[Objective] This study was to explore the effects of dilute acid hydrolysis on fermentative biohydrogen production capacity of maize stalk. [Method] Using maize stalks subjected to mechanical disintegration,steam explosion and dilute acid hydrolysis as experimental materials,we measured and analyzed the effects of different treatments and particle size of maize stalk were analyzed. [Result] The optimal fermentative biohydrogen production was found under following parameters:pretreatment of 0.8% dilute H2SO4 following steam explosion,particle size of maize stalk of 0.425-0.850 mm,liquid-solid ratio [0.8% H2SO4 (M):stalk (W)] of 10:1. [Conclusion] Post steam explosion,dilute 0.8% dilute H2SO4 intensified hydrolysis on maize stalk could produce fermentative biohydrogen production capacity.