【Objective】This study was designed to explore the effects of crop straw returning on soil and crop growth is an important approach to regulating soil nutrients and crop growth. 【Method】In this study, treatments including no straw returning (CK), reduced straw returning (1/3 straw returning with low stubble retention, straw removal, and deep rotary tillage (1/3FSX); 2/3 straw returning with high stubble retention, straw removal, and deep rotary tillage (2/3FSX)), and full straw returning (full straw returning with deep rotary tillage (FSX); full straw returning with deep plowing (FS)) were simultaneously set up in two locations. The effects of different straw returning treatments on wheat seedling growth and soil properties were investigated. 【Result】 Compared with CK, reduced straw returning at all experimental sites significantly increased the plant height, stem diameter, and root length of wheat seedlings. Among these treatments, the plant height and stem diameter under 1/3FSX were significantly higher than those under other treatments. Meanwhile, straw returning significantly inhibited the wheat germination rate, with the strongest inhibitory effect observed in the FS treatment. Compared with CK, all straw returning treatments significantly increased the soil available nutrient content and the straw decomposition rate under reduced straw returning with deep rotary tillage was significantly higher. Also the soil straw decomposition rate and available potassium content under 1/3FSX were significantly higher than those under other treatments. Compared with CK, straw returning at all experimental sites increased soil microbial abundance. The abundances of bacteria and actinomycetes under reduced straw returning were significantly higher than those under other treatments, and 1/3FSX showed a greater increase in the abundances of soil fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes. Furthermore, the wheat seedling biomass at all experimental sites was significantly positively correlated with soil available nutrient content and soil microbial abundance. Soil available nutrients exerted the main explanatory effect on the variation in wheat biomass, while microorganisms mainly affected soil available nutrients. Specifically, soil fungi and actinomycetes jointly promoted the increase in soil available potassium content, thereby promoting the improvement of wheat biomass.【Conclusion】Reduced straw returning with deep rotary tillage can improve soil porosity, promote the abundances of fungi and actinomycetes, enhance efficient straw decomposition, and rapidly activate available potassium, thereby promoting a more significant increase in wheat biomass. Among all treatments, 1/3FSX exhibits the best effect.