Water deficit is the major restriction factor for winter wheat production in the Weibei Dry Highland due to limited precipitation, high surface evaporation, deep groundwater and poor irrigation conditions. Therefore, seeking efficient measures to increase the utilization efficiency of rainwater is of great importance for winter wheat production in this region. The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different cultivation models on the soil water from 0 to 200 cm depth of soil layer, plough soil temperature at 10 cm depth of soil layer, the yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat during the experimental period (Sep. 2007 to Jun. 2009) in Weibei Dry Highland. The experiment consisted of 7 treatments, i.e. no fertilization (CK), conventional fertilization (N1P1), recommended fertilization (NP), recommended fertilization + manure (NPM), recommended fertilization + plastic mulch on soil ridges (NP+PF), recommended fertilization + plastic mulch on soil ridges and straw mulch in furrows (NP+PF+S) and recommended fertilization + straw mulch on entire plot (NP+S). Results showed that NP+PF+S, NP+PF and NP+S treatments improved the soil water storage during the dry season (spring) compared with CK treatment. However, the soil water efficiency of NP+PF+S and NP+PF treatments was much better than NP+S treatment. In the spring of 2009 (dry season), the average soil water storage of the NP+PF and NP+PF+S treatments in Yuan surface and Terrace was greater than CK treatment, and the change magnitudes were 24.8 and 21.6 mm, respectively. The mulching models increased the soil temperature during the over-winter stage (Dec. 2008 to early Feb. 2009), NP+S, NP+PF+S and NP+PF treatments increased the mean temperature of plough layer by 0.26℃, 0.26℃ and 0.33℃ compared with the CK treatment, respectively. But after the turning green stage, the NP+S, NP+PF+S and NP+PF treatments decreased the temperature of plough layer, and the reduction of total accumulated temperature were 150, 44.5 and 35.3 ℃ in comparison with the CK treatment, respectively. The NP+PF and NP+PF+S treatments efficiently improved the plough soil temperature based on results of the accumulated temperature. The NP+PF+S, NP+PF and NP+S treatments all significantly increased the yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat in comparison with other treatments. However, the winter wheat yield in the NP+S treatment did not increase significantly compared to that in the NP+PF and NP+PF+S treatments. In conclusion, the cultivation models of recommended fertilization + plastic mulch on soil ridges and straw mulch in furrows, and recommended fertilization + plastic mulch on soil ridges would benefit the agricultural development in the Weibei Dry Highland.