| A field examination was carried out in Tangjiabu Village, Dingxi, Gansu from 2011 to 2013 to study soil water content in 0～200 cm layer, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of corn with different film-mulching cultivations and balanced fertilizations (no mulch as control) in the dry-land area. The results showed that whole-film mulching with double-furrow sowing cultivation approach could significantly increase soil water content in 0～200 cm soil layer and water use efficiency, which was more apparent in the years with more precipitations, resulting in an increase of 24.9% in water content, and an elevation of 129.9%～188.3% in WUE. While the nutrient consumptions on N, P2O5 and K2O were 225, 120 kg·hm-2 and 60 kg·hm-2, respectively, maize yield and WUE reached 10 430 kg·hm-2 and 31.9 kg·mm-1·hm-2, 10.2% and 11.5% higher than the regular approach implemented by local farmers. In conclusion, whole-film mulching with double-furrow sowing cultivation was advantageous to conservation use of rainwater and accumulation of soil moisture, and to achieve efficient use of water and to enhance production, which could be improved further by balanced fertilization. |