Maize straw strip mulching can replace plastic film mulching in maize production in dry areas. A study in northwestern China compared different mulching methods and found that straw strip mulching increased silage yield but decreased grain and biomass yields compared to plastic film mulching. However, the economic return from silage was higher with straw strip mulching. Straw mulch also lowered soil temperature and increased water storage, delaying maize growth by about 13 days. This shows that using straw mulch is a more environmentally friendly way to grow maize in dry regions.