophyll content of spring maize under shallow subsurface drip irrigation increased with the increase of irrigation quota. (2) The net photosynthetic rate and the transpiration rate were both the largest in DG₄, and followed in DG₃. Leaf water use efficiency of DG₃ were higher than those in DG₄ and GG treatments. (3) Yield and water use efficiency of DG₃ treatment increased by 6.03% and 44.50% as compared with those of GG treatment. [Conclusion] Irrigation schedule with quota of 2 351.18 m³/hm² was considered as the most optimal one with respect to saving water and mulch, and increasing yield of spring maize under shallow subsurface drip irrigation.