The effects of black plastic film on soil temperature, moisture and maize growth were studied in the context of senescence and yield in comparison to the ordinary white plastic used in the Weibei area. The results showed that the black and white plastic provided the same degree of soil moisture retention of 0-120cm, significantly greater than the retention in bare land. Black plastic mulch could reduce the diurnal soil temperature; in comparison to white plastic film, it reduced the daily temperature variation in the 0-15cm soil to 0.8℃. Black plastic mulch could promote maize dry matter accumulation after spinning stage and extend reproductive growth. Unlike the growth in bare land cultivation, the reproductive growth period in maize could be extended by 2-3 days and the dry matter accumulation could increase by 18.11% at maturity. Compared with the ordinary white plastic film, black plastic prolonged the reproductive growth period by two days and increased the dry matter accumulation by 7.31% at maturity. Yield and water-use efficiency of maize grown with black plastic mulch increased by 10.36% and 7.39% in comparison to white plastic, and by 22.11% and 25.28% in comparison to bare land(P < 0.05). In this area, it may be possible to increase maize yields by replacing the ordinary white plastic film with black plastic film.