Soil tillage methods can impact the growth and yield of summer maize. A study in Longkou city, Shandong province, compared different tillage practices for winter wheat-summer maize crops. Results showed that using a serrated disk harrow tillage method with straw return can increase maize yield by 14.5% compared to conventional tillage. However, using a no-tillage method with straw cover can decrease maize yield by 11%. Overall, the way the soil is tilled can affect how well maize seeds fill and ultimately impact crop yield.