Abstract:In the arid and semi-arid regions of northwestern China, Lycium barbarum production is facing the problems of single planting pattern and low water use efficiency. The purpose of this study was to explore more effective field management measures to increase L. barbarum production and achieve efficient utilization of land and water resources. Based on field experiments, the effects of two planting patterns and four water conditions on water consumption characteristics, photosynthetic characteristics, growth, yield, and water use efficiency of L. barbarum were compared and analyzed. The two planting patterns were L. barbarum monoculture (CK) and intercropping of L. barbarum and Alfalfa (LA). The four kinds of water condition were full irrigation (W0, 75%~85%), mild water deficit (W1, 65%~75%), moderate water deficit (W2, 55%~65%), and severe water deficit (W3, 45%~55%). The results showed that:(1) The water consumption during the growth period of LA (891~1 243 mm) was higher than that of CK (829~1 102 mm), and decreased with the increasing of water deficit. (2) In CK, the double peak trends of net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate were more obvious than those of LA. Additionally, under the same planting mode, the peaks of net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of L. barbarum leaves decreased and the peaks appeared earlier with the aggravation of water deficit. (3) Under the same planting mode, the growth amount of L. barbarum ground diameter, plant height, crown width and new shoots decreased with the aggravation of water deficit, but the decreasing range tended to decrease. In the single planting mode, the treatment of CKW1 had higher yield (3 720 kg/hm2) and water use efficiency (3.61 kg/(hm2·mm)). In the intercropping mode, the treatment of LAW0 had higher yield (3 780 kg/hm2) and water use efficiency (3.08 kg/(hm2·mm)). In conclusion, a certain degree of water deficit was helpful to improve the yield and water use efficiency of L. barbarum in the single planting mode, and sufficient soil water supply should be ensured to obtain higher L. barbarum yield and water use efficiency in the intercropping mode.