Bundled straw mulching can help increase soil water storage, improve water consumption efficiency, and boost grain yield of winter wheat in semi-arid regions. The study compared different mulching methods and found that bundled straw mulching outperformed plastic film mulching and bare field planting. It increased soil water storage, reduced early water consumption, and enhanced water use efficiency, leading to higher grain yields. This environmentally friendly technique is suitable for improving wheat cultivation in the rain-fed semi-arid areas of Northwest China.