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The experiment was to explore effect of different mulching materials on growth characters and yield of silage maize in northwest China. A field experiment was conducted in Liaojia Jiacou, Zhongchuan Town, Yongdeng County, central Gansu Province. The green storage maize variety 'Long Silage No.1' was used as material and four treatments were set up, which were common white mulch (M1), black ground cloth (M2), biodegradable film (M3), liquid mulch (M4). Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, post-anther dry matter accumulation, ear yield, ear rate, grain moisture content, whole plant moisture content, fresh grass yield and hay yield were measured. The results showed that during mature stage, the height of M1 plants was 0.7%, 7.7% and 14.2% higher than that of M2, M3 and M4, respectively. M1, M2, M3 and M4 showed significant differences in stem diameter and plant height during jointing stage (P<0.05). During mature stage, the leaf area of a single plant showed M4>M2>M1>M3. Compared with M2, M3 and M4 treatments, the dry matter accumulation after flowering in M1 was 122.2%, 68.7% and 68.3% higher, the ear yield was 26.6%, 24.7% and 57.8% higher, the fresh grass yield was 6.5%, 9.0% and 10.2% higher, and the dry grass yield was 20.4%, 25.2%, and 36.9% higher, respectively. The ear rate and grain moisture content were shown as M4>M2>M3>M1 and the whole plant moisture content were shown as M4>M3>M2>M1. The study indicates that liquid mulch is not conducive to silage corn planting in northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]