Abstract: Aggregates are the main factors affecting soil productivity. In order to explore the effects of different straw returning methods on the physical structure of black soil, a field test was conducted at the demonstration area for high-light-use efficiency of crop cultivation at Changchun Comprehensive Agricultural Experiment Station of Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences with following treatments, including straw chopping (CR), straw chopping + straw-decomposing agent (DA), cattle manure (CM), straw compost (SC), maize biochar (BC), and no straw as control (CK). Samples were taken at the maturity stage of maize, and soil water content, porosity, bulk density and aggregates were determined by intact coring method, soil dry sieving and wet sieving methods. Grain yield was investigated as well. The results showed that the mechanically stable aggregates were main form of aggregates in the black soil, and water-stable aggregates accounted for a small proportion. The effect of cattle manure returning on soil macroaggregates in the topsoil (0 - 20 cm) was greater than any other treatment. The aggregate destruction rate and unstable aggregate index were lower, and the coefficient of water stability was higher under cattle manure returning. Cattle manure returning also increased grain number and hundred-grain weight, resulting in a tendency of gain yield. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the proportion of >0.25 mm water-stable aggregates was significantly negatively correlated with aggregate destruction rate and unstable aggregate index, indicating the higher proportion of large agglomerates, the stronger stability of soil aggregates and the more stable the physical structure of the soil. The yield was positively correlated with the proportion of >0.25 mm mechanically-stable agglomerates, which indicated that the proportion of soil large agglomerates might beneficial to crop yield. Cattle manure returning improved the mechanical stability and water stability of black soil aggregates and maize yield.