Understanding of the efficacy of short-term strip tillage (ST) is essential for its adoption in Northeast China. A two-year field experiment (2023–2024) with soybean–maize rotation was conducted using a randomized complete block design to explore the effects of short-term ST on soil physicochemical properties and crop yields compared with no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). Soil samples in ST were collected from the seedbed (tilled without straw mulching, ST-IS) and between the seedbed (no-till with straw mulch, ST-BS), respectively. Results showed that in the 0–10 cm layer, soil temperature in ST-IS was 1.61–1.65 °C higher than NT, and soil moisture in ST-BS was 4.20–8.52% higher than CT. ST-IS had lower bulk density and penetration resistance than NT. Meanwhile, aggregate stability, saturated water content, and soil nutrients were greater under ST and NT than those under CT in the 0–5 cm layer. Moreover, maize yield was significantly higher under CT compared to NT, while ST maintained intermediate yields. In contrast, NT achieved the highest soybean yield. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) showed short-term tillage primarily affected crop yield by altering soil temperature and structure (not direct or nutrient-mediated effects), with a more pronounced impact on maize than soybean. Notably, the total standardized effects of soil temperature, moisture, and structure are completely opposite between soybean and maize. In conclusion, ST is an appropriate tillage practice for maize cultivation, while NT is more suitable for soybean cultivation in Northeast China.