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 have many producers questioning in-row subsoiling as too expensive. Soil physical and chemical properties along with yields are indicators of soil quality and can be used to assess efficiency of the cropping system. This study evaluated soil strength , bulk density and soil organic carbon among other variables with the objective of determining the conservation tillage system that optimize cotton and peanut production for the Wiregrass region including benefits of cover crops and different sub-soilers. On compacted Dothan loamy sand at Southern Coastal plain a cotton peanut rotation was established and four different deep tillage treatments were compared. Results showed the no-till treatment had higher bulk densities higher soil strength and lower yields, soil carbon and soil moisture were positively affected by the use of cover crop. This reinforced the necessity of deep tillage and cover crops as way to minimize risk.