For understanding the effects of new tillage method (i.e. vertically rotary sub-soiling tillage, VRT) on soil water storage, grain yield, and water use efficiency of maize on semiarid rain-fed area of northwest Loess Plateau, which average annual precipitation and air temperature are 415 mm and 6.2℃, respectively. The randomized block designed field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017. Four treatments were involved:(1) vertically rotary sub-soiling tillage for 40 cm depth (VRT), (2) sub-soiling for 40 cm depths (SS), (3) traditional rotary tillage for 15 cm depths (TT), and (4) zero tillage (ZT). The soil water storage (SWS) in 0-300 cm profile in different growth stages of maize, the foliar SPAD (Soil and Plant Analyzer Development) value, leaf area index (LAI) and plant dry matter in seedling, jointing, tasseling, flowering and filling stages, and the grain yields were recorded, and periodic water consumption, water use efficiency (WUE) were calculated. The results showed that the VRT significantly increased SWS in 0-40 cm soil profile by 7.7, 8.6 and 6.6 mm at sowing stage, the corresponding values in 0-100 cm soil profile were 18.2, 22.8 mm and 20.2 mm, as compared with SS, TT and ZT, respectively. The VRT improved water consumption in pre-flowering period in drought year (2016), in post-flowering period at normal year (2017) significantly, resulted in higher aboveground biomass, leaf area index and SPAD value. For example, the aboveground biomass of VRT were significantly increased by 14.7%-18.3%,12.7%-18.8% and 22.8%-29.1% compared with SS, TT and ZT, respectively. Based on the well-developed plant individual and population, the VRT increased maize grain yield by 12.0%-13.0%, 13.7%-33.6%, 24.0%-47.4% in 2016 and 2017, as compared with SS, TT and ZT, respectively. The VRT promoted water consumption of maize, the significant difference was observed while compared to ZT, resulted in the lower SWS at harvesting stage. However, more precipitation was stored in soil in VRT, the soil water storage in 0-100 cm profile of VRT were significantly higher than SS, TT and ZT. Though the soil water storage in 0-300 cm profile of VRT were decreased by 11.4, 14.8 and 20.5 mm, as compared with SS, TT and ZT, there were no significant difference among the four tillage methods. These suggested that the VRT improved both the water consumption of maize and rainwater infiltration, sustained the well soil water balance. Consequently, the VRT was helpful to increase maize drought resistance and productivity without the risk of soil water balance, which could be demonstrated in maize productivity on semi-arid rain-fed area.