In the years 2000–2002 the effect of conventional tillage, simplified tillage and direct sowing on the yields of seven winter wheat cultivars was tested. The study was carried out after two forecrops – oats and spring wheat. Experiments were set in randomized subblocks design with four replications. Tillage simplifications introduced after cereal forecrops were found to decrease the yields of wheat cultivars. Out of cereal forecrops the cultivars characterized by higher yielding in plough cultivation tended to give higher yields also in simplified tillage variants. Differentiated partial coefficients of yield components in multiple regression equations point to a variable reaction of wheat cultivars to simplified tillage. At periodical precipitation deficits the number of ears per square meter as well as the weight and number of grains in an ear appeared to exert the greatest influence on the yields of cultivars.