This paper proposes a key management scheme using time-based deployment for wireless sensor networks, which is characterized by a special two-tier random key pre-distribution and elimination mechanism as well as a time-based group deployment method. Each sensor node randomly chooses keys from multiple key pools and deletes related keys when certain conditions are satisfied; All the sensor nodes are organized into deployment groups and are chronologically deployed into the network. Compared with classical key management schemes for wireless sensor networks, The proposed scheme increases node resource efficiency and enhances network resilience against node compromise while ensuring a relatively high node connectivity for pair-wise key generation.