The effect of tillage and crop rotations can only be seen over many crop years. Crop yield and soil results are evaluated from two long-term trials, established in 1978–79 and 1985–86 to investigate various forms of tillage and the timing of such operations in various wheat (Triticum aestivum)-based rotations on a Calcixerollic Xerochrept in northern Syria. In a tillage systems trial involving two wheat–legume–watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rotations, deep tillage showed no advantage over a shallow sweep-tillage system, either for soil moisture storage or yield increase of any crop. The zero-till system suited legume crops but gave lower productivity in wheat due to a build up of grassy weeds, and was not suitable for watermelon. Minimum tillage, with its higher energy-use efficiency and yield levels equal to or even slightly above those of deep-tillage systems, appears promising for the lowland areas of West Asia and North Africa. In a tillage timing trial, wheat in a wheat–lentil (Lens culinaris) rotation yielded best after conventional deep disc-plough tillage, but lentil yields were higher in a zero-till system.