This study determined the changes of soil evapotraspiration, water content and soil salt through the growth stage of cotton planted in plastic barrel. Based on the equations of soil water movement and convection-dispersion of solute transport, HYDRUS-2D software was used to simulate the rules of soil water and salt transports on condition taking into account cotton root water uptake and soil evapotraspiration, the simulated and measured values were compared of soil moistures and salt contents. The results showed that the simulated and measured values of soil moistures and salt contents were different both in the surface and deep layers, but were close in the middle layer. Thus, HYDRUS-2D software can be used to forecast soil water and salt transports under mulch drip irrigation when sufficient observed data are obtained in cotton field.