Abstract: The study is to explore the effects of tillage methods on soil moisture, sorghum yield and water use efficiency in arid area of Shanxi Province, and provide reference for high-yield cultivation of dry sorghum. A field experiment was conducted, and six tillage modes were set up, including traditional tillage, no-tillage, autumn rotary tillage, autumn deep loosening, autumn deep tillage +rotary tillage and spring deep tillage + rotary tillage. With the advance of the growth period, soil water storage content and water consumption content before sowing was the highest under autumn deep tillage +rotary tillage. Compared with the traditional tillage and no- tillage mode, the mode of autumn deep tillage + rotary tillage significantly increased the yield of sorghum, and the yield increased by 47% and 36.7%, respectively, the water use efficiency was significantly increased by 36.8% and 25.5%, respectively, the 1000-grain weight was obviously increased with a rate of 16.5% and 14.0%, respectively, the number of branches was increased with a rate of 22.2% and 28.2%, respectively, and the spike length of sorghum was improved by a rate of 19.0% and 21.2%, respectively. The autumn deep tillage +rotary tillage mode is the best tillage mode under the experimental condition, and it could be used as a suitable tillage mode for sorghum production in dryland plateau of Shanxi Province.