Based on long-term field experiments in the west of the Loess Plateau, this paper discusses the effects of conventional tillage (T) on soil water regimes and leaf water potential of crops for five conservation agricultural patterns, comprising conventional tillage with stubble incorporation (TS); no-till and no-stubble retention (NT); no-till with stubble retention (NTS); conventional tillage with plastic mulching (TP); and no-till with plastic mulching (NTP). The rotation systems of pea-wheat (P→W) and wheat-pea (W→P) under rainfed farming were studied. The results show that conservation tillage could increase surface (0-30cm) soil moisture content at sowing, and soil moisture content of conservation tillage are significantly higher than T, showing an increase of between 3.29%-28.67%. The NTS pattern for spring wheat and field pea soil water content were the highest over all growing stages. The leaf water potential of the field pea was obviously higher than that of spring wheat, but their daily dynamics were similar to each other over all growing stages. It was highest in the early morning at 6:00, and then decreased over time reaching a minimum at between 12:00-14:00, before gradually increasing again. At 18:00, the leaf water potentials were nearly restored to the level recorded at 9:00. As for spring wheat, the maximum leaf water potential appeared at the jointing and heading stage followed by the booting and flowering stage. The minimum leaf water potential appeared at the filling stage. The leaf relative water content of spring wheat was highest at the heading stage, followed by the jointing and flowering stages, reaching a minimum at filling stage. As for the field pea, maximum leaf water potential was achieved at seedling stage and pregnant bud stage, followed by branching and blossom podding stage. The minimum appeared at the grouting mature stage. The dynamics of water saturation deficiency was just the opposite to that of relative water content. The leaf relative water content of the field pea was reduced along with the growing stages under different tillage practices. Over all the growing stages, the leaf water potential of both spring wheat and field pea measured at 10:00 had a significant correlation with the average soil water content at 0-30cm. When the soil moisture content was relatively low, leaf water potential of spring wheat or field pea had a very significant correlation with soil water content. Compared with T, the five conservation agricultural patterns can increase the leaf water potential and leaf relative water content of crops, of which the effect of NTS is shown to be the most significant. Furthermore, osmotic regulation and turgor pressure maintenance could allow crops to achieve a high yield.