Weeds are the major hindrance in the adoption of conservation agriculture in a rice wheat cropping system. There exists a conflict in the agronomic and soil requirements between a conventional rice production system and the following wheat crop. Puddling in the conventional rice productions system helps in controlling weeds in rice and following crops, but disturbs the soil structure resulting in poor stand establishment of the following wheat crop. This study was conducted to monitor the soil properties, weed dynamics and stand establishment of wheat grown by conventional and conservation tillage options after different rice production systems. Maximum soil bulk density and root penetration resistance was observed after a conventional flooded rice system with the lowest values in aerobic rice culture. Wheat stand establishment was impeded following flooded rice system; however this was quite better after the aerobic rice. However, after flooded rice, wheat stand establishment was improved with deep tillage. Hydropriming was better in improving the stand establishment than osmopriming. Weed biomass was highest after the aerobic rice; however it was a minimum after the flooded rice. Amongst the tillage systems in wheat, maximum weed flora was observed in zero tillage; however that was a minimum in bed sowing. Conservation agriculture may help in improving the stand establishment in rice wheat cropping system by improving soil physical properties, but weeds are still a major threat to adopting this form of agriculture.