Nearby vehicle traffic oftens recompacts previously subsoiled zones. Automatic steering systems can assist in implementing controlled traffic systems and segregating vehicle traffic paths (row middles) from crop growth zones (rows). An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of nearby traffic to four subsoiling treatments: a no-till treatment, a typical in-row subsoiler (KMC), and two bentleg subsoilers (Paratill and Worksaver). These subsoiling treatments were conducted by using the steered tractor and required that the tractor tires gradually moved from the row middle to directly over the row as the tractor moved through the plots. The ensuing planting operation was conducted in straight lines, again, using the steering system, and placed seeds directly over the subsoiled zone on one end of the plots and over the row middle at the other end of the plots. Recompaction of the loosened subsoiled zones was determined with cone index measurements as well as cotton yield at various distances away from the subsoiled zones. Preliminary results indicate that rows which lie more than 10 cm away from the center of the subsoiled zones lose up to 30% of their yield potential. These results indicate that automatic steered tractors should have greater than ±10 cm accuracy for use in southern U.S. conservation systems.