In order to solve the problems during dryland maize production in cold climate areas, such as drought and water shortage, low temperature, soil fertility decline and so on, a field experiment was conducted with split plot design in the demonstration base of dryland water-saving agriculture in He village of Yangqu county, Shanxi Province in 2011-2016. The effects of conservation tillage on soil environment and yield of dryland maize were studied with six different tillage mulching treatments. The results showed that:(1) Compared with conventional rotary tillage and plastic film mulching (CTP), no-tillage, straw and plastic film mulching (NTSP) and strip-tillage, straw and plastic film mulching (STSP) increased soil water storage by 20.8 mm and 32.1 mm respectively in 0-200 cm. Compared with conventional rotary tillage and bare land (CTO), no-tillage, semi straw mulching (NTSS) and strip-tillage, semi straw mulching (STSS) increased soil water storage by 24.3 mm and 16.3 mm respectively in 0-200 cm. (2) The difference of soil densities among different treatments mainly occurred within 15 cm, with 2.6 times under strip-tillage as much as the conventional rotary tillage. In the first year of no tillage, soil density was the highest, 4.6 times of that conventional tillage, and then decreased year after year. (3) Compared with CTP, the daily average soil temperature under NTSP and STSP decreased by 0.2℃ and 0.1℃ (5 cm), 0.8℃ and 0.3℃ (10 cm). Compared with CTO, the daily average soil temperature under NTSS and STSS decreased 0.7℃ and 0.4℃ (5 cm), 1.5℃ and 1.0℃(10 cm). (4) After 3 years of conservation tillage, no tillage and strip-tillage increased soil organic matter contents in 0-20 cm by 1.5 g/kg (film mulching) and 1.2 g/kg (no film mulching) averagely compared with conventional rotary tillage. And after 5 years, the effect of fertilizing soil was more obvious. (5) The economic yields under NTSP and STSP increased by 4.4% and 6.9%, respectively, compared with CTP, and the economic yield of STSP was significantly higher than that of CTP. There was no significant difference in average yield between NTSS, STSS and CTO. Generally, STSP is the appropriate conservation tillage for the area to store water and preserve soil moisture, to fertilize the soil, and to maintain stable and high yield.