To explore the ways of using underground salt water resources in Shiyang River basin. A field experiment was conducted under saline water irrigation in Shiyang River basin of Northwest China. The soil water content and seed maize yield indicators were measured for study the effects of saline water irrigation on water consumption, yield, water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency. The research results showed that the effects of saline water irrigation on water consumption was not obvious under the same irrigation water quantity. With the increase of irrigation water salinity, seed maize yield gradually decreased. The salinity of 3 g/L brackish water irrigation reduced seed maize yield by below 20% and the salinity of 9 g/L salt water irrigation reduced seed maize yield by above 30% compared with fresh water irrigation. The water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency changed similarly to seed maize yield. The saline water irrigation with below 3 g/L is recommended as a result of water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency and the seed maize yield decreasing slightly in researching area.