Dryland crop production areas would benefit from practices which would increase the infiltration and/or storage of rainfall in the soil. A long term cropping systems study was used to determine the effects of reduced and conventional tillage on the ability of the soils to store moisture and on subsequent crop growth and yield. Soil moisture measurements were taken approx. every 10 days during the growing season. Plant samples were taken periodically to map the plants and obtain dry weights of plant parts. Reduced tillage resulted in higher soil moisture in both years. Reduced tillage out-yielded conventional tillage in both years. Since rainfall is normal (average) or below for 60-70% of the years in the lower Coastal Bend of Texas, reduced tillage should provide for consistent yield increases (11-30 percent or more) over the long run. The increased yield benefit of RT over CT should prove greatest in drier years.