Abstract: Microbes remaining in soil after farming contribute over 50% of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the agri-ecosystem. Appropriate tillages benefit the diversity and accumulation of microorganisms as well as the aggregation and properties of soil on farmland. Thus, understanding the ecological process is essential to achieve a long-term, efficient agriculture operation with maximized SOC retention. This article reviews the research progress at home and abroad encompassing the subjects such as, the pathways and contribution to SOC by microbial residues, the direct and indirect impacts of tillage methods on SOC, and the relations between tillage and microbial community in soil.