Soil moisture and thermal condition were two key factors for crop production in Arid Region. The effects of different plastic film and tillage modes under mulched drip irrigation on the spatial variation of soil moisture and heat transfer were studied by the 2-year field experiment in Hetao Irrigation District. The experiment designed 4 treatments which included ridge tillage with full film mulching (LQ)

ridge tillage with half film mulching (LB)

flat tillage with full film mulching (PQ) and flat tillage with half film mulching (PB). Soil moisture in 0—120 cm profile was measured by drying method. Soil temperature was checked by ECH2O at the soil layer of 0—120 cm. The results showed that compared to LB

PQ and PB

LQ increased soil water contents by an average of 14.4%

23.8% and 26.9% in 0—20 cm respectively at seedling stage. At jointing stage

LQ and PQ enhanced the same parameter by up to 32.6% and 5.8% than LB and PB in 0—40 cm respectively. The soil water content of ridge tillage in 0—60 cm was significantly higher than flat tillage during heading stage

however there was no significant different in 60—120 cm. Finally

LQ in 0—80 cm increased soil water content by 18.1%

11.2% and 21.5% compared to LB

PQ and PB at maturing stage

respectively. Average soil temperature in 0—70 cm soil layers was significant higher in full film mulching than half film mulching. Compared to LB

PQ and PB

soil temperature of LQ increased 0.44 ℃ and 1.16 ℃

0.93 ℃ and 0.22 ℃

1.22 ℃ and 1.37 ℃ in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The changes of soil temperature were tented to be steady with increasing soil depth. Ridge tillage with full film mulching method could significantly increase soil temperature

enhance the soil water content and had obvious effects on restraining the loss of heat. It was clear that the optimal mulch and tillage strategies were beneficial to form better soil moisture and temperature environment and then increased crop yield.