Coastal Plain soils are prone to compaction layers which restrict root growth and reduce yields. The
adoption of non-inversion deep tillage has been recommended to disrupt compacted soil layers and
create an adequate medium for crop development. In spite of its efficacy, increased fuel prices could
reduce in-row subsoiling adoption due to the cost of the operation. We evaluated three subsoiling
implements against a non-subsoiled treatment with and without a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop on a
4-year cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotation experiment in Headland, AL
on a Dothan loamy sand (Plinthic Kandiudult). Results showed consistently lower yields for nonsubsoiled
treatments (11 and 51% lower yields for peanuts and cotton, respectively). Soil strength values
had a 2 fold increase or greater (1.5–4.0 MPa) in less than a year due to natural reconsolidation and
normal vehicle traffic. On average, in-row subsoiling returned $698/ha/year for cotton and $612/ha/year
more for all in-row subsoiling than non-subsoiled treatments. No differences between implements were
found. A conservation system consisting of annual paratilling combined with a winter cover crop proved
to be the most productive and profitable system