Abstract: Hydrogel application and ground mulching with hays are the two key factors to promote soil moisture and simultaneously to assure survival rate in afforestation in the dry-hot valley area in Panzhihua Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Mulching with hays might significantly reduce soil evaporation and enhance the infiltration of ground water into the deep-layer of soil, The survival rate of afforestation was increased by 13% when each sapling was planted with 10 g hydrogel in the planting pit and then the hay mulching was applied. Similarly, the survival rate of afforestation was increased by 12% if the saplings were planted with 10 g hydrogel per plant and then the plastic film mulching was adopted.