Aimed at the problems such as shallow soil profile, severe soil and water erosion, and frequent seasonal droughts that were faced by the dryland agriculture in southwest China, a field experiment was conducted for 2 years to evaluate the influence of different conservation tillage measures on the soil ecological factors, yield and water use efficiency of crops in triple cropping system in dryland. There were 6 treatment including traditional farming (T), ridge planting (R), straw mulching (TS), ridge planting + straw mulching (RS), straw mulching + decomposing agent (TSD) and ridge planting + straw mulching + decomposing agent (RSD). The results showed that the condition of soil organic matter and nutrients was improved effectively under the conservation tillage measures, in which the contents of soil organic matter, total N, total K and alkali-hydrolyzable N were significantly increased under the 4 treatments with straw mulching, and the pH of acidic soil was raised to some extent. The soil moisture condition was improved, and the drought-resistant and water-saving ability of crops was strengthened under the conservation tillage measures. As for the 2-year mean water storage in 0-80 cm soil layer, the treatments could be ordered as: RSD (258.82 mm) > TSD (252.40 mm) > RS (250.19 mm) > TS (246.66 mm) > R (239.19 mm) > T (235.87 mm). The surface soil temperature in July was lowered under the conservation tillage measures, in which the temperature in 5 cm and 10 cm depth was significantly reduced under the 4 treatments with straw mulching, thus easing the injury of high temperature on maize during late growth stage. The growth of weeds was inhibited effectively under the conservation tillage measures, and the average height, density and biomass of weeds under TS, RS, TSD and RSD was extremely significantly lower than those under T and R. The reproduction and growth of earthworms were also accelerated under the conservation tillage measures, thus the farmland eco-environment was obviously improved. In general, straw mulching was effective in improving the soil fertility, increasing soil water storage, adjusting soil temperature, controlling weeds and stimulating earthworm growth, while ridge planting and decomposing agent were effective in increasing soil water storage. Consequently, the conservation tillage measures significantly raised the yield and water use efficiency of crops, and increased the economic benefits. From the viewpoint of 2-year mean yield and water use efficiency, the treatments were ordered as: RSD>RS>TSD>TS>R>T(CK); while from the viewpoint of output value and net income, the treatments were ordered as: RS>RSD>TSD>R>TS>T(CK). Among all the treatments, RSD and RS were the two optimal patterns with high comprehensive effects and deserved to be widely promoted in the dryland region with triple cropping in southwest China.