The research was carried out during 2000-2002 in a typical semi-arid Mediterranean environment to evaluate the effects of three different soil management practices (no tillage NT, mulch tillage MT and conventional tillage CT) on faba bean, chickpea, pea and lentil crops. A split-plot design with three replications was used. Biometrical and phenological characteristics, grain yield components and nitrogen grain content were recorded. Two-year mean grain yield was significantly greater under NT than CT (plus 21.5 per cent), but the differences among tillage regimes were markedly affected by species and climatic conditions; the highest yield benefits of NT were in pea and chickpea in the drier year. No significant differences between MT and CT were recorded. Moreover, N grain was not affected by tillage regimes.