Straw mulch (SM) and plastic film mulch (PFM) markedlyincreased soil water content, particularly during bloom and fruitexpansion. As shown in the two-year average data presented inTable 2, ET was reduced from 445 mm with clean tillage (CT) to363 mm with SM and 396 mm with PFM. Thus, compared withCT, ET was reduced by 82 mm (SM) and 49 mm (PFM). In thissemiarid area, the peach WUE increased from 5.7 kg m−1withCT to 9.0 kg m−1with SM, and 8.1 kg m−1with PFM, whereas theyield increased by 29.0% and 27.9% for SM and PFM, respectively,compared with the CT treatment. Taken together, these resultsdemonstrate that mulching reduces soil evaporation and increaseswater-use efficiency. Wheat straw and plastic film are effectivemulching materials. The farm-level choice of mulching materialshould be based on the local climate and cost effectiveness. Fur-ther studies are needed to obtain a better understanding of theleaf water-use efficiency, drought resistance capacity, and photo-synthetic characteristics of mulching treatments aimed at reducingtranspiration. This information will also improve the understand-ing of the processes that influence the water-use characteristics ofpeach trees on the rainfed semiarid Loess Plateau of China.