Ploughing and zero-tillage rotation can improve soil quality and crop productivity in erodible areas. After an 11-year experiment, it was found that combining ploughing and zero-tillage with crop residue return can lead to better soil structure and increased nutrient storage in deeper soil layers. This method also reduced soil compaction and increased maize and wheat yields compared to traditional ploughing or zero-tillage alone. This study shows that using a combination of ploughing and zero-tillage with residue return can be an effective way to enhance soil productivity in erodible fields.