At one time soil tillage was used almost exclusively in growing cotton. Advances in planting equipment, and weed control has changed that dramatically in many areas.
Some areas now grow cotton without any tillage at all (no-till), while many areas practice reduced tillage or conservation tillage to preserve surface residue when planting cotton. The need for tillage will largely depend on your soil type. If your soil has a natural hardpan some tillage may be needed each season to allow cotton roots and water to penetrate this layer. Tillage is also useful in warming up soils that are very cool in the spring. Overall, most cotton is now grown with a minimum amount of soil tillage.
