An inter-row tillage machine was developed with standing stubble. Tillage operations were performed in the ridges and furrows alternately which can be used for inter-row shallow-tillage, ridge stubble-breaking or full-width tillage operation through the rational arrangement of blades on the rotor and disassembling in the blades, or one machine for three purposes. The experiments showed that this machine met all the agrotechnical requirements in the three operational states. The determination results of soil compaction caused by the tractor tyres in the inter-row shallow-tillage operation showed that soil compaction had a significant effect on the soil bulk density at the depth of 0～10 cm. The soil bulk density increased by 8.5%, 7.0% and 6.2% when the machine traveled at speeds of 0.50 m/s, 0.65 m/sand 0.92 m/s, respectively. Soil compaction had little effect on the soil bulk density at the depth of 10～20 cm. Soil compaction also caused an increase in the torque of the blade when cutting the soil, but the increase in torque was not significant. 