Background and aims <p>Contour reverse-slope terraces (CRT) can effectively improve soil environment, it affects the growth of plants and soil microorganisms. This study aims to show the influence of CRT on the structure and composition of soil microbial communities in the vicinity of maize, as well as the interaction between the soil microbial community, maize growth, and soil under CRT. It provides reference for increasing crop yield and improving soil microenvironment of slope cultivated land.</p> Methods <p>In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the growth status and yield of maize in different growth periods, as well as the composition and structure of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial communities under the undisturbed sloping land (CK) and CRT preparation.</p> Results <p>CRT can promote the growth of maize and increase 14% yield, and increase the number, richness and diversity of microbial community. CRT changed the soil microbial community and number significantly correlated with maize indices, and the correlation between them. RDA showed that soil pH, SWC, SOM and TP were the main factors affecting the composition of bacterial communities. EC, water content and total phosphorus were the main factors affecting the composition of fungal community.</p> Conclusions <p>CRT by improving soil environmental factors, it affects the enrichment degree of microorganisms in the rhizosphere, so as to change the composition of microbial community in the rhizosphere soil increased the diversity and richness of microbial community, improved the absorption and utilization of soil nutrients by microorganisms, and then promoted the growth and development of maize.&#xa0;</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>