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Tillage intensive cropping practices have deteriorated soil physical quality and decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in rice–growing areas of South Asia. Consequently, crop productivity has declined over the years demonstrating the need for sustainable alternatives. Given that, a field experiment was conducted for six years to assess the impact of four tillage based crop establishment treatments [puddled transplant rice followed by conventional tillage in wheat/maize (CTTPR–CT), non–puddled transplant rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (NPTPR–ZT), zero–till transplant rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (ZTTPR–ZT), zero–tillage direct seeded rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (ZTDSR–ZT)], two residue management treatments [residue removal, residue retention (~33%)], and two cropping systems [rice–wheat, rice–maize] on soil aggregation, carbon pools, nutrient availability …