Returning straw to the soil and using the right tillage method can boost grain yield and nitrogen efficiency of winter wheat in China. By testing different tillage techniques and straw return practices over three years, researchers found that incorporating straw increased grain yield and nitrogen efficiency while reducing the number of ears per hectare. Deep plowing tillage was more effective than rotary tillage in improving yield and nitrogen efficiency. Returning all straw with rotary tillage led to higher soil nitrogen content and enzyme activity in the top soil layer. A combination of rotary and deep plowing tillage with straw return was the most cost-effective method for increasing grain yield and nitrogen efficiency.