The strategic use of minimum tillage within conservation agriculture in southern New South Wales, Australia

•Zero tillage is a philosophical ideal for soil conservation.•The ideal can be in conflict with the need to manage soil and agronomic constraints.•We measured the detriment caused by a single tillage and the subsequent recovery.•One tillage caused minor loss of wet aggregate stability and no effect on hydraulic conductivity.•Recovery time was generally 1–2 years but for one site-year exceeded 2 years.