Conservation tillage is widely practiced in North America and the world for sustainable food production. Strip tillage is considered a special form of conservation tillage. Strip tillage involves using multiple soil-engaging tools in an implement. Understanding the function and performance of each tool is important to develop high-performance strip tillage machines. In this study, one field experiment and two soil bin experiments were conducted to study soil-engaging tools for strip tillage, including double fluted coulters, an opener for deep fertilizer placement, and two types of rolling-baskets. In the field experiment, effects of rolling-baskets were examined on a vertical tillage machine with and without finishing attachments of rolling-baskets (namely With Baskets and Without Baskets). One soil bin experiment had three treatments: opener along (Opener), double coulters along (Coulters), and the combination of the opener and coulters (Combined). The other soil bin experiment tested two different rolling-baskets with curved and straight structural bars (namely Curve Basket and Straight Basket respectively). These two types of rolling-baskets were tested in two different initial surface conditions: Flat and Rough. In these experiments, soil cutting forces and soil disturbance characteristics of the soil-engaging tools were measured. Field experimental results showed that the With Baskets and Without Baskets treatments produced similar soil surface roughness. The treatment differences were not statistically different. Soil bin experimental results showed that the Coulters treatment had an average draft force of 105.7 N. The draft force of Opener was approximately three times higher, and that of the Combined treatment was approximately five times higher. The soil furrow width was greatest for the Combined treatment, followed by the Opener and the Coulters. The soil thrown distances of Coulters and Combined treatments were similar, and that of Opener was significantly higher. Cutting depth and furrow cross-section area of Combined showed significantly higher than Opener and Coulters. Soil cutting forces were not significantly different between Curve Basket and Straight Basket, and between the Flat and Rough initial soil surface conditions. Soil displacement varied across the width of the rolling-basket. This study advanced the understanding of the function of each soil-engaging tool and their interactions.