Abstract:The study aims to investigate the effect of different straw treatments on soil water, yield and growth of maize with film mulched double-furrow sowing in dry land. For treatments were as follows: the amounts of maize straw of 6 000 kg·hm^-2 (low level returning), 9 000 kg·hm^-2 (medium level returning),12 000 kg·hm^-2 (high level returning), and the control treatment with no straw returning. The results showed that the soil water increased with amount of straw at early growing stage, especially during emergence stage, increased by 6.07%, 1.24% and 0.31% for high, middle and low treatments, respectively. During tasseling stage, the increasing effect was in the order of low-level＞mid-level＞no straw＞high-level, the order of leaf area was high-level＞mid-level returning＞low-level＞no straw treatment, and the order of water consumption was high-level＞no straw＞mid-level＞low-level treatment. The yield and water use efficiency of 6 000 kg·hm^-2 treatment (low-level returning) was highest, indicating that is suitable for extension in semi arid regions.