A suitable rotational conservation tillage system ameliorates soil physical properties and wheat yield: An 11-year in-situ study in a semi-arid agroecosystem

•The 11-year tillage rotation experiment in a typical dryland agroecosystem.•Three plowing-based rotations improved the soil physical properties.•The subsoiling/plowing rotation generated higher soil macroaggregates.•The subsoiling/plowing rotation enhanced yield and profit in harsh rainfall patterns.•The study filled from soil physical properties view to evaluate the effects of tillage rotations.