From 2008-2010, we conducted a field experiment in the Weibei Highlands to determine the effects of planting with ridge and furrow mulching on the soil water and temperature, and the maize growth, yield, and water use efficiency. Ridges were covered with plastic film in all treatments, while furrows were mulched with plastic film (PP), biodegradable film (PB), corn straw (PS), or liquid film (PL). In the control treatment (CK), ridges were covered with standard plastic film, while furrows received no mulching. The three-year trial showed that, during the early maize growth stage, the soil water storage (0-200 cm) was significantly higher with the PP, PB, and PS treatments compared with CK. The three-year average water storage increased by 14.1, 17.9, and 22.2 mm compared with CK. Our analysis of the vertical distribution of the soil water content in the 0-200 cm soil profile showed that the soil water content at the 0-20 cm and 100-200 cm depth were higher with PP, PB, and PS compared with CK. The effect of PS on water conservation was the highest during the middle growth stage, while the three-year average water storage was 16.9 mm higher with the PS treatment than CK. However, the soil storage with PP and PB was significantly lower than CK in 2008 and 2009. Compared with CK, the soil water content with PP and PB increased significantly at the 0-200 cm depth, whereas it decreased at the 80-180 cm depth. There were no significant differences among the mulching treatments during the later growth stage. Soil water storage was slightly higher with PL than CK, while there were no differences in soil water storage between the two treatments during the entire maize growing season. The three-year mean soil temperatures (5-25 cm) with the PP and PB treatments were 1.6 ℃ and 1.3 ℃ higher than CK, respectively, whereas the PS treatment was 1.9 ℃ lower than CK. However, there was no significant difference in the soil temperature with the PL treatment and CK during the maize growing season. The water retention and temperature-raising effects of the PP and PB treatments increased the plant height, leaf area, and aboveground biomass by 2.3% and 2.4%, 30.9% and 29.9%, and 15.5% and 13.9%, compared with CK, respectively, while the maize growing period was reduced by 5-6 d. The cooling effect of the PS treatment also increased the plant height, leaf area, and aboveground biomass by 7.0%, 34.6%, and 6.5% compared with CK, respectively, although the growing period was extended by 4-5 d. There was no difference between the maize growth indices of the PL treatment and CK during the entire maize growing period. PP, PB, and PS produced a higher maize yield and water use efficiency throughout the experimental period. Compared with CK, the PP, PB, and PS treatments increased the three-year mean maize yields by 13.0%, 13.8%, and 15.0%, with water use efficiency improvements of 9.8%, 10.2%, and 11.6%, respectively. Therefore, covering ridges with plastic film and mulching furrows with plastic film, biodegradable film, or corn straw, greatly improved the soil water and temperature status, promoted maize growth, and significantly increased the crop yield and water use efficiency. These results may have important implications for maize production in the Weibei Highlands, China.