The effects of deep tillage on soil properties, weed control, root growth and yield of dryland redgram (Cajanus cajan L.) were evaluated on a shallow, gravelly, sandy loam soil (alfisols) of the Bundelkhand region in Central India. Deep tillage, viz. mouldboard ploughing (0.20 m deep), disc-ploughing (0.25 m deep) and sub-soiling (0.40 m deep), were compared with shallow tillage, viz. bullock-drawn country ploughing (0.075 m deep), bullock-drawn blade ploughing (0.10 m deep) and disc harrowing (0.125 m deep) for two different rainfall distribution seasons. Deep tillage operations were found superior to shallow tillage treatments. Disc ploughing and sub-soiling improved soil properties, suppressed weed growth, reduced water and nutrient losses through weed uptake and enhanced profile water storage compared with shallow tillage. Deep tillage with disc ploughing and sub-soiling also induced deeper root penetration by 34 and 39 cm resulting in 89 and 127%, respectively, more grain yield than the shallow tillage by country plough.