Aims <p>Yellow soil features high clay content, compactness, pronounced acidity and infertility. Although shallow tillage (ST) mitigates these limitations, the disruption of soil structure increases colloid release, which facilitates the migration of pollutants to the water environment. Hence, this study investigates the dynamic release of colloids and their key affecting factors following ST.</p> Methods <p>Soil column experiments are conducted at the corn bell-mouth stage under three typical rainfall scenarios: immediate rainfall after tillage, successive heavy rainfall, and heavy rainfall followed by a relative drought period. Effluent colloid concentration, particle size distribution, and hydrochemical properties are measured during simulated infiltration experiments. Statistical differences are analyzed using paired t-tests, and key influencing factors are identified via Principal Component Analysis (PCA).</p> Results <p>Colloid release exhibits three distinct patterns: linear increase, power-law decrease, and a mixed type, reflecting variations in initial soil properties. ST significantly increased colloid concentrations compared to non-tilled soils, especially after intense rainfall that increased soil moisture and disrupted aggregates. The size of released particles in tilled soil attenuated more rapidly, being larger initially but significantly smaller in later stages than non-tilled controls. PCA revealed two primary drivers of colloid release: hydraulic forces correlated significantly with particle size, and hydrochemical processes more strongly associated with colloid concentration.</p> Conclusions <p>Overall, shallow tillage induces complex colloid release behaviors governed by coupled hydraulic and hydrochemical interactions. These findings deepen the understanding of colloid dynamics and support environmental risk assessment in yellow soil regions.</p>